Sleep Medicine Health Feed

Some people simply lie down and fall asleep instantly, while others toss and turn for hours before going off to sleep. Getting a good night's sleep is important for everyone be it, toddlers or adults. There are many reasons as to why people find it difficult to sleep or do not enjoy a restful sleep. Homeopathy can be very helpful in treating such sleep disorders. Here are a few homeopathic medicines that can improve the quality of your sleep.

1. Arsenicum Album: Sleeplessness caused by anxiety, fear or worry can be treated using Arsenicum Album. Apart from having difficulty falling asleep, patients suffering from this disorder often wake up in the middle of the night. Some patients also feel restless while sleeping, which makes the person toss and turn in bed and at times feel the need to walk about; these symptoms can also be treated with this medication.

2. Coffea Cruda: This can be used to treat insomnia caused by mental and physical restlessness. Symptoms of the sleep disorder treated by Coffea Cruda are a constant flow of ideas, rapid thoughts, nervous energy and excitement. Having a cup of coffee before bedtime often triggers these symptoms. This is often experienced by people on the night before an important day.

3. Gelsemium Sempervirens: Insomnia caused by exhaustion and anticipatory anxiety can be treated with Gelsemium Sempervirens. This is often experienced as a symptom associated with alcohol withdrawal. Babies who cannot fall asleep because of teething pains can also be given Gelsemium Sempervirens.

4. Nux Vomica: Some people fall asleep early, but wake up in the middle of the night with an alert mind only to start feeling sleepy again early in the morning. This makes them irritable and tired. In such cases, nux vomica is known to be beneficial towards having a more restful sleep. This sleep disorder is worsened by narcotics and stimulants such as coffee or alcohol.

5. Phosphorus: Some people, especially the elderly, feel sleepy all day, but can't fall asleep at night. Lying on their left side makes this worse and their sleep is broken into naps. Phosphorus can be used in such cases to regulate the sleep cycle and improve the quality of sleep.

Apart from medication, lifestyle changes can also help cure sleep disorders. Some of these changes are:

1. Exercise early in the morning for at least 30 minutes each day.
2. Avoid caffeine and foods that are difficult to digest especially before bedtime.
3. Avoid snacks that can make your blood sugar fluctuate.
4. Eat a protein snack or sip chamomile tea before going to bed.

Getting a good night's sleep is crucial for good health. But, we all face insomnia to some degree or other. Homeopathy is a complementary system of medicine that cures almost any disease on earth, including insomnia.

Insomnia is a complex issue with a number of factors. Sometimes the fear of insomnia keeps people awake at night. Other causes are age- older people find it difficult to get sleep due to drop in levels of melatonin , a chemical that induces sleep; gender – women are more blessed with insomnia because of their hormonal fluctuations that happen on a monthly basis plus due to pregnancy and menopause; depression, high BP, seizures, heart problems, anxiety etc. Jetlag, irregular shift work can also give you insomnia.

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this condition.

The symptoms listed against each medicine may not be directly related to this disease because in homeopathy general symptoms and constitutional indications are also taken into account for selecting a remedy. It is always recommended to consult a specialized homeopath before you go for medication. None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.

Homeopathic medicines that may help you to treat insomnia, are-

1. Arsenicum Album (Ars): The anxious lot who suffer from sleeplessness will benefit from this one. Those with disturbed, restless sleep will get relief from their tossing and turning.

2. Coffea Cruda (Coff): Coffee is also used to treat insomnia when given in the crude form. It relieves symptoms produced by coffee, like sleeplessness due to rapid thoughts and an active mind

3. Gelsemium Sempervirens (Gels): Sleeplessness from anxiety is treated with this one . It also treats insomnia due to exhaustion.

4. Ignatia Amara (Ign): Sleeplessness from a recent disappointment or grief is treated using this medicine.

5. Lycopodium clavatum (Lyc): Are you feeling sleepy all day and sleepless at night from an active mind? Then this is the one for you!

