Significance of Ideal Nidra in Lifestyle Disorder

Vd. Prajakta Himmatrao Karale. (PG Student)
Guide : Vd. Rajkumar B. Bobade. (HOD Department of Swasthavritta)
College : C. A. R. C. Nigdi, Pune

Background :
Ayurveda, the first systematic science ever evolved throughout the globe emphasizes on physical and mental fitness with prevention and preservation of health in a comprehensive manner. This ancient science developed from extra-sensory logic of our great seers, is crowned with undoubted knowledge, which is unchallenged till date. 

“Prevention is better than cure” is the basic concept of Ayurveda. Curing a diseased person and redefining his healthy status,is the primary goal of a physician. However, Ayurveda generally aims at preventing the person from getting diseased by maintaining the balanced condition of Tridoshaj,viz ; Vata, Pitta,Kapha in his body. This idea of prevention is explained for the first time in ayurveda and is the basic concept for a healthy society. Ayurveda suggests balance in the functions of Doshas, Dhatu and Mala as well as Agni and Ojas, throughout a day and accordingly the daily routine should be planned. Each and every individual for maintaining healthy conditions of body and mind, should follow this concept called “Dincharya”.

To keep fit, one should be very alert at every movement.One must understand the importance of biological clock or circadian rhythm.The environmental changes every nowand then,i.e; morning,afternoon, evening,day and night,summer,rains and winter.In order to keep healthy,each person must try to adjust with these constant changes. One, who wants to keep fit himself for whole of his lifetime,should also be fit for every day. Health depends on how one spends each day. The ideallifestyle for a day is called as “Daily Regimen”(Dincharya).Daily regimen explains the various duties from one day to next day.Daily region is also dividedinto 1) Day regimen. 2) Night regimen. “Brahmemuhurteuttishthet” “Early to bed and early to arise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.This proverb has a great significance.Ayurveda has recommended auspicious time Brahma-muhurta.

Brahmamuhurta is auspicious time for getting up from bed. Brahmamuhurta-vaishishtyam is the best time for meditation. Ayurveda believes in saying it.It focus on daily regimen that can avoid lifestyle disorder diseases,but in todays lifestyle changing day by day and in changed lifestyle it’s very difficult to follow daily regimen. Ritucharya is a well known fact that different atmospheric changes in the atmosphere affect all livings things isdetrimental. In order to of achieve maximum benefits from the good qualities of the atmosphere and protection from the bad effects,Ayurveda has prescribed certain rules,in regard to diet and sleep(Nidra),called seasonal regimen or Richaryacharya.

Introduction :
Trayopstambhais the key to health and disease, does not lie in the application of drugs or chemicals or special therapies but in the prime factors on which our life and vitality is based.The three most important ones in Ayurveda are food,sleep and sexual energy.(Ahar, Nidra and Brahmacharya).
Importance of Three Pillars: The life will be happy with increasing body strength,colour, complexion and growth.In Ayurveda Dincharya is mentioned by Acharyas.According to ayurveda,one should wake up at “Brahmya muhurta” Sleep is an important phenomenon in our life as a part of normal physiology to provide rest and relaxation to the body,mind and sences which gets tired and exhausted because of daily schedule,hence inCharaksamhita it is included Trayopstambh to give prime importance to three pillars of life which gives strength,complexion and compactness to the individual body. Susrutacharya said that nidra is a state of human body when sense organ disconnectfrom their grasping of their objects. According to Vaghbhatnidra is caused by increased in Tamma gunna and also influenced by Tamma gunna as we see that Tamma gunna increases at night time,hence nidra will occurs at night time. According to Charak samhita nidra which taken properly in terms of quality and quantity gives Sukh,Pushty,Balata,Gyana and Jivitam.On the other hand abnormal sleep in terms of quality and quantity inadequate,excessive or irregular will exert exactly opposite effects that are Dukkh, Karshyam, Abalam, Agyanam, Ajivitam. There should be equal balace between Dosh, Dhatu,Mala, AgniandHarmony between mind, body and spirit. If person has all these things considered as healthy, so in today’s very hectic lifestyle and person is always stressed for time.Most of our health problems are related to modern lifestyle, stress. Stress has become invitable part of modern lifestyle stress is the major cause which cause diseases. In human stress typically describes negative conditions  or positive conditions that can have an impact on persons mental and physical well being.

Change in lifestyle is one of the most important factors for stress.Because of stress emotional problems like inability to concentrate,pour judgments, memory problem,mood disturbances,anxiety,depression etc.
Stressful life is also a cause to push youngsters to get addicted to alcohol, cigarette smoking,drug abuse etc. Because of this stress induced diseases like hypertension, diabetes also increases. Due to these diseases lifespan of human being is also decreasing day by day.

