🔘 Nidra

NIDRA

👉🏻 Introduction:-

- The Trayopasthmbhas are the subsidiary pillars, which support the body throughout the life span, by providing the qualities like Bala, Varna, Upachaya etc. 

- The Trayopastmbhas are Ahara, Nidra and Brahmacharya. 

- Each one impotence because these factors are concerned with the basic needs of living system and over indulgence or total abstinence of any of these may be harmful to life.

- The Ahara is mainly concerned with the energy production and maintenance of living tissues.

- The Nidra is the one which provide complete relaxation to the body and mind and there it restores the potentials of the individual.

-  The Brahmacharya is concemed with disciplined mode of

sexual life and reproduction.

👉🏻 Derivation of Nidra:-

-Nidra is derived from the root "Dra" with a prefix N'.

- The root "Dra" means undesired. Therefore Nidra is considered as state in which there will

be no desire.

👉🏻 Synonyms:-

- Sayana

- Swapna

- Tatwapratibodhe

- Swanyavastha

- Swapa

- Samvesa

- Suptavastha

👉🏻 Defination (Nirukti):-

•यदातुमनसिक्लान्तेकर्मान्तेकर्मात्मनः क्लमान्विता।      

विषयेग्योनिवर्तन्तेतदास्वपतिमानवः ॥                                                           (च.सू. 21/35)

- Charakacharya explains Nidra is a special state of mind in which the mind is not associated with any type of Indriyas. This detachment from the Bahya Vishaya is result from the tiredness of the body as well as mind.

👉🏻 Other definations:-

1. According to sushruta:-

• हद्यंचेतनास्थानमुक्तंसुश्चुत ! देहिनाम ॥ तमोभिभूतेत्तरसंमिस्तुनिद्राविशतिदेहिनम ||

                                          (सु. शा. 4/34)

- Hrudya is the seat of Chetana and when it is dominated by covered by Tamas tie

person gets sleep.

2.According to Vagbhatta:-

• श्लेष्मावृतेषुस्त्रोत: सु श्रमादुपरतेषु ।

                                       (अ.स.सू. 9/29)

- The Strotasa become accumulated with Shleshma and the Mana is devoid of sense organs because of Fatigueness, so individual gets sleep.

👉🏻 Types of Nidra:-

√ Acharya Caraka has classified Nidra in following manner according to causes-

• तमोभवा श्लेप्मसमुद्धावाचमनः     शरिरश्रमसंभवाच।

आगन्तुकीव्याध्यनुरवतिनीचरात्रिस्वभावप्रभवाचनिद्रा |                                                                      (च.सू. 21/58)

1. Tamobhava- caused by Tama.

2. Sleshmasamudbhava- caused by highly aggravated Kapha.

3. Manah-Sharir Srama Sambhava-caused by physical and mental exhaustion.

4. Agantuki-indicative of bad prognosis leading imninent death.

5. Vyadhi-Anuvartini- caused as a complication of other disease like Sannipataja

Jwara etc.

6. Ratri-Swabhava Prabhava- caused by the very nature of the night.)

√ Acharya Dalhana has classified Nidra into three types on the basis of Susruta Samhita:-

1.Tamasi- When SangyavahaSrotas become filled with Shlesma dominated by Tamoguna, Tamasi Nidra is produced.

2.Swabhaviki- this type of Nidra occurs naturally and daily in all living beings.

3.Vaikariki - if there is any disturbancę in Mana and body, Nidra does not occur. But

if Nidra is occurred, it is Vaikariki Nidra.

👉🏻 Physiology of Nidra:-

- When the mind including sensory and motor organs is exhausted and they dissociate themselves from their objects, then the individual sleeps.

- According to Acharya Charaka, when the Man including Indriyas is exhausted and thus they dissociate themselves from their objects, the individual sleeps.

- When the Mana gets exhausted or becomes inactive and the Gyanendriyas and Karmendriyas become inactive then the individual gets sleep.

- Acharya Sushruta said about the physiology of Nidrathat Hridaya is the seat of Chetna in living being. When this is invaded by Tamo Guna, persons are subjected to Nidra. 

- Tamo Guna is the cause of sleep and Satva Guna is the cause of awakening but overall, nature itself is more dominant cause. 

- Acharya Caraka explained physiology of Nidra that when Srotas of the body become covered by Kapha, then the body is fatigued by exertion and when the sense organs are not functioning, Nidra manifests in the body.

