Insomnia can be classified as Transient (short term), intermittent (on and off) and chronic (constant). Chronic insomnia can result out of a combination of physical and mental disorders both or either one of them. Depression is the most common cause although physical causes such as night pains caused by arthritis, kidney and heart disease, restless legs syndrome, Parkinson?s disease and hyperthyroidism also can be the causative factors for insomnia. In addition some other factors also have role in insomnia ? excessive caffeine (tea, coffee) intake, intake of alcohol before bedtime, smoking cigarettes before bedtime, ditrupted wake/sleep schedules, excessive sleeping in the afternoon and at times it is the worry of having a difficulty in sleeping that causes it. Though insomnia is found in both the sexes it seems to be more pronounced in women after menopause. It is also more in the elderly

Treating Insomnia

Where as the conventional system treats this disease by giving drugs to induce artificial sleep, which frequently may cause side effects or addiction, Homeopathic approach is totally safe and natural. It treats insomnia by giving a tiny dose of a substance that, in large doses, would cause sleeplessness in a healthy person. This tiny dose helps in optimizing the sleep regulatory mechanism in the body. Coffea Cruda is a homoeopathic medicine that is most often used for treating insomnia of acute origin. As the name suggests it is made from coffee beans. It is indicated when insomnia is due to the mind being overcharged by an excessive inflow of thoughts and ideas at the time of sleep. Nux Vomica is more suited when insomnia is due to the abuse of stimulants e.g. Alcohol, coffee, smoking etc.

Chronic insomnia needs to be treated according to the cause and also evaluated on the constitutional scale while being prescribed for. The high efficacy Homoeo-treatment for depression needs a special mention as it is the most common cause for chronic insomnia.

Fighting sleeplessness

The underlying cause

The key is to find out what’s causing the insomnia so that it can be dealt with directly. Simply making a few changes in the sleep habits helps many people

Set a schedule

It is important to set a schedule for sleeping. Sleeping and waking according to a set schedule can help in overcoming insomnia..

Relaxation

Make restful activities a part of your bedtime habits. Any activity such as a bath, reading, music etc. which relaxes you, make it a bedtime ritual.

Regular exercise

Set a regular exercise schedule, and for maximum benefits exercise 5-6 hours before sleep time.

Avoid caffeine alcohol and nicotine

Caffeine drinks e.g. coffee and tea should be avoided after evening hours.

Alcohol and smoking before bedtime should be completely avoided

Wake up with the sun

Make sure you get up with the sun. Let enough sunlight enter your bedroom in the morning as sunlight helps set the body?s internal biological clock each day.

Don?t lie in bed awake

If after 30 minute of lying in bed you are not able to sleep it is better that you do something else till you feel sleepy