World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

A SCIENTIFIC AYURVEDIC EXPLORATION OF NIDRA IN ELDERLY PEOPLE: A REVIEW

Dr. Pooja Dubey*, Dr. (Smt.) Kalpana D. Sathe and Dr. Archana Singh

ABSTRACT

Nidra (sleep) is one of the main pillars of good health in Ayurveda. More than half of the life is invariably spent in the Nidra. Sleep can be influenced by age, lifestyle, daily routines, diet, and environment. Longevity and old age are accompanied with a variety of health challenges and population studies indicate that the elderly will use between three to five times more health care services compared to the younger population. Sleep related problems are one of them causes disturbed life style. Sleep disturbances increases with aging and it is estimated that nearly 67% of the elderly people have at least one sleep related complaints. In modern sciences sleep wake circadian rhythms are regulated by a pacemaker in brain and controlled by some external factors including light, temperature and social interactions. In addition pattern of sleep have many variations in different subjects in terms of age, physiologic and psychological characteristics. Ayurveda has been recognized as one of the world?s most authoritative mind, body, spirit, medicinal systems. In all Ayurvedic Samhitas, Ahara (food), Nidra (sleep) and Brahmacharya (sexual regime) are given prime importance under the name of “Tryopstambha” the sub pillars of life. Nidra (sleep) in a proper manner is considered as a basic human need and it is important for good health. Here in this paper a literary review on Nidra and its importance is attempted to present with Ayurvedic perspective to understand the various sleep conditions and sleep related problems of elderly population.

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