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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,

MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)

ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue VI, June 2026

The Bio-Physiological Impact of Nidra Vega Dharana (Suppression

of the Sleep Urge): An Ayurvedic and Modern Clinical Review

Dr Smita Zambare (Bisht)

, Dr Karan Chugh

PhD Scholar, Tantia University, Faculty-Ayurveda, Department of Swasthvritta Evum Yog , Sri

Ganganagar college of Ayurvedic sciences & Hospital, Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.

Tantia University , Swasthvritta Dept , Asst Professor, Sri Ganganagar college of Ayurvedic sciences &

Hospital, Sri Ganganagar, Rajsthan.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.150600118

Received: 27 June 2026; Accepted: 02 July 2026; Published: 16 July 2026

ABSTRACT

In both ancient Eastern medicine and modern Western physiology, sleep is recognized not as a passive state of

rest, but as an active, vital process of biological restoration. Ayurveda categorizes Nidra (sleep) as one of the

Trayopastambha (the three pillars of life, alongside food and controlled sensory or sexual energy). When the

biological urge to sleep arises, it is termed a Vega (a natural, impending bodily reflex). Forcible suppression of

this urge is called Nidra Vega Dharana (or Nidra Vega Vidharana). This review explores the systemic causes,

multi-organ consequences, and integrative preventive measures of suppressing the sleep urge from both

Ayurvedic and modern clinical perspectives.

Etymology and Core Concepts

Ayurvedic Lens: According to Acharya Charaka, there are 13 Adharaniya Vegas—natural physiological reflexes

that must never be suppressed. Nidra is a primary physical urge driven by the accumulation of Tamas (the mental

quality of darkness or inertia) and Kapha Dosha, which signals the exhaustion of sensory organs (Indriya

Shrama).

Modern Lens: The urge to sleep is governed by Sleep Homeostasis (the accumulation of adenosine, a

neurochemical by-product of cellular metabolism that builds "sleep pressure") and the Circadian Rhythm (the

24-hour biological clock regulated by the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus in the hypothalamus). Suppressing this urge

directly disrupts synaptic homeostasis and endocrine signaling.

Etiology: Why we Suppress the Sleep Urge

The causes of Nidra Vega Dharana are deeply rooted in behavioral patterns, environmental demands, and modern

socioeconomic structures. These can be categorized into three major dimensions:

Socio-Occupational Factors: Shift work, irregular night shifts, jet lag from frequent travel, and professional or

academic stress that demands extended waking hours.

Technological Factors: Prolonged exposure to blue-light emissions from LED screens, smartphones, and tablets,

alongside variable artificial lighting that distorts natural light-dark cues.

Psychosomatic Factors: Prajnaparadha (intellectual error or willful violation of natural laws, where the intellect

overrides the instinctive wisdom of the physical body), chronic anxiety, psychological hyperactivity, and the

excessive abuse of central nervous system stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine.

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Pathophysiology and Clinical Effects

When the natural urge to sleep is chronically suppressed, the internal homeostatic balance collapses. Both

medical systems document profound systemic damage, mapping closely to one another in clinical presentations.

The Ayurvedic Perspective on Dosha Imbalance:

Acharya Sushruta and Acharya Vagbhata establish that suppressing Nidra causes an immediate aggravation of

Vata and Pitta Doshas, while depleting the stabilizing properties of Kapha. This systemic destabilization

produces a distinct set of symptoms (Lakshanas):

Jrumbha (Excessive Yawning): The body's reflex to rapidly pull in prana (vital energy) to combat central fatigue.

Angamarda or Angabhanga (Generalized Body Aches): Vata vitiation in the muscular and skeletal tissues

leading to diffuse pain.

Tandra and Alasya (Drowsiness and Lassitude): Chronic exhaustion caused by the incomplete metabolism of

mental waste.

Shiro-Akshi Gaurava (Heaviness in the Head and Eyes): Delays in the neurological down-regulation of sensory

pathways.

Agnimandya or Annapaka (Impaired Digestion): The suppression of Nidra directly impairs Pachaka Pitta

(digestive fire), causing metabolic sluggishness, bloating, and poor nutrient absorption.

