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Do you sleep on your back or your front?
넌 바로 누워 자니 아니면 엎드려 자니?
Do you sleep on your left side or right side?
넌 왼 옆으로 자니 오른 옆으로 자니 ?
■ Amazing Benefits of Sleeping on Your Left Side
by John Douillard on June 27, 2013
Have you ever wondered to what extent the two sides of your body mirror each other?
It is very common for me to have a patient tell me that they have all their issues on just one side of the body.
A pain in the left foot, a bad left hip, a bad left shoulder, left-sided abdominal pain, a pain in the neck on the right side; why?
Why do rashes choose the left or right side of the body?
Why does the acuity of the eyes differ so greatly from one to the other?
Why do we get pains often on just one side of the body?
According to Ayurveda, the left side of the body is completely different than the right side, and, while I know it sounds strange, emphasizing the left side for rest and sleep offers some time tested wisdom for very real health and longevity benefits.
Join me as we investigate this old Ayurvedic concept and see if it still holds water today.
7 Reasons to Try Sleeping on Your Left Side
Here are some of Ayurveda’s reasons for recommending the left side for sleep:
Facilitate lymphatic drainageMakes it easier for the heart to pump downhillBetter eliminationSupport healthy spleen functionEncourages proper digestionHelps circulation back to the heartHelps bile flow more freely
The Lymph Drains toward the Left
Interestingly, the left side of the body is the dominant lymphatic side. The majority of the body’s lymph fluid drains into the thoracic duct, located on the left side. Along the way, lymph fluid carrying proteins, glucose and other metabolites and waste products is purified by lymph nodes and is then drained into the left side of the heart.
Because of this, it is common in Ayurveda to deduce that left side ailments may be due to chronic lymphatic congestion. When the lymphatic system congests, it is more likely that lymph will back up on the left, more lymph-dominant side of the body. Whether or not this is always true is debatable, but you can see the logic at play here.
In the same non-scientific vein, issues that show up on the right side are thought to be due to imbalances in the liver and blood. Since the liver is on the right side of the body, liver congestion will more easily back up into the right side of the body and potentially cause problems.
The Priority System of the Body
According the Ayurveda, congestion happens in the body according to a certain pattern, or priority system. In this priority system, the lymph is the body’s first detox system to congest, before the liver and blood become overwhelmed.
Thus, early lymph issues may present more on the left side of the body and move to the right as they become more long-standing and begin to congest the liver and the blood, at which point symptoms may start to show up on the right side of the body.
You can read more about lymph-related issues in the Detox and Lymphatic Health section of my article library.

The Magic of Sleeping on the Left Side
Better Elimination
The small intestine dumps waste through the ileocecal valve (ICV) on the right side of the body into the beginning of the large intestine. The large intestine travels up the right side of your belly the across the tummy, where it dumps waste into the descending colon on the left side.
Sleeping on the left side allows gravity to encourage the food waste to move more easily from the small intestine into the large intestine through the ICV.
As the night wears on and you continue to sleep on your left side, the waste moves more easily into the descending colon. With the help of gravity and a good night’s sleep on the left the side, the descending colon is full of waste to easily eliminate completely each morning.
Better Heart Function
Of course, one of the biggest players on the left side is the heart. It makes sense that if you sleep on your left side, the lymph drainage toward the heart will again be helped by gravity, taking some of the workload off the heart as you sleep.
The aorta, which is the biggest artery in the body, leaves the top of the heart and arches to the left before it heads down into the abdomen. By sleeping on the left side, the heart is pumping its biggest payload downhill into the descending aorta.
Sleeping on the left also allows much of the intestines to hang away from the very thin-walled inferior vena cava (IVC) which brings venous blood back toward the heart. Interestingly, the IVC lies against the right side of the spine, so when you lie on the left much of the viscera falls away from the IVC. Here again, gravity is just making the heart’s job a little easier.
The Spleen Is On the Left
The spleen, which is part of the lymphatic system, is also on the left. The spleen is much like a gigantic lymph node, except that in addition to filtering lymph it also filters blood. When you lay on the left side, drainage back to the spleen is once again helped and made easier by gravity.
Remember, the lymph system drains all the cells in the body via movement and muscular contractions, rather than being pumped by the heart. Helping the lymph to drain to the spleen and heart with gravity is a good thing.
Ever Feel Sleepy After a Big Meal?
In Ayurveda, it is common practice to rest on the left side of the body after taking a meal. Unlike a siesta where we take the whole afternoon off, Ayurveda suggests a short, ten minute rest on the left side to help the body properly digest the food.
