Ayurveda is an Indian-based system of healing that combines treatment of physical symptoms with realignment of your dosha, or life force, to bring about positive change. Ayurvedic sleep remedies to combat insomnia include many traditional treatments you might have tried, including relaxation exercises and aromatherapy. Ayurvedic remedies also include adjusting your diet to include some calming beverages you might not have heard of in conventional medicine. Always consult with your medical care provider before beginning any new treatment or dietary supplement to avoid potentially dangerous side effects or drug interactions.
Relaxation
Relaxation is a widespread, traditional remedy for people who have sleep difficulties, and Ayurvedic medicine also endorses relaxation as a way to treat insomnia. Calming your body and mind with a warm bath before bed may be all you need to fall asleep more easily, but if this does not help, massage with essential oils, breathing exercises and meditation may be alternate options. Breathing exercises and meditation force you to focus on one action or focal point. This narrow focus can clear your mind of negative thoughts to help you get better sleep.
Diet
You probably have heard of the folk remedy that recommends a glass of warm milk to help you fall asleep. Ayurvedic medicine also suggests this natural treatment, but with some twists that tweak your constitution, or dosha, to improve your sleep quality. Warm milk spiked with pinches of nutmeg, crushed almonds and cardamom makes the home remedy more effective and gives the drink a sweet taste.
A more pungent recipe combines 1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup water and a chopped garlic clove. Boiling the milk and garlic mixture will render 1 cup of milk that can act as an anti-insomnia tonic. Tomato juice with a pinch of nutmeg and table sugar taken in the late afternoon might also help you rest. Holistic Online also suggests eating raw cherries to calm your overworked and overstressed brain that keeps you awake.
Herbal Supplements
Many herbs contain compounds that produce a sedative effect in humans; the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine explains that both valerian and chamomile can have a calming effect when brewed as a tea. Ayurvedic recipes for herbal insomnia teas mix both of these herbs together along with an equal part of the Indian herb tagar.
Consult your doctor before using any herbal remedy, especially those that act as natural sedatives. Side effects of valerian can include fatigue the next morning and dizziness. Chamomile is generally well-tolerated, but can cause side effects in people who are allergic to ragweed, so use with caution.
