Most adults have experienced insomnia or sleeplessness at one time or another in their lives. An estimated 30-50% of the general populations are affected by insomnia, and 10% have chronic insomnia. How much sleep is enough varies from person to person. Although 7 1/2 hours of sleep is about average, some people do well on four to five hours of sleep. Other people need nine to 10 hours of sleep each night.

There are different kinds of insomnia : -

? Sleep Onset Insomnia

? Idiopathic Insomnia

? Psychophysiological Insomnia

? Childhood Insomnia (Limit-Setting Sleep Disorder.

? Association Disorder.

? Food Allergy Insomnia:

? Enviornmental Insomnia (Enviornmental Sleep Disorder)

? Transient Insomnia (Adjustment Sleep Disorder)

? Periodic Insomnia (Non 24-Hour Sleep-Wake Syndrome

? Altitude Insomnia

? Hypnotic-Dependency Insomnia (Hypnotic-Dependent Sleep Disorder

? Stimulant-Dependent Sleep Disorder

? Alcohol-Dependent Insomnia (Alcohol-Dependent Sleep Disorder)

? Toxin-Induced Sleep Disorder

Causes of Sleeping difficulties are most commonly caused by stress and worry. Other common causes include physical illness that causes pain; environmental noise; caffeine, and medication side effects; depression and shift-work. Many people believe having a drink before bedtime can help you fall asleep. But experts say while alcohol is sedating, it doesn't help you stay asleep. Several hours later, when the alcohol leaves the bloodstream, it disturbs the sleep cycle and increases awakenings during the night.

Insomnia occurs more frequently in people over the age of sixty and the prevalence of insomnia may be 40% or higher for women over the age of 40. Sometimes anxiety and the inability to sleep dates back to childhood when parents used various threats to force their children into sleep for which they may not have been ready.

Home Remedies of *Regular, active exercises during the day and mild exercise at bedtime enhances the quantity and quality of sleep as the exercise stimulates the elimination of lactic acid from the body. Walking, jogging, skipping and swimming are the good exercises.

*2 tsp of fenugreek leaves juice with 1 tsp of honey at bed times daily.

*Mix 2 tsp of honey to 1 glass of warm water. Drink just before sleeping. Give half the amount to babies it will help put them to sleep.

*A warm bath with lavender oil, a pillow sprinkled with lavender oil, or a lavender sachet stuck in your pillow will help you to relax and feel sleepy.

*Milk is beneficial in curing the problem of lack of sleep. Drink a glass of milk mixed with honey every night before going to bed. Another home remedy is to massage the soles of your feet with milk.

*A few hours before bedtime take Kava kava. Reduces stress, tension, anxiety and relaxes muscles. It helps to fall asleep deeper and to rest more. It can be used as a sedative when taking a large dose, as effectively as, benzodiazepines but without the side effects.