DR.

KUMAR VIVEKANAND, MD (Hom)

Research Officer (Hom.), Scientist 2,
Central Council for Research in Homeopathy (CCRH),
Ministry of AYUSH (Govt. of India), 61-65, Institutional
Area, Opp.D-Block, Janakpuri, New Delhi110058

Phone (Office): + 91-11-28525862

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DREAMS

ABSTRACT
Dream is an ingenuous way of creative expression of the mind. Every dream has a different interpretation and the
same dream carries different meanings for different people. Neurologists opine that dreams constitute to
consolidation of our memories and expressions and restoration of our health. For artist dream is often the source of
inspiration of their creativity and endows them with great vigor and vitality in their work. Though there is no
scientific basis of interpretation of dreams, they will continue to interest mankind as a source of enigma as well as a
way of creative expressions.

KEY WORDS Dreams, sleep cycle, rapid eye movement, Homoeopathy

INTRODUCTION
The late President of United State of America, Sir, Abraham Lincoln had a vision just two days before his
assassination that his own coffin lying in the White House surrounded by weeping people.
This reveal that from times immemorial it is very evident that dreams carry much significance in our lives.

Human body needs sleep to function just as it needs food and water to survive. It is mostly said that one of the
purposes of sleep is to dream. Scientific fact is that we all dream and we spend on an average one third of our life in
sleeping and portion of that in dreaming. People on an average dream for about an hour or two a might, whether it is
remembered or not. According to Maharishi Patanjali, dreaming is basically a semi-sleep state & when we dream we
do not sleep fully. Our mind is busy then, in witnessing the dream events.

A lot have been said about dream in Hindu Mythology, esp. in Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Buddhist literature
and Jain granthas too, there are enough accounts about dreams.

WORD MEANING
In The chambers Dictionary the literary meaning of the word dream is a train of thoughts & images experienced
during sleep; a vision, something only imaginary.
In Oxfords English Dictionary, it has been described as a sleeping vision existing only in the imaginary; what
presents itself to one in sleep as happening; indulgence in farcies, reveries.

DEFINITION
Sigmund Freud; the father of modern psychoanalysis was the first person to develop about the role of the
unconscious in the life of an individual. According to his views, dreams are the conscious expression of the
unconscious fantasies, thoughts or impulses during sleep, which not accessible to the individual in wakeful state.
He analyzed dreams as the royal road to the unconsciousness.
Dr. Carl Gustav Jung, the famous Swiss psychoanalyst, disciple of Freud, defers with him in the context that dreams
come from a fantasy world. His approach was more religious, philosophical & mystical compared to the scientific
approach of Freud.
Dream is a system that --

organizes individuals self conception

defines his views of other people

contains his views of the world, his values, ideals, his relation to his environment.

Conception of his own impulses, driving forces, how he is grateful, frustration etc.

defines his inner conflicts and attempts to solve them.

SLEEP CYCLE
In Padmapurans sacred portion Geetas first chapter Goddess Laxmi asks Lord Vishnu Dear, you are the
provider to this whole world, still you are not enjoying the luxuries, simply sleeping in this great Kshirsagar (Ocean
of Heaven)! What is the reason behind it? Lord Vishnu smiles and says Great Goddess! Im not sleeping but
using my intuitive powers the real brightness, the ultimate glow. Dear, this is the power that great saints happen to
see with their wisdom in their unconscious and then guide the ordinary living beings! this dialogue between Lord
Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi clearly defines the significance of a good sleep.
During sleep, two apparently distinct states can be seen i.e, the active and the passive phases.

REM sleep ( rapid eye movement) / paradoxical sleep / dreaming or D sleep :- here there is rapid, roving
movements of eyes, hypotonia of muscles and persons see dreams in this phase. EEG shows high
amplitude activities in this state.

NREM sleep / orthodox sleep / S or slow-wave sleep (SWS) :- here the person is in deep sleep with
decreased physiological and psychic activities. EEG synchronizes with the low amplitude wave pattern of
sleep activities.

