Narcolepsy is a specific sleep disorder which is characterized by excessive daytime sleep. The person suffering from this disorder falls asleep suddenly without any warning during the day for E.g. while talking, eating or doing some activity. During night, they wake up frequently disturbing their sleep- wake cycle. It affects men and women equally.
The onset is between 15 and 30 years of age and the condition persists lifelong. To understand better, narcoleptic sleepiness is similar to the sleepiness observed in an individual who is deprived of sleep, but differs by the fact that no amount of sleep relieves sleepiness.
Symptoms Of Narcolepsy
Extreme sleepiness during day:
- Sleeping excessively during the daytime. Without warning they sleep in the middle of eating or talking to friends or while working etc. The sleep last for half an hour before awakening and falling back to sleep.
- Memory lapses and blackouts.
- Depression
- Tiredness
Catalepsy:
- Brief period (seconds or minutes) of paralysis; where a person can drop things that he is holding.
- The condition is precipitated by strong emotions such as laughter, anger or any surprise.
- During catalepsy the person is usually awake.
- It develops within few years of onset of sleepiness.
Sleep paralysis:
- They feel temporary paralyzed and are not able to speak or move while falling asleep or while waking up.
Hypnogogic hallucination:
- They are vivid dream like images which the patient experiences during the sleep onset or immediately on waking up. These dreams seem real and you can feel the things and smell it because you are semi awake.
Children suffering from this disorder often have learning disorder, depression, stress and poor scholastic performance.
Causes Of Narcolepsy
Although there is no exact cause known for narcolepsy, researchers blame lack of certain chemical present in the brain to be responsible for it. The name of this chemical is hypocretin. Hypocretin in the brain stimulates the brain and keeps it awake, certain factors are known to contribute lack of this chemical.
They are infection, auto immune disease, hormones and stress. Researchers have strong evidence suggesting a genetic basis for the disease. Relatives of narcoleptics have a greater risk, almost sixty fold to develop narcolepsy.
Natural Remedies For Narcolepsy
Although a lifelong disease, the symptoms can be controlled and the episodes of narcolepsy can be reduced effectively by lifestyle changes and alternative natural treatment in conjunction with conventional medicines. They can enhance blood circulation in the brain and improve overall energy level.
- Ginko biloba is one such natural remedy for treating or reducing the frequent episodes of narcolepsy. It improves the circulation of blood in the brain.
- Ginseng: it is another natural herb that is effective in controlling the symptoms of narcolepsy. This natural brain stimulant can be taken in tincture form or in the powder form.
- Rosemary is another herb that can be taken as a tea. It is a circulatory stimulant.
- St. Jhon’s wort: this herbal remedy is known to calm the nerves and bring improvement in a person’s sleep pattern. It can be taken as a tea by boiling and steeping the herb.
- Diet should comprise of low fat and more of green leafy vegetables. Eat foods rich in B vitamin.
- Eat brown rice, legumes, brewer’s yeast, soy products, cheese, etc that contain plenty of vitamins and minerals.
Before taking any herbal medicines you should consult your physician and discuss its interaction with other conventional medications that you are taking.
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