INSOMNIA

Insomnia, a common sleeping disorder, is also known as the Disorder of Initiation and/or Maintenance of Rest (DIMS). Insomnia means several of the following.

• Difficulty in initiating rest ( going off to sleep).
• Difficulty in maintaining sleeping ( remaining asleep). This can include both:

a. Frequent awakening during the night, and

b. Early morning awakening.

• non-restorative sleep where despite an adequate duration of sleep, there exists a feeling of failing to have rested fully (poor quality sleep).

Insomnia is very common, with practically 15-30% of the standard population complaining of an interval of insomnia annually requiring treatment. It is required for diagnosis that sleep disturbance occurs at least three times weekly for at least a month and that it causes either marked distress or interferes with social and occupational performance. Continue reading to know the best treatment for insomnia.

Causes:

The common factors behind insomnia include:

a. Medical illness

• Any painful or uncomfortable condition
• Heart diseases
• Respiratory diseases
• Rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease
• Old age
• Brain stem or hypothalamic lesions
• Delirium
• PMS (Periodic movements in sleeping, e.g. Periodic Limb Activity Disorder, Restless legs syndrome)

b. Alcohol and drug use

• Drug or alcohol withdrawal syndrome
• Delirium tremens
• Amphetamine or additional stimulants, e.g. caffeine
• Chronic alcoholism

c. Current medication

• Current medicine, e.g. fluoxetine, steroids, theophylline, propranolol

d. Psychiatric disorders

• Mania ( may well not complain of a decrease in sleep, as there is normally a decreased dependence on sleep)
• Main depression ( difficulty in maintenance of rest is considerably more prominent, although difficulty in initiating rest is also present)
• Dysthymia ( difficulty in initiating rest is characteristic )
• Panic ( difficulty in initiating rest is common)
• Stressful life situation ( could cause temporary insomnia )

e. Idiopathic insomnia

Management

• A thorough medical and psychiatric assessment
• Polysomnography may get needed in some patients to reach a diagnosis
• Treatment of the underlying physical and/or psychiatric disorder, if present
• Withdrawal of current prescription drugs, if any
• Relaxation techniques before sleep time and education regarding rest hygiene. Sleep hygiene includes general guidelines for promoting very good sleep. Alone, it is not a treatment for insomnia.
• Psychotherapy, if indicated
• Drug treatment

Sleep hygiene:

Some basic parts of sleep hygiene are :

• Regular, daily physical exercises ( preferably not at night )
• Minimize daytime napping
• Avoid fluid intake and major meals just before bedtime
• Avoid caffeine intake before sleeping hours
• Avoid regular make use of alcohol, especially avoid utilization of alcohol as a good hypnotic for promoting sleep
• Avoid reading or watching tv sets while in bed
• Sleep in a dark, tranquil, and comfortable environment
• The regular time for sleeping and waking up
• Try relaxation techniques  

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Homoeopathy today is a quickly growing system and is being practised around the globe. Its strength lies in its evident effectiveness since it requires a holistic approach towards the sick specific through the promotion of inner balance at mental, emotional, spiritual and physical amounts. When insomnia is concerned there are various effective medicines obtainable in Homoeopathy, however, the selection depends upon the individuality of the patient, considering mental and physical symptoms

COFFEA CRUDA: Coffea crude is probably the top-rated remedy for insomnia of acute origin. Coffea cruda is prescribed when your brain is charged by an extreme inflow of thoughts and concepts during sleep. Sometimes it is due to joy, pleasurable excitement or sudden happy surprises in addition to unexpected bad news. Such a state may also be within those who drink an excessive amount of wine or in those over- fatigued from very long journeys. When the individual lies down to try to sleep, the mind is merely awake with a move of ideas.

NUX VOMICA: Nux vomica is usually prescribed when the insomnia is because of the abuse of stimulants e.g. Alcohol, wine, coffee, smoking or by overwork or excess studying .. Nux vomica patients can often drift off early, but awakens at three or four 4 am. with superb mental activity or problems. When the time to surge rolls around the patient finally feels in a position to sleep but instead must get right up in an exhausted, irritable talk about. Nux vomica is recommended to irritable, very easily angered and impatient persons. They are generally chilly, nervous and excitable.

ACONITUM NAPELLUS: Aconitum napellus is approved for those patients who are restless and fired up with an anguished sort of fear. This state of the head often comes in the early phases of an abrupt acute illness, frequently after a chill. But this condition may also be caused by a shock or fright, for instance, a serious accident, healthy disaster, or operation.

CHAMOMILLA: Chamomilla is another leading remedy for insomnia. Chamomilla patients are irritable and uncivil. They are often frantic with soreness or irritability and claim they can not stand it. Chamomilla patients are drowsy throughout the day, but unable to sleep regardless of sleeplessness. This sort of irritability is seen in teething infants who insist upon staying carried, or in adults who’ll walk the floor.

ARNICA MONTANA: Arnica Montana is an efficient remedy for sleeplessness because of physical or mental overexertion. The individual is overtired but cannot sleep and could look and feel bruised or the bed may look too hard.

ALFALFA:  Alfalfa works well to sleep better in the morning. It induces quiet, peaceful, and refreshing sleep.

COCCULUS INDICUS: Cocculus patients are sleepless from exhaustion. In Cocculus insomnia sometimes comes from the loss of sleep associated with night enjoying or nursing ill people. Their sleep could be interrupted by waking and beginning. Cocculus patients happen to be emotionally sensitive, conveniently offended, and intolerant of contradiction or they might be extremely sad.

NATRUM MURIATICUM: Natrum Mur is effective for insomnia because of grief and unpleasant events of days gone by.

AVENA SATIVA: Avenasativa is approved for insomnia due to alcoholism or morphine habits.

IGNATIA AMAR:  Ignatiaamara is approved for insomnia due to grief and an event like death. There is normally continuous yawning and a fear that she can never sleep again.

KALI PHOSPHORICUM: Kali Phos is recommended for insomnia from anxiety and stress and anxiety. Kali Phos may also be recommended for insomnia resulting from overexertion of body and mind.

BARYTA CARBONICUM: Baryta carb. is effective for insomnia of elderly persons. It is prescribed whenever a person feels sleepy but cannot sleep. Likewise, there is great support for the treatment of disturbed sleep and sleeping with anxious dreams.

PASSIFLORA INCARNATA: Passiflora is considered to be a specific cure for insomnia. It’s the best cure for sleeplessness among aged persons that are accompanied by restlessness. Passiflora can be an effective cure for insomnia of alcoholics.

ARSENIC ALBUM: Arsenic alb is a highly effective remedy for sleeplessness because of restlessness. There can be the inability to drift off or getting up at about 2 am because of anxiety. Great restlessness with a great need to get right up and walkabout in the room. Sleepy but struggling to sleep. The child tosses during intercourse and kicks the clothes.

AMBRA GRISEA: Ambragrisea works well for insomnia because of worries or business problems.

CANNABIS INDICA: Cannabis indica works well for obstinate and severe varieties of insomnia. The individual is sleepy, but cannot take action.

PISCIDIA: Pisidia works well for insomnia due to worry, nervous exhilaration, dysmenorrhoea, cough and pain.

Abhishek

Im a student and i like blogging.