Ayurvedic Concept :
Importance of Nidra : Nidra or sleep is the secondary important pillar of life.It is a physiological state of rest for the body, mind,sense and motor organs. When the mind is exhausted and exhausted sense organs detract from their objects, the man sleeps.A person spends 1/3rd of his life in sleep. So, it is important to see that one gets a sound sleep at night. According to Samhitas Kapha Pradhan Prakruti person will have more Nidra; In  vatapradhanprakruti person will have less nidra & nidra will madhyam in pitta pradhanprakriti. Natural Sleep in Adults:One feels sleepy during the night because of the calm and quit
environment conditions and increase of Tamma gunna.During day bright light and various noises stimulating effects and keeps a person awake and alert similarly Sattava quality predominates and hence the person remains active.
1. Qualities of adequate sleep (SamyakNidra) : Due to proper and adequate sleep body tissues and doshas remain in balanced state of health both physically and mentally. Charak states that,happiness and sorrow, obesity and emaciation,strength and weakness,virility and impotence,knowledge and ignorance,life and death are all depends on adequate and inadequate sleep.
2. Atinidra : Oversleepleads to obesity & diseases due to increased kaphadosha such as DM.
3. Anidra : Inadequate sleep leadsto increase vatadosha wasting of tissue,emaciation,causes of insomnia.
Effects of Insomnia :
1. Body ache
2. Indigestion
3. Drowsiness
4.Giddiness

Improper sleep causes mental as well as diseases likediabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, congenital heart diseases. Due to stressful lifestyle and improper sleep the risk of hypertension had increase.
Obesity : Repeated disruption of Circadian System,pineal hormone Melatonin suppression by exposure to light tonight .Sleep deprivation causes impairment of the immune system plus metabolic changes favoring obesity. Diabetes mellitus : Improper sleep causes Diabetes mellitus. CHD : Stressful lifestyle causes coronary heart diseases. Due to smoking,alcoholism,psychological disturbances more people get addicted and various causes of death due to canceretc.Today alcoholism is main addiction in India.

Modern Concept :
Ancient lifestyle was littlebit different than today.During ancient time person where less occupied and there was less strain,but in today’s hectic and materialistic culture. Rarely person gets the time to think of his own health or fitness.Many people think that daily lifestyle is not possible to follow.
Lifestyle of Indian villagers is more natural than people living in urban area.They sleep early and get up in early morning, but in urban life is very artificialDue to person activities, occupations and recreations people go to bed very late and also get up very late after sunrise. Night duty causes disturbance in sleep.People who work in night becomes more prone to symptoms of loss of sleep, hence ayurveda prescribes not to work in night and not to sleep in day time. Human body has internal biological clock that regulates our twenty four hours sleep wake up cycles also known as Circadian rhythm.Light is the primary source that influences circadian rhythm,when the sun comes up in the morning,the brain tells the body to wake up.

At night when there is less light our brain triggers to release Melatonin hormone that makes sleepy. When circadian rhythm disrupted,person may feels disoriented and sleepy and cause many disorders
like insomnia. The etiological factors of insomnia provided in ayurveda includedietary consumption and stress.

Conclusion :
During sleep sympathetic activity decreases; while parasympathetic activities sometimes increases therefore the blood pressure falls,pulse rate decreases,BMR fallsby 10% to 20%, muscle tone decreases,skin vessels dilates and activity of gastro-intestinal tract sometime increases. During normal daily physical and mental activities catabolism tends to be greater metabolism after hours of wakeful phase,a state of tiredness of body resulting in sleep therefore a man who works hard exert more physically and mentally would requires hours of sleep.If we do not take proper sleep at night then there will be indigestion. Disorders are causing due to improper sleep are Agnimandhya, Ajirna, Amlapitta, headache,constipation. It also affects on nervous system causing mental disorders like lack of concentration, insomnia, inability to concentrate, poor judgement, memory problem, mood disturbances, anxiety,depression. Therefore ideal Nidra plays important role in maintaining good health and helps to avoid life
disorders.
References :
1. Aacharya Vaidya Yadavaji Trikamji editor Vol 24 Varanasi Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan 1990 Charaka Samhita (Sutrastana 11.35)
2. Aacharya Vaidya Yadavaji Trikamji Acharya Narayana Ram Editons 2nd ed. Vol 8 Varanasi Chaukhamba Prakashan 1990. Charaka Samhita (Vimanasthan 21.50)
3. Aacharya Vaidya Yadavaji Trikamji editor Vol 24 Varanasi Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan 1990 Charaka Samhita (Vimanasthan 11.21)
4. Aacharya Vaidya Yadavaji Trikamji editor Vol 24 Varanasi Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan 1990 Charaka Samhita (Sutrastana 21.44)
5. Aacharya Vaidya Yadavaji Trikamji Acharya Narayana Ram Editons 2nd ed. Vol 8 Varanasi Chaukhamba Prakashan 1990. Charaka Samhita (Sutrastana 11.21)
6. Aacharya Vaidya Yadavaji Trikamji editor Vol 24 Varanasi Chaukhamba Sanskrit Sansthan 1990 Charaka Samhita (Sutrastana 21.35)
7. Acharya Raghuveera Prasada Trivedi ,Ashtang Sangraha Sutrastana 3:3-5, Baidyanath Ayurved Bhavana PVT.

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