Ayurvedic Health Tips For Night Shift Workers
Night shift work is something unavoidable for many professionals. Working in night shift jobs for a long period of time causes a disease called Shift Work Sleep Disorder. Here are a few Ayurvedic home remedies and tips that can keep this disorder at bay.
Symptoms of Shift Work Sleep Disorder:
- Lack of sleep or disturbance in sleep.
- Irritability, short temper,
- Hair fall, dry skin,
- headache and giddiness
- confusion and lack of concentration.
Diet for night shift workers
Have a teaspoon of ghee: Ayurveda explains that waking up at night tends to increase Vata (dryness in the body). Hence while you go for your work at night, have a small spoon of ghee. This will balance the dryness of the body.
Do not take colas, and junk food while at night shift. They will further add to the ill effects.
Instead, go for home-made food, that are light to digest and are not very dry.
Health tips for night shift workers:
- Make sure that you apply any good hair oil every day, before you go for sleeping during daytime. You can also apply the oil even before you go for work. Brahmi Taila or Bhringa Amalaka Taila are good Ayurvedic hair oils.
- Have complete rest and sleep during holidays.
- It is advisable for night shift workers to undergo massage and steam therapy at least once a week. This will help them relax, rejuvenate, improve concentration and relieve all pains and headaches.
- While on your work, take time to do Pranayama for a couple of minutes. This will help you to hold your concentration and to avoid irritability.
- While sleeping in the morning, make your bed room as dark as possible.
9 comments on “Ayurvedic Health Tips For Night Shift Workers”
Priya
If one leaves for night shift at 8 pm after a light dinner and needs to carry some snack to eat af around 1 am or so, is it best to carry some idlis or is it best to carry some fruits on which you can keep nibbling whenever you feel hungry? Which is a better option?
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, Idli looks better. Make sure that the chutney / sambar is not very spicy. Add half – one teaspoon of ghee on the idli. It helps to balance out Vata, which gets aggravated due to night shift work. Fruits – you can have in limited quantity. Say, a banana is good after mid night meal. An orange is good to quench your thirst etc.
Mohan divakaran
The main after effect is disturbed sleep during day time
Sanjay Sarjal
and that is irritating……changes whole mood…
Ketw
HI sir,
Shall i do night shift if i am getting good career opportunity or should i avoid if possible.. Please suggest.
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, if the career opportunities are good, then no problem in doing night shift work for a few years of time. Once after gaining experience, you can switch over to a regular timing job.
Wish you all the success 🙂
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, No problem with it. Exercise regularly. Apply Brahmi hair oil – just a few drops everyday.
Sornavalli
Hi sir
Can u pls suggest some tips for ladies who work in night shift for obesity and irregular periods..
Dr J V Hebbar MD(Ayu)
Hi, all the above tips are applicable.
Yoga / Pranayama is a must to reduce body and mental stress.
Once in a week full body oil massage + steam is also extremely useful.
Daily, apply any hair oil – just a few drops to the scalp.