6. Nux Vomica (Nux-v): Irritability from loss of sleep is treated using this medicine and so is restlessness from the excessive consumption of coffee, alcohol, or drugs.

7. Passiflora Incarnata (Pass): Restlessness, exhaustion, and sleeplessness, all three are treated. It’s especially useful for aged and infants.

8. Phosphorus (Phos): Short naps with frequent waking are a symptom treated with this one. It’s very effective for sleeplessness in old people.

9. Sulphur (Sulph): Disturbed sleep and inability to fall asleep after waking up between 2 – 5am and unable to go back to sleep- If this describes you, then try Sulph.

Sleep walking is a sleep related disorder that affects many individuals globally. It causes people to get up and start walking even when they are in a deep state of sleep. This condition happens when the patient is going through a state of deep sleep to light sleep, before actually awaking. In most cases, the patients are not aware of their actions and may find themselves in another room or part of the house when they wake up. While this condition usually happens for children between the ages of four to eight, it may even happen for certain adults. Here is everything you need to know about sleep walking from the reasons that cause it, to the ways in which it may be treated.

General causes of sleepwalking: Sleepwalking may be caused by sudden stress or a chaotic sleep pattern. In such cases, it may last only a few weeks and may even come with other symptoms like bedwetting. This is most commonly seen in children. It is also a genetically inherited disorder that can affect people whose parents or siblings have suffered from the same.

Also, if you have a sleep deprivation problem and experience trouble when it comes to falling asleep, then this condition may set in. Many people also walk in their sleep when they are drunk or are known to regularly get drunk. Excessive alcohol consumption may also lead to such sleep disorders. Also, if the patient is taking sedatives that are hypnotic in nature, then they may experience such symptoms as sleep walking.

Medical conditions: There are also a number of medical conditions that may cause this condition. To begin with, sleepwalking may arise as a symptom of heartburn and fever. Also, patients who are suffering from an irregular heartbeat or heart rhythm may end up walking in their sleep. Restless leg syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, night time seizures and asthma may also cause this condition. Other psychiatric disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks and multiple personality disorder can also cause symptoms such as sleep walking.

Treatment: The method of treatment is usually based on the genetic, environmental or physiological reasons that are behind the actual disorder. While changing the medicines and treating the actual ailment that causes sleep walking as a symptom may be recommended by most doctors, one may also have to undergo therapy. This therapy will help in reaching the root cause of the sleepwalking disorder in case it is a chronic problem that has nothing to do with any other ailment or disease. The doctor may also look for signs of nocturnal seizures and confusion arousal in order to treat the same with proper therapy and medication.

What is Insomnia?

Insomnia includes having trouble falling or staying asleep. Insomnia can sap not only your energy level and mood, but also your health, work performance and quality of life.

Symptoms of Insomnia-

• Sleepiness during the day.
• General fatigue.
• Tension headaches
• Problems with concentration and focus

Causes of Insomnia-

• Stress and anxiety
• Depression
• Pain and discomfort
• Genetics
• Job shift changes
• Environment hotness or coldness

Risk factors of Insomnia-

• Women hormonal changes
• Older age
• Medical history of Mental disorder
• Overworked on the job or at home
• Travel across time zones
• Low social life
• Psychological problem

Complications of Insomnia-

• Poor performance on the work or job
• Overweight
• Poor immune system
• High blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes
• Accident while driving
• Daytime sleepiness

Diagnosis of Insomnia-

Diagnosis includes a physical exam, a medical history, and a sleep history. You may be asked to keeping track of your sleep patterns and how you feel during the day. In some cases, you may be referred to a sleep center for special tests.