The stomach and the pancreas (which make digestive enzymes) hang like slings on the left side. When you lie on the left side, the stomach and pancreas hang naturally, allowing for optimal and efficient digestion. The food is encouraged to move through the stomach naturally and the pancreatic enzymes are released as needed rather than all at once, which might happen more easily than if you were on the right side with the pull of gravity.
If you lie on the right side, the stomach and pancreas will hang in a somewhat unnatural position, forcing them to empty their contents prematurely.
Meanwhile, the liver and gallbladder hang on the right side. Resting on the left side allows them to hang freely and secrete precious bile, with the help of gravity, into the digestive tract to emulsify fats and neutralize the acids of the stomach.
When the digestive process is encouraged in this way, in can often be a smoother and ultimately shorter digestive cycle that doesn’t leave you feeling sapped throughout the entire afternoon. So by taking a short rest on the left side, you may actually save yourself more fatigue throughout the day!
Get energized – not tired – from your meal! Here’s how:
Try eating a large midday meal in a relaxed fashion, followed by a 10 minute rest on the left side and see if you find yourself with more energy and better digestion as a result.
Comments
Dorothy says
March 18, 2015 at 10:01 pm
I have found that when I sleep on my left side, my bladder fills up more often and consequently I have to get up to go to the bathroom. So that’s why I have mainly slept on my right side for years. However, I want to enjoy the benefits of sleeping on my left side, so I am going to make the switch starting tonight!
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John Douillardsays
August 10, 2015 at 11:03 am
Hi Dorothy,
If sleeping on your left side does not work for you, just lying on your left side for 10 minutes shortly after a large meal can be very beneficial.
Deesays
October 20, 2015 at 11:01 am
Thanks so much for this article, I remember when I was pregnant I was told to sleep on my left side. I am going to try it again. Please ignore the negative people. They have nothing else to do.
Thanks again! Dee
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Maia says
November 24, 2015 at 12:46 am
Oh yes! I was also advised the same, but I thought it was just a preggy thing. And when my child was born, and decided on breastfeeding, i was advised to always feed my child with my left first before the right one.
Iman Hamdansays
July 26, 2016 at 6:54 am
But I know all what you said about is true for right side not for left side ?!
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Ella Roehrigsays
March 28, 2017 at 8:21 pm
That’s cool!?
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ANE Try says
November 30, 2017 at 7:42 pm
Interesting. THANKS!!
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julie says
November 17, 2015 at 9:56 am
From time to time I suffer from poor lymph drainage, usually when it’s very hot/summer or when I sit/drive for extended periods, and my left foot swells at the ankle with pitting oedema above the ankle; my body’s not eliminating fluids correctly. When I sleep, particularly on my left side, it may mean I have to empty my bladder 3-4 times each night, but that means those fluids are being eliminated, which is a Good Thing! I awake with nice, skinny ankles (and then the whole thing starts again).
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james says
February 19, 2017 at 7:13 am
awesome
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Honey says
January 5, 2017 at 8:01 am
Mine does too and I don’t feel sick anymore
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Terri Norris says
May 8, 2017 at 6:44 pm
I find it extremely difficult to sleep on my left side because I have a old shoulder injury if I lay on it to long it will start to get very stiff what should I do
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Alexandriasays
November 17, 2017 at 11:16 pm
if you can’t lie on your left side long a 10 minute little rest on your left side will be beneficial to aid in digestion and a lot of other benefits
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Phil Pyzyna says
June 7, 2017 at 3:29 pm
I will try this after eating…big problem w/reflux at night.
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Kit says
September 21, 2017 at 2:17 pm
Coral calcium stops acid reflux. Worked for my husband and his brother.
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Alexandria says
November 17, 2017 at 11:15 pm
honestly the fact that you’re having to urinate more often on your left side could have to do with the fact that your body is digesting more frequently and efficiently, therefore emptying waste more frequently.
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bob says
April 24, 2015 at 5:38 pm
Laying on your left side can encourage your food to make its way through your bowels. Saying that laying on you left side “promotes digestion” is misleading and riddiculous. That would be like saying that the fact that a river flows allows a deer to drink water from it. Yes, the river flowing ensures that there is water to drink, but does not promise that a deer can or will drink from it. Exactly in the same way helping to move your food through your bowels cannot ensure proper digestion and so using the buzz statement “encourages proper digestion” gives the reader no real knowledge of what “laying on your left side” actually helps and makes you look like you dont actually know what you’re talking about.
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bob says
April 24, 2015 at 5:53 pm
Im aware that you explain it later but that buzz statement is still silly. It makes me want to run from your post before i can get to the part where you tell us what the hay you actually meant. Since I hold firm that the two are not equal.
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Kalle says
August 24, 2015 at 7:32 pm
Running is also very good for our systems. . .
