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The difficulty falling asleep or awakening in the middle of sleep and
being unable to fall back to sleep, is known as insomnia. It is very
common. Excessive fatigue, anxiety, pain or discomfort anywhere in the
body, fever, indigestion, is the common causes of sleeplessness.
Persistent insomnia may lead to the development of a psychosis.
Types of Insomnia
Three different types of
insomnia exist: transient, acute, and chronic
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Transient Insomnia
lasts from one night to a few weeks but it seems longer. Most people
occasionally suffer from transient insomnia due to such causes as jet
lag or short-term anxiety. If this form of insomnia continues to occur
from time to time, the insomnia is classified as intermittent.
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Acute Insomnia is the
inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks
to six months.
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Chronic Insomnia is
regarded as the most serious; persists almost nightly for at least a
month.
Symptoms of insomnia
Symptoms of insomnia can
be different for each individual, and people with insomnia might
experience a variety of symptoms, such as:
* Difficulty falling asleep, which can mean lying in bed for up to an hour
or more, perhaps tossing and turning, wishing for sleep to begin.
* Awakening during sleep and having trouble getting back to sleep.
* Awakening too early in the morning.
* Feeling unrefreshed upon awakening.
* Daytime irritability, drowsiness, anxiety, and/or nonproductiveness.
Causes for Insomnia
In encephalitis lethargic a (brain disease),
sleeplessness continues for several.
In uremia and high blood pressure,
sleeplessness occurs.
Overeating, hunger, coffee, tea and other
cerebral stimulants.
Weather change.
Worry, anxiety, fear, mental depression.
Treatment for
Insomnia
In many cases, insomnia
is caused by another disease or psychological problem. In this case,
medical or psychological help may be useful. All sedative drugs have the
potential of causing psychological dependence where the individual can't
psychologically accept that they can sleep without drugs. Certain classes
of sedatives such as benzodiazepines and newer non-benzodiazepine drugs
can also cause physical dependence which manifests in withdrawal symptoms
if the drug is not carefully titrated down.
Alternative
approach to Insomnia
There are a number of
alternative cures for this disorder that are currently marketed. Often, a
combination of dietary and lifestyle changes is claimed to be the most
helpful approach.
Traditional Chinese
medicine has included treatment for insomnia throughout its history. A
typical approach may utilize acupuncture, dietary and lifestyle analysis,
herbology and other techniques, with the goal of resolving the problem at
a subtle level. Although these methods have not been scientifically
proven, some insomniacs report that these remedies are sufficient to break
the insomnia cycle without the need for sedatives and sleeping tablets.
In the Buddhist
tradition, people suffering from insomnia or nightmares may be advised to
meditate on "loving-kindness", or metta. This practice of
generating a feeling of love and goodwill is claimed to have a soothing
and calming effect on the mind and body. This is claimed to stem partly
from the creation of relaxing positive thoughts and feelings, and partly
from the pacification of negative ones. In the Mettā Sutta,
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, tells the gathered monks that easeful
sleep is one benefit of this form of meditation.
Treatment without
Medication
The following methods can help
alleviate sleeplessness:
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Develop a regular sleeping schedule. Avoid daytime naps and stimulating
activities just before bedtime.
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Avoid stimulating drugs, such as caffeine and nicotine, particularly
before going to bed.
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Exercise during the day (but not in the late evening).
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Avoid alcohol- it is a leading cause of poor sleep.
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Drink a cup of warm milk.
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Mask background noise in the bedroom throughout the night.
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Try using a sleep mask and ear plugs at night.
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Take medications that may be stimulating long before bedtime.
Yoga (cure) Treatment for Insomnia
Yoga benefit your sleep in various ways. Asanas,
pranayama, yognidra are the helpful tools in your efforts to re-establish
a restful night’s sleep.
Asanas
Tada
Asana
Salabha
Asana
Bhujanga Asana
Shava Asana
Yoga nidra
Beside the
above mentioned asana and pranayama practice of
yoga nidra,
concentration
and
meditation
gives the best result.
