RANDOMISED CONTROLLED CLINICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF ACUPUNCTURE IN INSOMNIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ANIDRA

Nidra is one among the three Upasthambas for the maintenance of the living organism. Nidra is a natural state of rest for the mind and body, involving partial or complete loss of consciousness with closed eyes. Anidra is a sleep disturbance linked to Insomnia, characterized by difficulty initiating, maintaining, or improving sleep, leading to daytime impairment. Approximately 10% of the adult population suffers from an Insomnia disorder and another 20% experiences occasional Insomnia symptoms. Women, older adults, and people with socioeconomic hardship are more vulnerable to Insomnia. Insomnia is often a chronic condition, with a 40% persistence rate over a 5 year period. Insomnia is a significant public health problem that should be addressed at the individual level with appropriate clinical care. Primary Insomnia is a sleep disturbance that cannot be attributed to medical, psychiatric, or environmental cause. On the other-hand secondary Insomnia caused by an underlying medical condition or a medication. Hypnotic medications like benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepines are often used for treatment but carry risks, including an increased risk of Dementia.  Shiroabyanga is a form of Bahirparimarjana Chikitsa and are also a part of Dinacharya, is told to be beneficial in inducing Nidra. Hence the same has been employed in the present study. Charaka Samhita mentioned that Shiroabyanga helps to promote Nidra, prevents headache, greying, hair fall and it also gives strength to skull, strengthens hair root. It also nourishes the sense organs, softens the skin and one gets good sleep after *Shiroabyanga.*Medical Acupuncture is a system which can influence three areas of healthcare – promotion of health and wellbeing, prevention of illness, treatment of various medical conditions.The World Health Organization (WHO) recognize the use of acupuncture in the treatment of wide range of medical problems including digestive disorders, respiratory disorders, neurological disorders, muscular disorders, urinary, menstrual and reproductive problems. Acupuncture mainly has six effects i.e, analgesic effect, sedation effect, homeostatic or regulatory effect, immune-enhancing action, psychological effect, which is calming and tranquilizing action apart from mere sedation. It also helps in motor recovery in patients who have become paralyse. Needling of certain specific Acupuncture points results sedation. Some people may even fall asleep during treatment, but wakeup refreshed, it has been shown that there is a decrease in delta and theta wave activity on the electro-encephalogram during Acupuncture treatment. These effects utilised in the Acupuncture treatment for Insomnia, Anxiety states, addictions, Epilepsy, mental disorders and behavioural problems.

Hence this study is taken up to evaluate the effect of Acupuncture in Anidra w.s.r. to Primary Insomnia.