Insomnia is a disorder in which a person finds difficulty in falling asleep and staying asleep. In insomnia sleep is hard to achieve. For efficient functioning human body requires rest. Insomnia is a condition in which the body fails to get proper rest especially at night for want of proper sleep. Sleep is very essential for the body. It gives rest to the body as well as the brain and also gives relief from tension. A person feels fresh and relaxed when he or she wakes up in the morning after a sound sleep at night. On the other hand patient of insomnia feels tired and lathergy in the morning. Man, woman, young or old anyone can get insomnia. It is common in elderly.

Insomnia may continue for a long period and it may be chronic.

Causes of Insomnia

There are various causes of Insomnia. A scientific reason may be lowered level of brain’s melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland and is important for sleep regulation.

Other Causes

• Mental stress

• Anxiety, tension, fear.

• Drinking excess coffee and tea.

• Environmental factor – e.g. Noise

• Not maintaining the scheduled time for sleeping – unusual sleep.

• Breathing problem and cough (due to asthma).

• Pain in joints (due to Arthritis).

• Indigestion and severe headache.

Side effects of Insomnia

• Loss of concentration – Persons having insomnia feels difficulty to concentrate on task.

• Tiredness

• Lethargy

• Anxiety

• Depression

Tips:-

• Take a hot bath at night before going to bed. This will relax your body.

• Avoid Coffee and tea.

• Avoid oily food, fried food.

• Do aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, swimming in the morning or in the afternoon.

• Take meal at least two hours before going to bed.

Home remedies for Insomnia

Lettuce: – Due to presence of a sleep inducing substance in lettuce herb it is useful for the treatment of insomnia.

Valerian: – Valerian improves sleep quality and is very useful in insomnia.

Thiamine: – Thiamine, which is vitamin B, can be taken by persons having insomnia. It is very good for nerves. Whole grain cereals, nuts etc. can be taken.

Milk and honey: – A glass of milk with a few drops of honey can be taken at night before going to bed. It is a good home remedy.

Mixture of bottle gourd and sesame oil: – A mixture of bottle gourd juice and sesame oil can be massaged gently on scalp every night. This is a good home remedy.
Author: Surya Narayan Bhattacharya