MECHANISM OF DREAMING
During dreaming, the brain stem activates the cortex (arousing the mind)

shuts off the spinal cord and blocks the body movements

sends signals to the eyes (causing REM sleep), to the cerebellum and visual brain and stimulates imagery
In dreams, there are always discontinuities, improbabilities, impossibilities, incongruities and uncertainties
which are very different to explain.

TYPE OF DREAMS

Creative dreams here the activities which are dreams off can be employed for some creative purpose, may
be problem- solving or inspiring.
Kekule, the famous German chemist, dreamt of a snake eating its own tail and this helped him in
visualizing the Benzene ring.

Sequential Dream shows repressed or suppressed desires or an unsolved problem which appears
repetitively in the dreams.

Factual dreams physical discomfort and sexual arousal may be represented in the dreams of an individual.

THEORY OF DREAMS :By Freud- Dream Work & Dream Amnesia

According to Freud, dreams are expressions of forbidden sexual or aggressive urges which can produce
guilty consciousness and anxiety in wakeful state if we become aware of these. So in dreams this is what he called
Dream Amnesia which is a Mind of censorship offered by Nature. The modifications occurring in dreams i.e, the
unconscious mental operations by which the latent (unconscious fantasies) dream content is transformed into the
manifest dream content is called Dream work.
In addition to the unconscious fantasies & wishes, dream content is also influenced by

nocturnal sensory stimuli i.e, thirst, hunger, full bladder.

residue of day experiences of previous one or several days.

By Dr. Carl Gustav Jung

We come across many difficulties while trying to fulfill our wishes but fail often. This leads us to fulfill the
same wishes in our dreams in fantastic manner. When we try to discover the experience that caused this particular
dream or fantasy, the use of free association comes in. Jung called this use of free association, Amplification. We
often benefited by dreams, though we do not understand them. In fact, the unconscious uses a different language
than that of the conscious mind. It offers a different point of view, resulting to a psychological adjustment, a
compensation which is very necessary for a proper balance between conscious and unconscious action.
When we are awake we take additional precautions for solving a problem. But when we fail to solve the
same in daytime, we go to sleep with the problem intact in our mind. Then our unconscious mind starts exploring

the same problem on a deeper level. When we get up we have a feeling that we can overcome our problem very
easily.

DREAM ANALYSIS / DREAM INTERPRETATION

Dream interpretation is one of the key elements in psychoanalytical theory & practice.
The aim of the dream interpretation is to get to the latent dream content from the manifest dream content, in order to
understand the real meaning of the dream experience.
It is a difficult art because

symbol used in dreams carries more personal meaning

dreams may be illogical or confusing

during reporting of dreams, many a times the forgotten parts are depicted by distorting the actual
experience.

The best analysis of dreams can be done by the dreamer himself after being trained in it.

GENERAL RULES FOR DREAM INTERPRETATION

Dreams have their own language that includes no words and no speech but scenes, symbols and signs. Hence it is
not that easy to understand them. Moreover, every person has his own meaning to a dream, yet there are some
general rules for its interpretation

Going up indicates success, progress or improvement; going down signifies reverses.

If a dreamer is involved in an illness in a dream, a medical check up is indicated.

Successful efforts in a dream mostly are a good omen, but failures forecast troubles and difficulties.

Clean, shiny things and good conditions are a good omen but dirty or dull things and conditions signify
reverses.

Dreams of no importance

After a heavy meal or enough alcohol consumption before going to bed.

A dream where dreamer sees adrift on a floating iceberg and after waking he finds electricity has gone off
and quilts are on floor has no significance.

If a dreamer is reluctant to go for urination before going to sleep and in dreams, if he is looking for a place
to urinate, has no significance.

Various noises, like that of traffic, hammer, aeroplane, radio, telephone bell etc. which may not awaken the
dreamer has no significance.

Dream during illness should be ignored.

Dream after seeing a play, movie or any TV program etc. must be ignored.

A dream only half remembered or vague is not worth interpreting.

All the dreams which are connected with things, people or situations that have deeply concerned with the
dreamer during the current day, are not significant.

