Sleep from an Ayurvedic Point of View
In Ayurveda, sleep is an important pillar upon which our health rests. For that reason, there are several Ayurvedic rituals that can be followed to promote a healthy sleep when it is disturbed. Some of these are as follows:
- A The evening meal should be light and should not be eaten too late, if possible at least three hours prior to going to bed.
- A brisk walk after the evening meal improves the quality of sleep. Ayurveda prescribes exactly 100 steps.
- If possible, go to bed between 9:45 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. In the evening between 6 and 10 the Dosha Kapha’s influence on the body grows. By the time this period of Kapha ends, the body is lethargic and tired making falling asleep easier.
- Drink warm fresh organic milk plain or mixed with herbs such as cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or saffron in the evening. From a scientific point of view, the addition of spices improves melatonin levels.
Sleeping milk recipe: Boil 1 cup of milk + 1 tsp. almond powder or almond butter + 1-2 pinches of nutmeg powder + 3 cardamom capsules + ½ tsp. palm sugar or Sharkara; subsequently add 1 tsp. Ghee and drink the warm milk 1 hour before sleeping. Try our sleeping milk spice mixture >>
- Listen to relaxing music such as Gandharva-Veda. It relaxes the mind.
- Massaging the feet with lukewarm Ghee before going to bed is a traditional ritual for reducing an access of the Dosha (regulatory power) Vata and relaxing the body.
- The bedroom should be quite dark.
- If there are still problems with falling asleep, forego all spicy, hot and sour foods during the day and eat things that are sweet and bitter. Mix a teaspoonful of coconut oil with a few drops of lavender oil and massage the mixture into the top of the skull, forehead and temples. This can calm sleep disturbances.
We wish you a healthy sleep!