👉🏻 Effect of Sleep(Properties of yukta nidra):-

• निद्रायत्तंसुखं दुःखं पुष्टिः काश्श्यबलाबलम |

वृषताबलीबता   ज्ञानमज्ञानंजीवितंनच ॥

अकालेऽतिप्रसगाच्चनअचनिद्रानिषेविता । सुखायुपीपराकुर्यांतकालरात्रिरिवापरा ॥

सैवयुक्तापुनर्युक्तेनिद्रादेहंसुखायुषा । पुरुषंयोगिनंसिद्धयासत्याबुद्धिरिवागता ॥

                                   ( च. सू. 21/36-38)

- Happiness, misery, nourishment, emaciation, strength, weakness, virility, sterility,knowledge, ignorance, life and death- all these occur depending on proper or improper sleep.

- According to Sushruta Samhita, a good sleep enjoyed at proper time and for proper period, tends to improve the growth, strength, vigor and complexion of the body.

- It increases the sense of well-being by freshening the body and mind and also restores the natural equilibrium among different body tissues. So much so that the scope and importance of good sleep has been equated with the soundness of health enjoyed by a person.

- There is no physiological system in the body which doesn't get the salutary effect of sound and soothing sleep.

👉 Regulation of Sleep:-

- Sleep-wake cycle is regulated by a small gland in the brain called the *pineal gland.*

- The pineal gland receives and interprets light and darkness signals from the eyes.

- Chemical messengers translate these signals into the production of melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel sleepy.

- The pineal gland has receptors for both dopamine and serotonin.

 *1) Dopamine:-* 

- Dopamine is associated and trusted Source with wakefulness. 

- Drugs that increase dopamine levels, such as cocaine and amphetamines, typically increase alertness.

- In addition, diseases that decrease dopamine production, such as Parkinson’s disease, often cause drowsiness.

- In the pineal gland, dopamine can stop the effects of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter involved in producing and releasing melatonin. 

- When influenced by dopamine, your pineal gland makes and releases less melatonin, causing you to perk up.

 *2) Serotonin:-* 

- Serotonin’s role in regulating the sleep-wake cycle is complex. 

- While it helps in maintaining sleep, it can also prevent you from falling asleep.

- How serotonin affects sleep depends on the part of the brain it comes from, the type of serotonin receptor it binds to, and several other factors.

- In a part of your brain called the dorsal raphe nucleus, high serotonin is associated with wakefulness.

- However, an accumulation of serotonin in the area over time may put you to sleep.

- Serotonin is also involved in preventing rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Studies have shown that increasing serotonin through the use of SSRIs reduces REM sleep.

- While serotonin seems to both induce sleep and keep you up, it’s a chemical precursor to melatonin, the main hormone involved in sleep. 

- Your body needs serotonin from your pineal gland to produce melatonin.

√ THE MAIN DIFFERENCE between both dopamine and serotonin are involved in your sleep-wake cycle. 

√ Dopamine can inhibit norepinephrine, causing you to feel more alert. 

√ Serotonin is involved in wakefulness, sleep onset, and preventing REM sleep. It’s also required to produce melatonin.

👉🏻 Physiological characteristics of sleep in healthy persons:-

- Closed eyes

- Decreased pulse

- Decreased respiratory rate

- Decreased blood pressure

- Decreased body temperature

👉🏻 Physiological characteristics of sleep in ill persons:-

- Rhythmic movement disorder (jactatio capitis nocturna)

- Waking up more than 12 times

- Sweating (hyperhidrosis)

- Unrecognizable sleep phases

👉🏻 Nidra-swasthya sambandha:-

- Untimely and excessive sleep takes away both happiness and longevity.

-The same sleep, if properly enjoyed brings happiness and longevity in human beings as real

knowledge brings about spiritual power in a yogi.

👉🏻 Diwaswapna(Day sleep):-

√ Indications:-

- For most, day sleep is contraindicated but sleeping during the day time can be described for those who are exhausted by singing, study, alcoholie drinks, sexual acts,eimination therapy, carrying heavy weight, walking leng distance; those suffering from

phthisis, wasting diseases like tuberculosis, thirst, diarrhea, colic pain, dyspnea, hiccup,insanity, those who are too old, too young, weak and emaciated; those injured by fall and assault, those exhausted by journey by a vehicle, anger, grief and fear, and those who are accustomed to day sleep i.e. they are working in night.

√ Benefits of Day sleep:-

- Equilibrium of Dhatus and strength are maintained and Kapha nourishes the organs and ensures longevity. 