Yoga Benefits for Insomnia:
Yoga has beneficial effects on nervous
system, and the brain. Certain yoga asanas increases the blood supply to the steep
center in the brain, it normalizes the steep cycle.
Yoga will make you fall asleep sooner and
improve the quality of your sleep so that you need less. You will have a
more restful sleep because of the relaxing aspect of yoga and the
subsequent relieving of stress, tension and fatigue. The practice
of breathing allows for more oxygen in the body providing clarity in the
mind.
Yoga nidra
is of great help to insomniacs it relaxes the tensions that accumulate in
the muscles, the emotions and the mind, allowing the practitioner to rest
deeply. Daily practice leads to a deeper and more restful night's sleep.
Research
yoga and Insomnia:
Yoga as therapy in psychosomatic medicine.
Psychophysiological correlates of the practice of
Tantric Yoga meditation.
An introduction to Kundalini yoga meditation
techniques that are specific for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
The integrated approach of yoga: a therapeutic tool
for mentally retarded children: a one-year controlled study.
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A few
Alternative Therapies |
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List of branches of
alternative and Complementary Medicine |
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Acupuncture
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Auriculotherapy
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Korean hand acupuncture
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Medical acupuncture
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Meridian therapy
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Sonopuncture
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Acupressure
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Alexander Technique
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Osteopathy
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Unani
medicine
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Traditional Chinese medicine
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Affirmations
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Affirmation Visualizations
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Applied kinesiology
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Apitherapy
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Aromatherapy
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Astrology
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Auriculotherapy
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Autogenic Training
Facial diagnosis
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Faith
healing
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Fasting
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Feldenkrais method
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Feng
shui (creating a soothing, tranquil renewing environment)
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Chinese food therapy
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Functional medicine
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Gua
Sha
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Hair
analysis (alternative medicine)
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Hand
analysis
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Hawaiian massage
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Healing touch
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Health
psychology
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Herbal
crystallization analysis
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Herbology
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Herbal
therapy
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Holistic living
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Holistic medicine
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Homeopathy
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Bach
flower remedies
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Flower essence therapy
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Isopathy
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Homeo
wave therapy
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Hypnosis
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Hypnotherapy
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Natural Health
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Natural therapies
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Diet and Food
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Dietary supplements
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Exercise
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Organic Foods
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Home
remedies
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Natural hygiene
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Naturopathic medicine
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Nutrition
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Botanical medicine
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Hydrotherapy
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Minor surgery
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Manipulative therapy
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Pharmacology
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Neuro-Linguistic
Programming
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Nutritional healing
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Nutritional supplements
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Omega-3 fatty acid
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Organic Diet
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Orgonomy
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Orthomolecular medicine
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Pilates
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Plum
blossom (Chinese medicine)
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Polarity Therapy
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Prayer
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Psychosocial interventions
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Psychic surgery
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Bates
Method
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Biologically Based Therapies
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Bates Method
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Chinese food therapy
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Macrobiotic lifestyle
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Orthomolecular medicine
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Body-Based Manipulative Therapies
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Body
work or Massage therapy
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Breathing Techniques
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Integrative medicine
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Iridology
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Journaling
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Light
Therapy
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Magnetic healing
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Medical acupuncture
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Medical intuition
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Medical Qigong
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Meditation
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Sclerology
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Seitai
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Soil
bath therapy (Mrittika snan)
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Somapractic
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Support groups
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Suseunghwagang (meditation breathing)
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T'ai
Chi Ch'uan
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Tantra
massage
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Thalassotherapy
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Therapeutic horseback riding
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Theta
Healing
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Mega-vitamin therapy
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Meridian therapy
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Moxibustion
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Music
therapy
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Five
Elements
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Seven
star
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Trigger point
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Tui na
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Zang
Fu theory
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Meridian therapy
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Shiatsu
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