The Management of Primary Insomnia through Pancha Sugandha Sadhita Takra Dhara - A Pilot Study

Abstract

Ayurveda essentially sees every disease as a psychosomatic manifestation and views the Mind and Body as two aspects of one unit. The three Stambha of Ayurveda are Vata, Pitta and Kapha which control all vital functions of body, to support these Tristambha there are three Upastambha namely Ahara, Nidra and Brahmacharya which increases the strength of Tristambhas. Ayurveda emphasizes mind and body achieves proper relaxation and rest through Nidra. Mainly Vata Vaigunyata is responsible for Anidra. Anidra can be clinically correlated with Insomnia. In modern medical science for the management of Insomnia includes administration of Antipsychotic and Sedatives, each of them is having its own limitations. On the other side, Ayurveda having a light of hope for this condition by correction of basic pathology particularly through Panchakarma, like external treatment in the form of Shirodhara which is one among the Murdhni Taila. In this present study 10 subjects with Primary Insomnia. Treatment given was Shirodhara with Panchasugandha Sadhita Takra Dhara for the duration of 14 days. The treatment had shown positive response by increasing duration of sleep and quality of sleep along with over well being in terms of quality of life.

Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) Seed

“…In Ayurveda, consumption of 1-2 spoons pumpkin seeds-"Kushmanda Beeja" is advised for sound sleep. It is considered as "Sleep Inducing Substance" ("Nidra Janaka Dravya") due to the presence of high amounts of magnesium and zinc (Jambli et al 2017). Halson (2013Halson ( , 2014 suggested the inclusion of~200 g of pumpkin seeds equivalent to 1 g of tryptophan to enhance sleep latency and subjective sleep quality.…”