Physiological Effects of Sleep

              Ayurveda places huge importance on getting enough sleep on a daily basis. Free e-booklet gives a good overview of the classical ayurvedic view of sleep. One of the less appreciated functions of sleep is the cleansing effect is has on the body’s tissues. According to ayurveda, vyana vayu (the aspect of vata responsible for circulation of all kinds) becomes more active in helping to collect wastes from our tissues and vital organs. This happens particularly between 2 and 6 am.
             Some recent research showing that the brain actually shrinks during sleep, and that the intracellular space increases. They have even discovered that the brain has its own special lymphatic system called the glymphatic system. While the theory is yet to be tested, speculation suggests that the brain uses sleep to help flush out wastes that accumulate during the day while it is busy in computation mode. Here is the link to the article: