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Acharya Charaka, one of the key figures in the development of the ancient school of Ayurveda, was quoted as saying that sleep is "Bhutadhathri," meaning that it "nourishes our body like a mother, or dhatri, nourishes her kid."
Digital Desk: Experts consistently stress the need of getting a good night's sleep for the healthy operation of our mind and body, whether they are using Ayurveda or modern science. This is because sleep deprivation can negatively affect your health and increase your risk of developing major disorders including heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and mental health problems, among others. Ayurveda advises paying close attention to the direction you are sleeping in addition to making sure you are getting a suitable amount of sleep.
Dr. Arun Gopinath, Senior Medical Officer, Kerala Ayurveda, emphasised the need for sleep by saying, "Farmers frequently leave their fields fallow, allowing the soil to rejuvenate and regain its lost richness. Similar to this, sleep allows us to refresh and invigorate our senses in preparation for a new day and productive work. Nidra, or sleep, is so important in Ayurveda that it is included alongside eating, or Ahara, and sexual behaviour, or Brahmacharya, as one of the three pillars of life, or the Traya Upasthambhas.
Acharya Charaka, one of the key figures in the development of the ancient school of Ayurveda, was quoted as saying that sleep is "Bhutadhathri," meaning that it "nourishes our body like a mother, or dhatri, nourishes her kid."
Nevertheless, despite all of its advantages, a lot of people have trouble falling asleep soundly. While we frequently attribute it to lifestyle circumstances, we pay little attention to the direction in which we sleep, which may have a big impact on the quality of our sleep as well as our health. Dr. Gopinath noted that the Ayurvedic text Anandakanda specifies the proper sleeping positions for deep, restful sleep.
The best direction to sleep
Dr. Dixa Bhavsar Savaliya, a specialist in Ayurveda, advises that one should sleep with their head facing south because this is thought to be the direction of deep, heavy slumber. "There is a harmonious attraction between your head and the direction because the south is negatively charged and your head is positively charged. If you sleep with your head to the north, energy is brought into your body, fostering health, happiness, and success, as opposed to being pulled out. She added, "That implies you should sleep like a log with your head pointing south.
Dr. Gopinath agreed, adding, "In mythology, it is said to be the direction of Lord Yama, which means you will experience longevity or deerghayu in this direction.
According to a study that was written up in the National Library of Medicine, people who were told to sleep with their heads in the south for 12 weeks had the lowest systolic, diastolic, heart rate, and serum cortisol levels.
The worst sleeping position
Is there also a terrible way to sleep? Ayurvedic professionals advised staying away from facing north while sleeping, just as the south is said to be the greatest orientation for sleeping. This is so that the positive poles of the earth and our bodies, which resist one another, coincide when we sleep northward. As a result, you will experience nightmares and restless nights, according to Dr. Gopinath.
According to Dr. Dixa, if you go in this way, you won't get a good night's sleep and are more likely to wake up fatigued from the all-night-long unconscious battle. According to Ayurveda, this magnetism is known to disrupt blood circulation, generate tension, and disturb the psyche.
East and West, what about them?
Let's look more closely at the other two directions and how they could affect your sleep and, consequently, your health now that it has been determined that sleeping with your head towards the south and north is the best and worst postures, respectively.
East: As it is thought to improve memory, this sleeping direction is considered advantageous for students. According to Dr. Gopinath, the rising sun in the east represents renewal and positive energy characterized by intelligence and creativity.
Dr. Dixa continued by saying that this approach encourages meditative sleep, attention improvement, and overall extremely good health.
West: On the other hand, sleeping to the west is associated with a restless night. She said, "According to Vastu Shastra, this is the direction of striving that could offer you disturbing dreams and not a very pleasant night's sleep.
Dr. Gopinath also said that sleeping with your head to the west can cause emotional distress. "It makes you more restless, or Rajas, and you might have nightmares. It is for individuals who want to succeed in life and are not concerned about their sleep quality, but it also makes a person success-driven,” he added.
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