Insomnia: Soothing Help from a Beautiful Goddess
If rich, late night meals keep you awake with a stomach ache or abdominal bloating,
a digestive remedy such ginger and mint tea may help you to sleep. If worry, anxiety
or allergies challenge your digestion, Chinese Xiao Yao Wan pills, which contain
ginger, mint and herbs to enhance absorption, can ease discomforts and improve rest.
East Indian Hingoli pills contain spicy ingredients such as ginger, turmeric, and
pepper to speed digestion the digestion of creamy or fat foods. Herbal digestive
remedies, normally taken with meals, can be used at any time. A simple fennel seed
tea is sweet and soothing for a tired body and mind.
Ask most New Yorkers why they can't sleep and they will say, "I am up all night thinking,
planning, daydreaming. I have a lot to do. The vibe is frenetic in our berg. Neighbors
are known to give all night parties with loud BOOM BOOM music. When a warm bath
and a romantic movie fail, here are simple ways to calm and settle your nerves and
improve sleep patterns. Try one of these.
From India
Saraswati is a highly regarded goddess of culture, beauty, purity, and music. She is
named after a river in India and is often depicted playing a veena a large string
instrument.
Saraswat Churna, named for the goddess, is a mild tasting herbal powder made by
Baidyanath in India and sold in East Indian groceries. It is recommended for
improving the health of the nervous system, memory, and concentration. It is said to
relieve anxiety, worry, stress, fear, sleeplessness, and improve immunity. How perfect
for most of us!
What surprised me are the ingredients:
• Withania somnifera (AKA ashwagandha) a wonderful rejuvenating tonic for firm
muscles that reduces lower back pain and improves memory and sleep for mentally
and physically exhausted persons.
• Cumin - digestive
• Caraway seeds - digestive
• Ginger and black pepper - digestive
• Piper longun a spicy, rejuvenating pepper pod
• Acorus calamus - a form of sweet flag used for flavor and to quiet the mind
• Convolvulus pluricaulis (AKA Bindweed; in Sanskrit: Shankhapushpi )
-a plant commonly mentioned in Ayurveda (traditional East Indian healing arts) for use in
mental stimulation and rejuvenation therapy. One study shows shankhpushpi to have
anti-ulcer effects due to augmentation of mucin secretion and glycoproteins. Another
study shows that shankhapushpi may be helpful in improving symptoms of
hyperthyroidism by reducing the activity of a liver enzyme. The whole herb is used
medicinally with cumin and milk in fever, nervous debility, loss of memory, also in
syphilis, and scrofula. Shankhapushpi is used as a brain tonic. The plant is reported to
be a prominent memory improving drug. It is used as a psychostimulant and
tranquilizer. It is reported to reduce mental tension."The ethanolic extract of the plant
reduces total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and nonesterfied
atty-acid."
The usual dose is 1/2 to 1 tsp. of the powder in a cup of warm water or milk twice daily.
The peppers feel warming, grounding, and soothing for digestion. If after taking the
remedy for several days, you develop signs of inflammation, such as burning joints or
dry mouth, use a lower dose.
Put it all together and Saraswat Churna (powder) is balancing because it supports
adrenal and nervous system health for prevention and treatment of burnout. It is
digestive for people who stay awake and nervous trying to figure out their life and it is
soothing and rejuvenating for the mind. Wonderful! I tried it and was soothed to a
calmer state and eventually a deeper sleep.The brain becomes frayed in the City.
Saraswati offers a brain balm. Incense and prayers to the goddess are also nice.