Ayurvedic shirodhara treatment for insomnia: A case study

Ayurvedic Shirodhara treatment for Insomnia: A case study

Insomnia, defined as inadequate or poor quality sleep, often leads to tiredness, lack of energy, difficulty concentrating and irritability. The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research reports that thirty to forty percent of adults report some level of insomnia any given year. Its prevalence is on the rise. Women are more commonly affected than men and it increases in both sexes along with age. Insomnia in elderly people results in deterioration of social or physical functioning. There are two major types: acute and chronic insomnia. Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches are adopted in the treatment of insomnia. Although the efficacy of pharmacological agents has been demonstrated, some patients experience more residual sedation in the mornings and may use it irregularly. Therefore, there is a growing interest in non-pharmacological interventions for adults in all ages. Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine, utilizes medicated herbal oils externally to balance the doshas and treat ailments. Shirodhara, oil dripping on the forehead in a steady stream or flow, is a widely practiced treatment as part of panchakarma regimen in India and the United States. It is usually indicated to treat stress, anxiety, insomnia, and relax the nervous system. However, these claims have not been substantiated with any clinical studies based on our literature search. This paper is an attempt to evaluate this popular treatment systematically and determine its therapeutic usefulness in insomnia using standardized outcome measures with the help of a prospective case study.