As I am sure that you are aware both sides of your body are quite different. Your blood flow is quite different as is where your major organs are situated.
Getting a Good night's sleep can never be underestimated when it comes to your health.
But interesting here is how does the position or side which you sleep affect both the quality of your sleep and will have health benefits to your body.
The right side of the body is where your heart receives deoxygenated blood from the inferior and superior vena cava. This directs your blood to the lungs where it is then oxygenated.
The blood returns to the left side of the heart. The muscle surrounding the right side of the heart is not as strong as that surrounding the left side.
The reason for this being that the left side needs to be able to pump blood to the entire body and therefore needs a larger contraction.
The right side of the heart also contains the SA node (sinoatrial node) that keeps the pace of the heart via electrical signals.
You can see by this leaving the right side of your body free it alleviates pressure allowing it to function more effectively, especially when it comes to your heart. Quite a vitally important organ as you well know.
So far I have talked about your blood flow and your heart. However there is the flow of lymph vitally important for detoxification and immunity.
The left side of the body is your dominant lymphatic side. Therefore when you sleep on your left side, this allows your body more time to filter toxins. lymph fluid and waste products not needed by your body.
In Summary:
These are the 7 main benefits you will receive by Training yourself to sleep on your Left side:
•Improves Facilitation of lymphatic drainage
•Allows the heart to pump easier due to this downward motion
•Allows for Improved elimination, therefore improved bowel function
•Provides support for Healthy Spleen function. Your spleen is part of your lymphatic system responsible for the storage of filtered blood. Its major function is to remove harmful bacteria and viruses in the blood stream. Lying on your left side assists with the drainage of your spleen. Removing these harmful substances from your body.
•Allows for adequate and proper digestion, therefore helps to reduce heartburn.
•Assists with circulation back to the heart, this helps for your heart to function more effectively.
•Assists with the flow of bile. Bile being an alkaline fluid which aids digestion and is secreted by the liver and stored in the gall bladder.
Training yourself to Sleep on Your Left Side is relatively easy, especially when you continually remind yourself of the health benefits.
I found it was just a matter of getting yourself really comfortable, with your legs apart, arms out to the front of you.
You may wish to put on a relaxation CD, this helps to send you off not only just to sleep, but into a relaxing sleep. Therefore minimizing you tossing and turning.
If you are having troubling thoughts it is worth getting yourself a CD with Positive Affirmations. This link takes you to Louise Hay whom I personally have used her CD's and affirmations for most of my life.
During pregnancy sleeping on your Left side is extremely beneficial for you as well.
For further support for a Good Night's Sleep
Empowering You to Optimal Health Julie Doherty N.D
Julie Doherty is acknowledged as Worldwide Leader in Healthcare by The Leading Physicians of the world. She is an exceptionally experienced naturopathic health practitioner with a vast expertise in traditional medicine, herbal medicine, and homeopathic medicine. Julie has over twenty-six years in practice and currently maintains a position at Julie's Naturopathic Health Care Services, her private practice in Hackham, South Australia, Australia, where she provides an extensive array of safe, effective, individual, and non-invasive therapies to assist with overcoming health issues that affect the body and the mind.
Julie graduated with distinctions from S.A. College of Botanical Medicine and Natural Therapies and is an accredited member of the Australian Traditional Medicine Society. Her professional qualifications include Naturopathic Doctor, Herbal & Homoeopathic Practitioner in Diet and Nutritional Medicine, Remedial & Therapeutic Massage Therapy, Body Mind Balancing Cognitive Counselling, and Healthy/Lifestyle coaching and Natural Beauty. This solid education has enabled Julie to provide an extensive range of multidisciplinary modalities that are safe, effective, individual and non-invasive to empower each person to optimal health. Julie credits her success to determination and dedicates to her family and traveling in her spare time