- In summer season, nights become shorter and Vata gets aggravated in the body due to the absorption of fluid (Adana Kala).

- Therefore, during this season, sleep during the daytime is prescribed for all.

√ Contra-indications of day sleep:-

- Sleeping during the daytime in the seasons other than summer is not advisable as it causes vitiation of Kapha and Pitta.

- Persons with excessive fat, those who are addicted

to taking unctuaus substances, those with Kapha constitution, those suffering from diseases due to the vitiation of Kapha and those suflering from artificial poisoning should never sleep during day time.

-  If one violates the prescription regarding sleep during the day time, he would subject himself to Halimaka (type of jaundice), headache, feeling as if

body is covered by wet blanket, heaviness of the body, malaise, loss of digestive power,Hridaya-Alepa (a feeling as if adhered to the heart), edema, anorexia, nausea, sinusitis,rhinitis, hemicranias, urticaria, eruption, abscess, prurutus, drowsiness, coughing,discases of the throat, impairment of the memory and intelligence, obstruction of the

circulating channels of the body, fever, weakness of sensory and motor organs andenhancement of the toxic effects of artificial poisons.

- So one should considering the merits and demerits of sleep in various seasons and situations.

- So that it may bring happiness

and health to him. Just because you feel like you need to nap during the day, it doesh t

mean it is beneficial for you.

👉🏻 Ratri Jagarana(Night awakening):-

• रात्रौजागरणं रुक्षं स्निग्धंप्रस्वपनंदिवा । अरुक्षमनभिष्यन्दित्वासीनप्रचलायितम |                                          (च. सू. 21/50)

- Awakening during night causes roughness in the body; sleep during daytime cause's unctuousness and sleeping in sitting posture does neither cause roughness nor unctuousness.

👉🏻 Swapna (Dreams):-

- Sleep is a physiological phase of 'unawake' that exists between two phase of normal and routine awakening. 

- It is a period of rest for the body and mind during which bodily functions are partially suspended and sensitivity to the external stimuli is diminished, but

readily or easily regained.

- After hours of working (physical or mental) our mind & body need rest, so that they are once again charged. But when we are dreaming during sleep our mind is still working, it isn't taking rest. 

- That is why people who dream often are not feeling fresh (mind is not recharged) even after long hours of sleep, or they want to sleep more in the daytime. 

- The quality of sleep is hampered due to dreams which in turn hamper our thinking/working

process & thus quality of life in the long run.

👉🏻 Sleep requirements:-

- During sleep the body gets repaired by itself and the brain processes the day's events and helps to sort them. 

- Some sleep more and other sleep less, burboth may be normal.

- The range of deviation of sleeping hours in the normal adult population is 4 to 10 hours per day. 

- Although the infants and children sleep more while the old people sleep less.

- A normal adult can with stand several days up to 10 days of sleep deprivation without showing any remarkably gross changes.

• New born babies :- 16-20 hours

• Children's :- 12-14 hours

• Adults :- 4-10 hours

• Old :- About 5 hours

👉🏻 Methods and measures to induce a good sleep:-

√ Aharaja Hetu :- Gramya, Anup, Varija Mamasa Rasa, Shalyanna, Shali with Dadhi, Ksheera, Madya, Sneha.

√ Viharaja Hetu :- Abhyanga, Snana, Utsadana, Samvahana, Cakshusostaerpana, application of soothing pastes to the head, application of soothing pastes to the face, comfortable bed, sleep in proper time.

√ Manasika Hetu :- pleasure of mind, indulging in odors' and sound of once own taste.

- Person gets sleep immediately when the etiologies of sleeplessness are removed.

👉🏻 Nidra-one of the Vega:-

- Vegas are natural urges which should not be controlled deliberately. 

- Nidra is one among the 13 Vegas. The Dharana of Nidra Vega may cause Moha, Gaurava, of Shira

and Akshi, Alasya, Jrumbha and Angamarda.

- The treatment that be given to these symptoms is nothing but allow the individual to sleep. Gentle touch also can promote sleep,

👉🏻 Causes of Anidra(Insomnia):-

- Elimination of Doshas in excess from the body through purgation and emesis, Nasya,fear, anxiety, anger, smoking, excessive physical exercise, excess bloodletting/loss,fasting and uncomfortable bed are causes for insomnia.

- The above mentioned factors along with overwork, stress, old age, diseases, especially these due to the vitiation of Vata like colic pain, etc. are known to cause sleeplessness even in normal individuals. Some are insomniac even by nature.