Insomnia (Lack of Sleep) - Types and Treatment

Insomnia in lay-man terms means lack of sleep. When there is a lack of sleep, tiredness and fatigue are always present.
Ayurveda classifies insomnia as a symptom of 2 different functional abnormalities, and hence to cure such insomnia, it is important to identify the type of insomnia present.

Type 1 - Here the patient gets to sleep on time but keeps waking up throughout the night and hence the sleep is disturbed.
Associated symptoms are symptoms most commonly seen with this kind of a problem, it does not mean that all of them must exist for you to have a type 1 problem.
These are -

• Slimming down (except the stomach which remains bloated)
• Black discolourations in patches in the body (including dark circles)
• Attraction towards heat and intolerance towards cold like a direct draft of fan or AC.
• Tremors and Palpitations
• Stomach is distended
• Constipation
• Lack of strength and sharpness of the senses
• Excessive and incoherent thoughts
• Dizziness
• Meekness

Treatment - Avoid "dry food" such as sev, mumra, popcorn, kurmura, chevda, khari, khakhra, makhana, biscuits, etc. Start increasing the amount of cow's ghee in food (you will not gain weight, so do not worry). Eat a slightly heavy meal at night. Before sleeping, eat a ball of jaggery and ghee and eat it before sleeping or drink a glass of cow's milk with 1tbsp of cow's ghee (do any 1 not both together). Methi, pippalimoola etc if had regularly for dinner is also beneficial.

Type 2 - Here the patient does not keep waking up throughout the night but is not able to sleep for the hours required. Either his/her sleep breaks early or does not get sleep until late into the night

Associated symptoms are - 

• Acidity
• Headache
• Hair fall
• Greying of hair
• Acne
• Anger and Irritation
• Red spots on the shoulder and back
• Soft and loose motions
• Burning in hands and legs
• Attracted towards cold.

Treatment - Avoid "sour, spicy food". Also avoid fermented items like idli, dosa, dhokla, alcohol, bread, dahi, dahi-items like chaas, lassi, kadhi as well. 2 drops of melted cow's ghee should be taken in each nostril during the day time and inhaled deeply. This solves the problem very fast. Also if cow's milk is taken with 1tbsp cow's ghee just before sleeping, it helps tremendously. Pranayamas like "Shitali" pranayama must be done before going to sleep.

Also for details on these home remedies, refer to my video on Insomnia-