Precautions & Prevention of Insomnia-

• Learn mental relaxation techniques
• Maintain a regular sleep schedule
• Regular exercise
• Avoid cigarette smoking
• Eat healthy diet
• Make your sleeping place comfortable

Treatment of Insomnia-

• Homeopathic Treatment of Insomnia
• Acupuncture Treatment of Insomnia
• Psychotherapy Treatment of Insomnia
• Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Insomnia
• Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Insomnia
• Other Treatment of Insomnia

Homeopathic Treatment of Insomnia (Sleeplessness)-

Homeopathy cures insomnia of various causes as it cures the root cause. It helps in getting back natural sleep in right proportion. It does not create a dull mind but on the contrary by inducing natural sleep it creates fresh and active mind. Following are some homeopathic remedies helpful for insomnia.

• Belladonna
• Nux vomica
• Coffea
• Chamomilla
• Gelsemium
• Sulphur
• Cannabis Indica
• Hyoscyamus

Acupuncture and Acupressure Treatment of Insomnia (Sleeplessness)-

Acupuncture treatment breaks the disharmony cycle with the help of needle and people start sleep better naturally.  Acupuncture also calms our nerves. It helps to clear obstructions of the muscle and nerve channels. Using acupuncture for insomnia can over time correct whatever imbalances are causing the insomnia, without any side-effects. 

Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy Treatment of Insomnia (Sleeplessness)-

Psychotherapy and hypnotherapy are the best treatment for persons who had a hard time falling asleep and for those who woke up during the night. Psychotherapy and hypnotherapy sessions include issues related to loss, grief, relationships, problems arising from childhood memories, and can also be applied to help promote improved sleep.

Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Insomnia-

In allopathic and conventional medicine, treatment of insomnia includes alleviating or coping with any physical and emotional problems that contribute to the condition. Conventional benzodiazepines were the mainstay of pharmacological treatments of insomnia

Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Insomnia-

• Avoid large meals before bed
• Limit caffeine and alcohol
• Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily
• Eat a carbohydrate snack, such as cereal, just before bedtime.

Other Treatment of Insomnia-

• Meditation
• Do energetic yoga, such as power yoga or Ashtanga
• Quit smoking
• A good Massage
• Listen to relaxing music
• Keep the bedroom cool, quiet, and dark.
   

Sleep walking is a sleep related disorder that affects many individuals globally. It causes people to get up and start walking even when they are in a deep state of sleep. This condition happens when the patient is going through a state of deep sleep to light sleep, before actually awaking. In most cases, the patients are not aware of their actions and may find themselves in another room or part of the house when they wake up. While this condition usually happens for children between the ages of four to eight, it may even happen for certain adults. Here is everything you need to know about sleep walking from the reasons that cause it, to the ways in which it may be treated.

General causes of sleepwalking: Sleepwalking may be caused by sudden stress or a chaotic sleep pattern. In such cases, it may last only a few weeks and may even come with other symptoms like bedwetting. This is most commonly seen in children. It is also a genetically inherited disorder that can affect people whose parents or siblings have suffered from the same.

Also, if you have a sleep deprivation problem and experience trouble when it comes to falling asleep, then this condition may set in. Many people also walk in their sleep when they are drunk or are known to regularly get drunk. Excessive alcohol consumption may also lead to such sleep disorders. Also, if the patient is taking sedatives that are hypnotic in nature, then they may experience such symptoms as sleep walking.

Medical conditions: There are also a number of medical conditions that may cause this condition. To begin with, sleepwalking may arise as a symptom of heartburn and fever. Also, patients who are suffering from an irregular heartbeat or heart rhythm may end up walking in their sleep. Restless leg syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea, night time seizures and asthma may also cause this condition. Other psychiatric disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks and multiple personality disorder can also cause symptoms such as sleep walking.

Treatment: The method of treatment is usually based on the genetic, environmental or physiological reasons that are behind the actual disorder. While changing the medicines and treating the actual ailment that causes sleep walking as a symptom may be recommended by most doctors, one may also have to undergo therapy. This therapy will help in reaching the root cause of the sleepwalking disorder in case it is a chronic problem that has nothing to do with any other ailment or disease. The doctor may also look for signs of nocturnal seizures and confusion arousal in order to treat the same with proper therapy and medication. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!