A Rig Vedic rhyme starts with a prayer to the Lord asking for hundred years of healthy and joyful life (Satham Jeevama Sharada). Jyotishshastra (Astrology) considers 120 years as the full life span of a human being so that all planets can complete a circle in ones’ life. The idea is to live long healthily. To achieve this objective, Ayurveda proposes a kind of life style, which is in line with body rhythm and in tune with external environment. The chapters on daily routine (Dinacharya) and seasonal routine (Ritucharya) in Ayurveda textbooks are devoted to this aspect. To live long, one needs to regulate body physiology so that the ageing process is delayed to maximum extent by strengthening optimum cellular absorption of the nutrient constituents and elimination of toxic byproducts of metabolism.

There are three major phases in human life:

The first phase is dominated by regeneration and growth represented by Kapha; The second is a phase of growth and stabilization and optimum activity, represented by Pitha and the third one is of degeneration dominated by Vatha. This is chronobiology of growth in human being.
The Kapha dominates 0 – 30 age group, Pitha dominates 31 – 60 age group and the Vatha dominates 61 – 100 age group. This age bracket can pre-start according to the Prakrithi – (body constitution), Desha (place of birth) and Bala (internal strength). So, one may get into the old age bracket at 50 or 55 and his or her madhyavastha can start even before 30.
The age of degeneration is old age (Vridhavasta). This is the time when all the Dhathus (tissues) are in a state of loosing their contents or are unable to add to their mass or volume. The Osteoporosis in women is a good example for age related tissue erosion (Dhathu Kshaya). At old age, all the physiological functions are at a low. When Vatha increases, the Kapha, which has opposite qualities, decreases. Kapha, which is unctuous and stable, is the factor, which causes sleep. Infants and newborn sleep almost 24 hours, which gradually decreases as the kapha in the body decreases, and at old age, even a 4 hours sleep is sufficient. Another good example to show the importance of Kapha in sleep is the day sleep. One can see that sleep in the daytime especially in the winter increases Kapha, as winter season is the Kapha predominant time. Day sleep is allowed only in summer when Kapha is minimum and body needs to increase its Kapha component to balance the accumulation of Vatha, due to hot season.

Ayurvedic approach towards Insomnia is to increase Kapha in the body especially the Thrarpaka Kapha that resides in brain tissues in terms of its quality, quantity and action. Kapha can be increased by three methods – (1) Kapha increasing substances (2) Kapha increasing qualities and (3) Kapha increasing actions (Dravya Guna & Karma). Basically, the Ayurvedic approach is to calm down the mind and balance the Kapha. Even though Kapha is present in every body cell, its place of predominance is in Chest,Head and Joints. The objective of the Ayurvedic treatment of Insomnia is to increase and activate the Kapha in the head.
By consuming food substances that are Kapha predominant, Kapha can be made to increase. For instance, consuming the rice, cooked the previous day and mixed with buttermilk and kept over night, as the first food of the day. This is an excellent Kapha enhancing food. This is the staple diet of farmers and labourers who have to toil hard on physical activities for long. Food with equivalent qualities of Kapha like milk and milk products, stem and stigma of lotus processed in butter; plantains cooked and dressed with ghee all are good examples.
Long and mild oil massages with Kapha increasing and vatha decreasing oil and a bath in lukewarm and aromatic water; use of aromatic and glandular flowers of white and mild colour, ensure an increase in Kapha.
Any approach in Ayurvedic Management of any diseases or health conditions has got three aspects. They are: Oushadham– (Medicine), Anna (Food), and Vihara (Life Style). These are the factors, which constitute Ayurvedic treatment.
A medicine to work with its optimum potential needs an internal environment in the body, which is congenial to that medicine. So, in all Ayurvedic treatments, Physicians insist on pathya, which are dietary regulations and life style changes. In insomnia condition where there is no other complication like Diabetes or blood pressure and no mental worries bothering the patient, the following can be a typical advice for its management. In the morning, take head bath half an hour after applying hair oil (use hair oil prepared with Goosberry, or Bhringaraj or Brahmi). Consume sufficient food items that are unctuous, easily digestible, fresh and fibrous. Foods such as whole-wheat gram, leafy vegetables, and other vegetables, are good for sleep. Buffaloes milk is an excellent sleep-inducing agent. One-cup (100 ml) of this warm milk mixed with one teaspoon of fresh butter when taken at bedtime helps inducing sleep. It is better to have slightly heavy food at night for those who do not get sleep. Washing the legs with cold water for five minutes before bedtime is also helpful. Most important thing is to calm down the mind or withdraw the mind from wild thinking. This can be achieved by constant practice of deep measured breathing (PRANAYAMA) at bedtime. Medicines like Manasamitra Vatakam crushed, powdered and mixed with warm milk are also helpful. Ashwagandharishtam (30 ml.) after dinner is also useful in this condition.