Good tips for sound sleep

• Soaking the feet in warm water for 10 minutes before going to sleep helps in increasing the quality of sleep.

• Eating a few pieces of raw onion with food helps a person to sleep better.

A tip for excessive drowsiness

Eating a small piece of onion during dinner will reduce excessive sleep problem.

Tips for excessive sleepiness

It is good to feel rested and have a good night's sleep and occasionally even  nap in the summer afternoons - but sleeping during the day is not recommended.These tips are for people who feel excessively sleepy during the day.

1. Eating lesser will discourage sleep.
2. Practicing pranayama is a good way to avoid sleeping during the day.
3. Practicing the Vajrasana will reduce the lethargy and other symptoms associated with excessive drowsiness.
4. This tip is good for students who want to avoid sleep and sense a slight headache while doing so.A clove (laung) is rolled with a betel leaf and eaten .This will prevent the heavy feeling  in the head and discourage sleep.

(The need for excessive sleep  may be caused by a number of disorders - If the symptoms are persistent a doctor's advice is necessary.)

The Bombax ceiba or the Silk cotton tree

Bombax ceiba-image in the public domain

This is quite a common tree which can grow to a height of 30 m.They bear small attractive reddish flowers with a slightly bulbous tender fruit under them.The trunk has thorny protrusions and the mature dry fruits burst open revealing a white cottony mass.
Common names in India :
Kapok tree
Semal -Shalmali in Hindi
Unnamurika in Malayalam
Dumboil in Assam
Sittan in Tamil.

the trunk of a bombax-Picture in the public domain -photo author:Michales

The cotton obtained from the fruits are used to stuff pillows .They are fairly priced and it is said the quality of sleep improves when these pillows are used.They can be used by people suffering from insomnia.

            The thorns on the trunk are cut out and the base is rubbed in a circular motion on a rough surface with water.When this paste is applied on acne marks or burn marks the marks lighten significantly .

The lower part of the flower which is actually a glandular ovary is cooked and eaten which increases strength and stamina and reduces urinary problems.

-This info is mostly from the show by Acharya Balakrishnaji from Baba Ramdevji Ashram.

Khus khus (poppy seeds ) for good sleep

For image refer:

http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/poppy-seeds-khus-khus-aid-for-loose.html

2 spoons of Kas kas or (Gasagasalu in Telugu)  is made into a small bundle with a clean cloth and a thread is tied to prevent the seeds from leaking out.When this potli is kept near the pillow the person is able to sleep better.

The link for a similar nasal inhaler to prevent cough and colds:

http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/06/home-made-nasal-inhaler.html

5 tips for good sleep

These tips are as mentioned by Pujya Asaramji Bapu

1.  3 gm of white melon seed powder and 3 gm of khus khus * powder mixture  is taken once a day for 1 week.
2. 6 gm of khus khus powder is taken with 250 ml water and mishri  in the evenings.(the poppy seed powder is filtered away)
3. Eating Apple murabba helps a person to get good sleep
4. Drinking Buffalo's milk after dinner induces good sleep
5. Chanting Om for 10-15 minutes in the night helps a person to sleep well.

* khus khus--Poppy seeds 

For more info on khus khus  refer: 

http://simpleayurvedichealthtips.blogspot.com/2010/10/poppy-seeds-khus-khus-aid-for-loose.html

For babies to sleep well-2

If a baby gets up in the night and cries loudly and unable to sleep again,then placing a piece of Alum under the pillow of the baby helps.

(Care must be taken to see that the child does not eat it or the piece is not sharp.)

For babies to sleep well

Mix 5 drops of onion juice and 5 drops of honey  and feed it before the child sleeps-This will ensure a restful sleep in children.
(It is not recommended to try this for children below 1 year of age)
-As told by Asaramji Bapu in the book "Arogya nidhi )

Dry dates for drowsiness

When a person feels excessively sleepy or drowsy he is advised to eat a small piece of dry Date fruit with milk.
The person will have trouble sleeping if he takes more than 3 doses a day.So exercise caution with the dosage limit.
-As told by Pujya Asaram ji Bapu.