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Psychic Ailments of the nervous system
This section has been divided into eight sub-sections. These are as follows:
(1) Insomnia (Sleeplessness);
(2) Sciatica;
(3) Schizophrenia;
(4) Hysteria;
(5) Memory Loss;
(6) Paralysis of the face;
(7) Epilepsy; and
(8) Cramps
Let’s analyze them in details:
1.Insomnia
Insomnia is habitual sleeplessness.
Sleep: Why is it required?
Sound sleep refurbishes the tissue cells and vital organs of or bodies. In fact, sleep is similar to the much-needed rest a well-tuned but over-taxed car is in badly need of.
During sleep, the hormonal glands function properly. On the other hand, any disturbance in sleep impairs those glands. As a result, the body becomes vulnerable to many ailments.
Actually, excessive mental activity makes the brain cells rather tired. This causes sleep.
The average sleep duration
A healthy individual generally has six hours of sound sleep daily.
One should make it a habit of retiring early at night and getting up before sunrise.
Who need more sleep?
However, professionals who need to stay awake late in the night-time should have adequate good sleep during the daytime.
Studies have shown that children and people putting in excessive hard physical work during the daytime do need more sleep than their counterparts.
Patients suffering from acute and chronic ailments require more sound sleep than the normal ones. Such rest promotes the anabolic functioning of our metabolic system. As a result catabolism is arrested.
People suffering from the Spur Syndrome should have adequate sound sleep after suppers.
Digestion is boosted when one gathers sound sleep after the major meals.
Such people should have a catnap after lunch.
Mentionably, normal people should not sleep during the daytime, though. Moreover, a person with normal health must not sleep during the wintry season.
Causes of insomnia
According to Ayurvedic principles, insomnia or sleeplessness occurs due to the predominance of Pitta and Vayu within the body.
Many theories try to pinpoint the exact causes of insomnia.
Less physical work, excessive mental tension, anxiety, worry, anger and emotional stress and strain cause insomnia.
The normal professional mental tension can also cause insomnia.
The common factors identified as being responsible for insomnia are mental and physical fatigue, over-alcoholism, disturbed environ like a burning bulb or a loud sound, indigestion, constipation, too much sleep during the daytime.
Consumption of stimulating drinks; spicy food; heavy activity immediately after meals can also cause insomnia.
Besides, environmental factors like excessive exposure to noise, heat, rain or cold can also cause sleeplessness.
Change in the habitual environment, psychic factors besides certain medications cause insomnia.
Women suffering from menopause besides elderly men may also suffer from this physiological condition.
Above all, several ailments like liver and kidney problems; heart ailments; and high blood pressure besides those ailments causing pain in different parts of the body can also cause insomnia.
Insomnia can be transitory or get prolonged
Insomnia can continue for a long time or be just a transitory phase.
If a person fails to get adequate sleep, the glands secreting hormones fail to function. This manifests in the aforementioned ailments.
The patient may also suffer from nightmares.
Common consequences of insomnia
The patient may suffer from indigestion, flatulence and general weakness.
Dietary regimen
The patient must have a nourishing and balanced diet.
Cow’s ghee, butter and buffalo milk are beneficial for such persons.
Such persons can have heavy food only if they can digest the food items.
What not to eat
Avoid spicy and hot food.
Easy home remedy
Ripe banana and cumin seeds together constitute a very effective home remedy to tackle this condition.
The dose: Mash a ripe banana and mix with it a teaspoonful of fried cumin seeds. This concoction should be taken by the patient before he/she retires for the night.
Other important points
Tackle constipation at the initial stages.
Stay from psychic situations that cause mental stress, tension, worries, sorrow or anxieties. Such factors cause insomnia.
Physical exercise is good for such patients.
Regularly practise mind control exercises as well as the Yogic breathing (Pranayama) and meditation postures.
Brisk morning and evening walks are beneficial for these patients.
Tackle insomnia sans medicines
Pinpoint the cause(s) of insomnia & directly tackle it sans medicines.
This is the natural and safe method of having a refreshing sound sleep.
First ascertain the causes of insomnia. Then directly deal with them.
One can also have the home remedy mentioned above.
Ayurvedic treatments
Go for the medications only if the condition persists despite the above measures. The most effective Ayurvedic means to tackle sleeplessness (insomnia) is the Dhara therapy. Besides it prescribes Amalaki, Vacha and Brahmi to treat this condition.
The Dhara therapy
The Dhara therapy treats chronic insomnia. It has strong therapeutic qualities.
Preparation Process: Boil two litres of buffalo milk; mix 60 grams of Amalaki powder. Make curd of the mixture. Add water to this curd and churn it. Then, eliminate the butter from the churned curd.
Application Mode: Make the patient lie down flat on his/her back. Slowly drip the butter-milk on the forehead especially between the two eyebrows. The duration of this therapy is 20 minutes.
Amalaki, Vacha and Brahmi
This is another commonly recommended treatment for patients suffering from insomnia. The main ingredients of this medication are the powder of the three naturally available products — Amalaki, Vacha and Brahmi.
One can consume the powder individually or in combination with another.
Preparation Process: Take a teaspoonful of the powder (individually or in the combined form) three times daily. Immediately follow it with a cup of water or milk each time.
The balm: The powder can also be mixed with til (sesame) oil as a massaging balm. The patient’s head and body should be massaged with this balm before he/she bathes and retires for the night. It guarantees sound sleep.
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