IMPORTANCE OF DREAM
Eminent psychoanalysts suggest that the function of dream is the psychological development, maintenance,
regulation and restoration of psychic processes, structures & organizations.
Calvin Hall, the eminent American psychoanalyst says a dream is a document, a letter written to oneself. It
furnishes knowledge about ourselves.
Some of the benefactor effects of dreams are

they provide gratification by wish fulfillment

they are essential to maintain good health

our next days behavior & attitude are markedly influenced by dreams of the previous night.
Deprivation from dreaming makes us anxious, irritable, hungry, and inattentive with lack & concentration

in day to day life.

they may be inspirational, problem solving, spiritually deepening

study of series of dreams of a person helps to predict the nature and reaction of an individual.

AYURVEDIC CONCEPT OF DREAMS

According to the Ayurvedic sect, dreams can be classified into seven groups. They are

DRISHTA i.e, whatever is seen during waking hours.

SHRUTA i.e, whatever is heard during waking hours.

ANUBHUT i.e, whatever is experienced during waking hours.

PRARTHIT i.e, whatever is desired during waking hours.

KALPIT i.e, imaginary dream content

BHAVIK- i.e, dream content will come true

DOSHAJ- depending upon the various constitutions i.e,

o

KAFA (tendency to phlegm formation) dreams of lotus, birds, lakes, clouds, unremembered
dreams.

PITTA (bilious tendency) dreams of fire in all direction, falling lightening, storm.

VATA (rheumatic tendency) - dreams of climbing a mountain or tree, sky, frightful dreams etc.

DREAMS AND HOMOEOPATHY

Dreams reflect the unconscious mind. They reflect the hidden desires and aversions and the inner turmoil so, they
assume great importance.
Interpretation of dream is important. Artemedorus, the first person to write about the interpretation of dreams, says,
that a dream is individual to the dreamer and there cannot be a fixed explanation for a certain symbol in a dream.
Jung also agrees with this view. After going through the detailed case history of an individual, a Homoeopath is in a
good position to interpret the dream of a patient. The Homoeopath knows the likes and dislikes of the individual. He
also knows his mental attitude and the life situation. Thus a Homoeopath may be able to help the patient in
interpreting the dream and also to find out correct medicine.

Unforgettable dreams are very important from the Homoeopathic point of view because it shows the impact it has
left on the mind of an individual. In Homoeopathic repertory the rubric which conveys this meaning is DREAM
remembered.
There are lists of rubrics in different repertories, which may be of great use during prescribing.

MIASMS AND DREAMS

Individuals are affected in different ways according to their dominating miasm. Different individuals have different
mental attitudes depending on the miasms. Dreams are the reflection of the subconscious. Thus dreams of
individuals having different miasms are bound to be different. Ayurveda says that people with kafa, pitta and
vata prakritis have different types of dreams. Similarly people with psoric, tubercular, sycotic and syphilitic
tendencies will have different types of dreams.
Psoric dreams anticipatory dreams with hyperactivity of mind. This dreams reveal sadness, love, jealousy, fear or
fright.
Sycotic dreams it reveals tiredness leading to inactivity or slowness and dullness leading to poor memory.
Difficulty in recalling dreams or inadequate interpretation of dream ends in hypochondriacal condition. Dreams of
failure, lack of confidence, insecurity and dreams of death belongs to this miasm.
Tubercular miasm tubercular miasm reveals increased activity but poor resources leading to debility. It has
changeability and varying mood which gives rise to changeable dreams. Dreams of traveling may be coming from
desire for change.
Syphilitic dreams there is exhausted feeling with irrational responses. This leads to loss of value in life. There is
also a feeling of guilt and this gives rise to suicidal tendencies. Syphilitic dreams are suicidal, homicidal or
destructive.

CONCLUSION
Though much is left for exploring the unconscious mind and interpreting them, still dreams will continue to be
surrounded by enigma which, the conscious and scientific mind is yet to fathom.
Dreams often carry historical significance. Adolf Hitler once dreamt of debris & molten earth fell on him &
suffocated him. It alarmed him of bombardment on his trench in the near future and saved his life during the war
between the Germans & the French in the year of 1870.

References
1.

Vakil, Prakash; Dreams - Come To The Rescue.

2.

Sharma, Vinay Mohan; Fascinating World of Dreams and What They Mean to You.

3.

Chaudhuri, Sujit K.; Concise Medical Physiology.