INSOMNIA AND HOMOEOPATHY by Dr. Shalini Kapoor

Dr. Shalini Kapoor

shalini.dr.kapoor@gmail.com

HOMOEOPATHIC PAEDIATRICIAN AND COUNSELING EXPERT

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With more and more of psychological interventions and changing lifestyles sleeplessness has become a common scenario, nearly everyone suffers from sleepless nights once in a while but does that indicate a diagnosis of insomnia; lets take a closer look through this article and understand insomnia in totality.
Insomnia is defined as having little or poor quality sleep (frequently waking up or having unrefreshing sleep).
Types of insomnia

• Transient insomnia: lasts from one night to a few weeks, occasional, may be due to jetlag or anxiety.
• Acute insomnia: the inability to consistently sleep without interruption for a period of three weeks to six months. Stress or psychological problems such as anxiety are the most common triggers.
• Chronic insomnia: Chronic insomnia is long-term, and persists almost for more than one month.
• Fatal familial insomnia: a very rare inherited disease of the brain. The dominant gene responsible has been found in just 28 families worldwide. If only one parent has the gene, the offspring have a 50% chance of inheriting it and developing the disease. The disease’s progression into complete sleeplessness is untreatable, and ultimately fatal.

Common causes and contributing factors

• Psychological: anxiety, stress, and depression, feelings of grief, worry, exhilaration or excitement
• Physiological: Medical conditions can cause insomnia, such as chronic (long-term) pain (including arthritis, fibromyalgia, cancer), enlarged prostate, cystitis (common in women), over-active thyroid glands, congestive heart failure (CHF), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD, heartburn), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhoea, ulcers, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and nervous system diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. These conditions cause imbalances and changes in circadian rhythm (24 hour light and dark balance) and sleep/wake balance.
• Medications: These include nasal decongestants, weight loss drugs, amphetamines (including methamphetamine or crystal meth), some antidepressants, cocaine, and some asthma and heart medications. The abrupt stopping of medications (such as sleeping pills, hypnotics, anti-anxiety drugs, and antidepressants) can cause acute insomnia.
• Sleep apnoea
• Pregnancy, menopause
• Other common causes: Nocturnal polyuria, Excessive thirst or the use of diuretics can also cause these symptoms. Jet lag, shift work, wake-sleep pattern disturbances, aging, excessive sleep during the day, and excessive physical or intellectual stimulation at bedtime can all contribute to acute or chronic insomnia.

Signs and symptoms
Anxiousness, irritability, fatigue (tiredness), poor concentration and focus, difficulty with memory, impaired motor coordination, irritability and impaired social interaction, and motor vehicle accidents because of fatigued, sleep-deprived drivers
Preventive measures

• Exercise: Exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week.. Exercising within two hours of bedtime may cause trouble falling asleep.
• Diet: Avoid large meals and excessive fluids before bedtime, avoid caffeine, nicotine, beer, wine and liquor six to eight hours before bedtime. Small amounts of alcohol can cause early sedation or sleepiness, and is often used as a sedative. However, the use of alcohol as an effective sedative can be extremely misleading because the side effects that can result are usually even more harmful and detrimental to the natural sleep cycle.
• Environment: Controlling the environment, such as light, noise, and temperature, may help prevent insomnia.
• Establish a regular bedtime, use the bedroom for bedroom activities only, avoid staying in bed for long periods of time while awake, or going to bed because of boredom, take the TV or computer out of the bedroom (too much stimulation), relax by reading, taking a bath, or listening to soothing music before getting to bed, and try to avoid emotional upset or stressful situations prior to bedtime.

Homoeopathic treatment
Homeopathy is a healing modality with minimal side effects and non habit forming character. The common remedies of sleeplessness include:-

Coffea Cruda:

This drug suits individuals who are more sensitive to external stimuli than other people. Such patients have increased alertness and wakefulness. They are oversensitive to all stimuli and over-reactive. Insomnia accompanied by restlessness is a strong feature. There is undue excitement of mind and an overcrowding of thoughts leading to Insomnia. Nervous sleeplessness; the patient lies wide awake at night and it is impossible for him to close the eyes. Sleep is often disturbed by dreams. The patient may get sleep only till about 3 a.m. after which he only dozes off intermittently but can’t sleep properly. He may wake up on every sound. This is also a good remedy for nervousness from drinking too much of coffee or wine. Especially suited for insomnia from too much thinking.

Nux Vomica:

Irritability and insomnia remedy. Prescribed for various conditions incident to modern life, including Insomnia. Nux Vomica positively influences multiple systems of the body such as nerves, digestive system, reproductive organs, respiratory organs, etc. Patient sleeps early in the evening and then awakens at 3-4 a.m. after which he falls into dreamy sleep at day break. It is hard to arouse him from this sleep in the morning. Short sleep ameliorates his symptoms in general.

Sulphur:

It is a true polycrest remedy having influence on various systems of body like nerves, digestive system, skin, urinary system, respiratory system, reproductive organs, etc. Sleeplessness with waking up at 5 a.m. Sleeps well for 3-4 hours then wakes up; then again he dozes off for the rest of the night. Cat-naps. Occasionally the patient has to get up at night to eat. Patient sleeps on the left side; he gets nightmares when he sleeps on the back. Laughing in sleep is another indication of this remedy. Sees happy dreams and wakes up singing.

Passiflora Incarnata:

It is a very good remedy for insomnia of infants, aged, the mentally worried and overworked people. Sleeplessness resulting from mental exhaustion. The symptoms are worse from mental worries, mental excitement, at night and after meals. Passiflora also helps insomnia in persons with the morphine habit and in nervous individuals.The sleep of the patient is restless and wakeful.

Kali Phosphoricum:

It is one of the very good remedies for sleeplessness, from worry, business troubles etc. The patient is restless during sleep or may be simply drowsy and yawning but unable to sleep. Patient may have a feeling of heat during sleep. Kali Phos. is a good remedy for Somnambulism. Weak and tired feeling with extreme prostration is another important feature of this drug. Conditions arising from neurasthenia, mental and physical depression are wonderfully improved by this remedy. The common causes of complaints are usually excitement, overwork and worry