The Modern Medical Perspective on Systemic Deprivation:

Modern clinical trials confirm that forcing the brain to remain awake triggers severe neuro-biological and

structural changes:

Synaptic Over-Saturation: Neuroimaging shows that prolonged wakefulness causes a marked increase in

synaptic density markers within the hippocampus and thalamus. Without sleep to prune and reset these

connections, neural networks become saturated, severely degrading short-term memory and cognitive focus.

Hormonal and Metabolic Dysregulation: Sleep suppression alters the hunger hormones Leptin (the satiety signal)

and Ghrelin (the hunger signal), causing overeating and insulin resistance, which elevates the long-term risk of

type 2 diabetes.

Cardiovascular Strain: Missing the natural dipping period of blood pressure that occurs during deep sleep keeps

the sympathetic nervous system hyperactive, increasing the risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and

strokes.

Micro-sleeps: The brain begins executing involuntary lapses into sleep lasting from a fraction of a second to 30

seconds, presenting an immense hazard during operational tasks or driving.

Systemic Mapping of Clinical Manifestations:

Tension Headaches and Ocular Fatigue correspond to Shiro-Akshi Roga and Gaurava, driven by cerebral

vasodilation and extraocular muscle strain.

Cognitive Deficits and Vertigo correspond to Moha and Shiro-Bhrama, resulting from decreased prefrontal

cortex perfusion and synaptic saturation.

Metabolic Dysfunction and Dyspepsia correspond to Agnimandya and Aruchi, caused by altered autonomic tone

and ghrelin-leptin imbalance.

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Low-grade Inflammation and Low Immunity correspond to Jwara and Pratisyaya, resulting from suppressed

cytokine production and T-cell suppression.

Preventive and Curative Measures

Reversing the damage of Nidra Vega Dharana requires a combination of behavioral modifications, sensory

therapies, and proper circadian alignment.

Ayurvedic Interventions

Ayurveda dictates that the primary treatment for suppression is simple: concede to the urge. The core clinical

principle states that the treatment for the effects of sleep suppression is adequate sleep and soothing body

therapies.

Abhyanga and Samvahanam: Gentle whole-body massage with Vata-pacifying oils (such as Ksheerabala or Til

Taila) followed by soothing manual stroking (Samvahanam) to reduce peripheral neuro-muscular tension.

Shirodhara: Pouring a continuous, warm stream of medicated oil or buttermilk over the forehead to transition

the nervous system from a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state to a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state.

Dietary Adjustments (Ahara): Consumption of heavy, unctuous, warm, and easily digestible foods (Snigdha-

Ushna-Guru bhojana) like warm spiced milk with nutmeg or ashwagandha before bed to gently elevate Kapha

and settle Vata.

Modern Clinical Interventions and Sleep Hygiene:

Modern sleep medicine utilizes strict behavioral protocols to optimize sleep efficiency and restore circadian

rhythms:

1. Establish a Fixed Sleep Anchor: Wake up at the exact same time every single day, including weekends.

This stabilizes the master biological clock and regulates evening melatonin release.

2. Implement a Digital Sunset: Eliminate all short-wavelength blue light from smartphones, tablets, and

televisions at least 60 to 90 minutes before your target sleep time. Blue light artificially suppresses retinal

melatonin synthesis.

3. Optimize Ambient Environment: Cool the bedroom down to approximately 65 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit

(18 to 20 degrees Celsius). A drop in core body temperature is a mandatory biological trigger for deep,

slow-wave sleep. Ensure the room is completely dark.

4. Restructure Dietary Timings: Cease large meal consumption and alcohol intake 3 hours prior to sleep,

and eliminate central nervous system stimulants like caffeine at least 8 hours before bed to prevent

fragmentation of sleep architecture.

CONCLUSION

Nidra Vega Dharana represents a profound conflict between modern lifestyle demands and our fundamental

biology. While Ayurveda frames it as a disruption of internal bio-energies (Vata-Pitta vitiation) caused by

neglecting body reflexes, modern science views it as a structural and chemical breakdown of synaptic and

metabolic homeostasis.

True preventive health requires honoring the immediate urge to sleep. By blending Ayurvedic therapies like

Abhyanga with strict modern sleep hygiene, we can systematically protect our brains and bodies from the chronic

damage of sleep deprivation.

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ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue VI, June 2026

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