A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON SHIROABHYANGA, PADABHYANGA and KARNABHYANGA IN ANIDRA

Nidra is consideredas one of the Trividha Upastambhas (Ahar, Nidra, Bramhacharya)for maintainance of normal health, according to *Acharya Charak, Acharya Sushruta,& Bhavprakash.*Nidra plays a vital role inmaintaining the body in healthy state. Adequate sleep is critical to good healthyet many people have sleep related problems and incidence is higher amongadults.

Anidra is thesleep deficiency quantitatively and qualitatively sleep. Anidra or Nidranashais described as a disease under Nanatmaja-Vata-Vyadhi in Ayurvedaclassics. Proper balance of mental attributes Satva,Raja and Tama alsoaccount for maintaining the physiology of Nidra.Any mutual imbalance ofthe three mental faculties especially vitiation of Raja disrupts the normalsleep pattern and triggers *Anidra.*Anidra is mainlycaused by vitiation of *Vata,Pitta Dosha,*mental stress,emaciationphysical or mental trauma.

 Insomnia(inadequate quality and quantity of sleep) may be an outcome of stressfullifestyle, depressive illness, anxiety disorder, any psychiatric condition orany other pathological condition or a specific disorder. An estimated 30%-50% ofgeneral population is affected by insomnia and 10% have chronic insomnia withincreased rates seen among older ages, female gender and presence of medical orpsychiatric illness.

 Insomnia has become an important public health problem that requiresdefinite diagnosis and effective treatment. Current study is focused on stressinduced transient insomnia disorder stress of any kind mental or physicalvitiate mainly Vata Dosha.For aforesaid vitiated Dosha varioustreatment are specified in texts*.Abhyanga* is one of these treatment  modalities.

                     Acharyas has mentioned that Abhyanga is a part of dinacharyaprocedure & it should be applied at least on head, feet & ear daily.Abhyangais Vatashamak & also a part of Dincharya in Swasth Purushfor maintainance & promotion of health.For Abhyanga Tila Taila hasbeen selected for the group as it has Snigdha Guna, Madhura Rasa, MadhuraVipaka &Ushna Virya which help in Vatashamana.

NEED OF STUDY –

In modernmedicine sedative and tranquilizer drugs are used to induce sleep in insomniabut it cannot be used for a long time as it leads to dependence.In such ascenario there is need for the efficient management of insomnia in a naturalway Ayurveda treats Anidra by Shiroabhyanga, Padabhyanga &Karnabhyanga.

SHIROABHYANGA-

Shiroabhyanga isalso a part of Dinacharya (daily regimen). Shira or head is knownas Uttamanga which is the seat of Indriyas. Therefore all thefunctions of Gyanendriya & Karmendriya are controlled by the shira.Which are used to prevent and treat many psychosomatic illness.It is the beststress relieving treatment. It provides good strength, freshness & energy.It also improves metabolism, circulation & nerve conduction.

PADABHYANGA-

localaction like Snigdhata can be attained by the Sneha used for Abhyanga.The strokes which is done in Padabhyanga increases the local bloodcirculation.So Supti(numbness),Sankocha Stambha(stiffness) arerelieved*.*Kharatwa/Rukshata(dryness/cracks) arealso tackled by the Snigdha Guna of Sneha.Along with these localaction it has systemic action in Anidra(insomnia) also acts as Chakshushya& has effect in Gridhrasi.

KARNABHYANGA**-**

Shrotra is the Sthanaof Vata. When ear skin get massaged with Tila Tail its activeingredients gets absorbed by Romakupa and through Swedawahi Strotasaand enters in circulation. Tila Tail is having Madhura Rasa and UshnaVirya which help in Vatashamana, Madhura Rasa and Madhura Vipakawill help in Pitta Shaman and Snigdha Guna will increase SnigdhaGuna of Kapha. In this way the basic function of Vata getnormalized. Indriyas get relaxed and due to this Mana which is Ubhayendriyaalso get relaxed.This mechanism helps in inducing sleep.