Mama's Home Remedies: Discover Time-Tested Secrets of Good Health and the Pleasures of Natural Livin, Svetlana Konnikova [classic fiction .TXT] 📗

FACTS

Studies estimate that about one-third of American adults experience some insomnia each year, and between 10 and 20 percent suffer severe sleeplessness. European studies suggest similar rates. A recent survey conducted by the national Sleep Foundation reported even worse statistics on sleeplessness in the United States: 1) only 35 percent of American adults reported sleeping eight hours or more per night during the work week; 2) 56 percent had one or more symptoms of insomnia a few nights a week or more; 3) 60 percent of children, particularly teenagers, complained of being tired during the day; 4) over half of the elderly took an hour’s nap during the work week and nearly half of 18-to 29-year-olds napped.29

According to statistics, millions of people suffer from sleeplessness. Many of them would be delighted to claim that they occasionally experienced a restful sleep for an adequate length of time. It seems that a sound sleep happens more frequently in fairy tales than in real life. Like nearly everyone, perhaps you too have had trouble sleeping at one time or another. Simply put, if we do not get enough rest, our overall health is at stake. If you suffer from insomnia or toss and turn restlessly in your sleep, Sleeping Beauty @ 151

your nerves and cells never get the relaxation and rejuvenation they need to function properly. The result may be fatigue, high blood pressure or low blood pressure, and diseases of the nervous system.

Ruslan and Ludmila

A great feast was held in the halls of Svietosar,

the Duke of Kiev. This feast was in honor of

his daughter, Ludmila. Three suitors were there to vie for her hand: Ruslan the knight; Ratmir the poet; and Farlaf, a warrior. When the festivities were at their height, a huge thunderclap boomed, followed by darkness, during which Ludmila mysteriously disappeared. Svietosar was distraught and promised his daughter’s hand to the suitor who could find her and bring her home.

Ruslan learned from Finn, a sorcerer, that Ludmila had been abducted by the evil dwarf Chernomor, who had magical powers and soared through the sky with his long white beard flowing around him. Ruslan was also warned about the witch Naina, who was Farlaf’s ally.

While Ruslan sought advice from Finn, Farlaf went to Naina for help. She told Farlaf to allow Ruslan to go through all the trials necessary to find Ludmila and then to kidnap her from Ruslan.

Ruslan’s search took him to a battlefield,

enmeshed in a heavy mist. There he discovered a lance and shield. When the mist began to clear, a giant head appeared

and created a mighty storm with its

breath. Ruslan subdued the head with

his lance, and under the head he found

a magic sword, which would enable him

to overcome all obstacles.

152 ^ Mama’s Home Remedies

Meanwhile, although Ludmila was held captive in Chernomor’s castle, she was allowed to walk freely in the beautiful garden behind the tall walls which surrounded the castle. Here she found herself in the midst of majestic trees and a profusion of blossoming flowers, plants, and fragrant herbs. Magnificent peacocks and gentle deer walked beside her. Multicolored birds sang sweet songs from their treetop perches. But Ludmila was unhappy and could not be consoled by the beauty around her. She feared that she would never be rescued from the evil dwarf Chernomor and returned to her home.

Meanwhile Ruslan rode straight to Chernomor’s castle. When he arrived, Chernomor forced Ludmila into a sound sleep and then went to meet the brave knight in battle. With the magic sword Ruslan won the fight with Chernomor. Victorious, he carried Ludmila away even though she was deep into sleep. He despaired because he could not awaken her.

Ruslan returned to Finn to learn how to awaken Ludmila. Finn gave Ruslan a fine ring with magical properties, and with the aid of this ring, he broke Chernomor’s spell. Ludmila opened her big blue eyes, sighed, and smiled. Stretching her graceful, long legs, she inquired, “Oh, how long have I slept?”

Just then Farlaf appeared and tried to kidnap Ludmila, but Ruslan vanquished him with his magic sword. That evening Ratmir, the poet, snuck behind Ludmila’s tent and tried to lure her outside with his love poems. However she was so tired from her ordeal that she did not respond.

The next day the knight returned Ludmila to her father’s

palace, where they were greeted with great joy. Ruslan and Ludmila were married amid great festivities and lived

together happily for many years.

Sleeping Beauty @ 153

Ailment: Insomnia

Experts define sleeplessness or insomnia as sleep disturbance, when one has difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep. Some believe, erroneously, that this happens only to elderly people who seem to sleep shorter periods of time than the young. In fact, the luxury of a sound sleep is greatly influenced by the type of lifestyle we lead. No matter what age we are, we might experience several interruptions in our sleep during the night. And then it might take us an hour or more to fall asleep again.

In some cases sleep can be prolonged but still be insufficient. It can be annoying when we would like to sleep, but we cannot in spite of being exhausted. We may complain about lying awake for hours without being