Skin Sheen

Insomnia is a condition more ommonly a condition termed as sleeplessness.  This includes lack of sleep that consists of difficulty in falling asleep, difficulty in remaining asleep, waking up very early, or a combination of these. When it continues for more then a month it is termed chronic insomnia. Insomnia leads to many other complications such as dizziness, headache, mental exhaustion, memory problems, confusion and emotional instability. Chronic insomnia can affect the person’s normal routine and functions. Insomnia is mostly related to normal day to day worries and tension and may be simply due to excessive consumption of caffeine.

Symptoms of Insomnia

1. Lack of sleep
2. Emotional instability
3. Headache
4. Loss of coordination and confusion

Causes of Insomnia

1. Following are the major causes of insomnia
2. Mental tension
3. Anxiety
4. Emotional Stress
5. Overwork or overexcitement
6. Suppressed feelings
7. Anger and bitterness
8. Constipation, dyspepsia, overeating at night
9. Excessive intake of tea or coffee
10. Smoking habit
11. Going to bed feeling hungry
12. Suffering from chronic diseases or ailments

• The following are some of the effective home remedies for insomnia:
• Drinking a cup of hot milk before going to bed is a very common home remedy for insomnia. Taking Thiamine or vitamin B also helps in the treatment of insomnia.
• Take 1 teaspoonful of juice of celery leaves with stalks and 1 teaspoon full of honey.
• Kava is a very powerful herb that reduces insomnia, improves sleep without lessening concentration or causing drowsiness. Drink Kava a few hours before bedtime to reduce stress, tension, anxiety and relax muscles. It induces a deeper and restful sleep.
• Include raw onion salad in your dinner.
• Aniseed is valuable in curing insomnia. This tea is prepared by boiling of water in a vessel with a teaspoon of aniseed. Cover with a lid and allow it to simmer for fifteen minutes. Strain and drink it hot. The tea may be sweetened with honey. This tea should be taken before going to bed.
• Application of hot bag on the spine at bed time relaxes body and induces sleep.
• Use of curd is also useful in insomnia. Take plenty of curd and massage it on the head as it induces sleep.
• Lettuce is highly effective in the treatment of insomnia as it contains a sleep-inducing substance, 'lectucarium'. The juice been likened in effect to the sedative action of opium without the accompanying excitement. Lettuce seeds can also be taken in a decoction for treating insomnia. One tablespoon of seeds should be boiled in half a liter of water, till it is reduced to one-third in quantity.
• Boil one tablespoon of lettuce seeds in half a liter of water, till it is reduced by one-third. This is also useful home remedy for insomnia.
• Prepare a mixture of chamomile flowers, 1 teaspoon of. Hops, 1 teaspoon of valerian root and1 cup of boiling water. Steep for 45 minutes, strain it and drink one hour before bedtime.
• Consume 2 glasses of orange juice with a table spoon of honey at bed time. This is a useful home remedy for insomnia.
• Take 2 teaspoons of fenugreek leaves juice with 1 teaspoon of honey at bed time daily to alleviate insomnia.
• Mix two teaspoonful of honey in warm water and take this before going to bed. It is also an effective home remedy for inducing sleep.
• Valerian relaxes nerves and muscles, improves sleep quality and also makes falling asleep easier. It has no side effects or addiction and hence a good home remedy for insomnia.
• Taking a table spoon of honey in warm sweet milk is a very effective method to fight insomnia.
• Extract of orange’s flower at bed time is another effective home remedy in relieving stress and insomnia.
• A mixture of bottle gourd juice and sesame oil in equal ratio acts as an effective home remedy for insomnia. Massage it over the scalp every night. The cooked leaves of bottle gourd can be taken as a vegetable.
• Having hot milk with a pinch of cinnamon powder mixed with a table spoon of honey helps in inducing sleep.

1. Take a hot bath at bedtime as it will induce sound sleep
2. Do relaxation exercises shortly before bedtime
3. Doing meditation also helps to reduce stress and mental tension
4. Avoid watching TV at late night
5. Avoid coffee, tea, cola
6. Avoid intake of alcohol
7. Avoid smoking