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Karenia says
September 3, 2015 at 3:12 am
Your a tool.
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Wesley Brown says
October 11, 2015 at 11:29 am
Hey, He has valid points. If you’re going to say he’s a tool, at least provide WHY you think he’s a tool. You can only have an opinion when it’s an informed opinion.
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Kellysays
September 9, 2016 at 12:41 am
And proper grammar would be nice, too. “you’re a tool”
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LovelyDay says
December 27, 2016 at 11:48 am
Bob, did you mean to say “lying” on your left side…” I can “lay” my body down to sleep, but I would still be “lying” down in the process. It’s kind of like “encourages digestion.” The author uses “lie” correctly here, and I agree that simple word errors can be significant. Be well. 
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Linda says
July 30, 2017 at 11:57 pm
Get of the grammar song and dance. Read what he had to say i am a lie lay on my lefy side have for younks
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Barron from the Burg.. says
March 3, 2017 at 6:15 pm
Have to admit that everything that this article says in here is correct for me..What a coincidence that I would have Gastro problems for about 30 years and while not really overweight I have “Naturally” noticed how leaning, sleeping,resting on my left helps me in many ways..I once had major problems on my left from a Spontaneous Pneumothorax that required surgery on the left side..I am so grateful to be able to return to the left side!! For over 20 years I had sharp pains and breathing difficulties on the left side… I am so blessed to return to this position..you would never know unless you lived my life and walked in my shoes…to be able to breath on left..rest on left..and after eating be resting on the left….You may suffer from a jaundiced viewpoint on this subject..I don’t..
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anita says
April 25, 2017 at 9:30 pm
left side lying position does prevent gas buildup in your bowel system! In fact digestion is better when lying on the left side! any gastroenterologist will agree!!!
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Mike says
September 27, 2017 at 8:10 pm
The old saying is is if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all thank you!!
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Yvonne says
June 6, 2015 at 9:37 pm
Don’t believe that I believe it’s easier to get hurt sleeping on your left ,I remember physic attacks began happening to me ,6 years ago when I was told to sleep on my left side . I was also told that that’s the side that hold our secrets .
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D says
June 24, 2015 at 6:20 am
Psychic attacks, secrets? From laying a certain way? Seriously? That’s pure ridiculous superstition.
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anita says
April 25, 2017 at 9:31 pm
thats a joke
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Yvonne says
June 6, 2015 at 9:38 pm
Don’t know exactly what secrets but I was thought so by the old folks .
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Laurence says
June 19, 2015 at 6:01 pm
I usually sleep on my right side because it opens up my left nasal passage which seems to be congested a lot, do you know why that is? I do notice that sleeping on the left side , I wake up feeling better just more congested on the left side, going to try sleeping on the left side more if it has more benefits.
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Bobby says
December 20, 2015 at 7:12 am
I have exactly the same situation. I always go to sleep on my right side, but wake up on my left.
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Don Loomis says
February 2, 2017 at 7:46 am
Laurence says: Consult your chiropractor, if you have one. That’s what I did with positive results.
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anita says
April 25, 2017 at 9:32 pm
elevate your head
put vaporizer in your bedroom and it woll clear your airway passages
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K.A Thomad says
July 2, 2015 at 9:10 am
When i sleep left side i feel pain and feel little bit suffocation and cough
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CDR. S says
August 8, 2015 at 6:22 am
Sweet pea if that’s the case you may want to see your doctor. That could be a sign of something being wrong.
Its actually not normal and sounds like a mucus and possibly allergy problem. You could have fluid in your lungs and just happen to notice it more while on that side. Just a thought.
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Christy says
April 13, 2016 at 8:27 pm
I get a sharp pain in my rib cage right below my left breast when I sleep on my left side as well as sleeping on my back. Any ideas about that?
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Matthewsays
December 4, 2016 at 12:37 am
Could be a tumor. Better check that out.
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anita says
April 25, 2017 at 9:34 pm
Are you overweight?
Do you have sleep apnea?
have uou been Diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure?
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Nay says
July 5, 2015 at 2:31 pm
last few year I have been waking up with plain in left eye. Even my friend told me that something wrong with my eye. I went to 2 eye doctors and my regular doctor and have it checked. Everyone said there is nothing wrong, but I feel pain almost everyday. From last few months I forced my self on my back or right side and I noticed no pain or less pain in my left eye when I wake up. Doctors can’t explain why.
I am from India and I do remember my dad telling me about sleeping on left side and how it helps.
However, I can’t sleep on left side to avoid plain in left eye. Let me know if you have any suggestion.
Thanks
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CDR. S says
August 8, 2015 at 6:41 am
I can’t explain why your eye does that it is a bit strange. But perhaps a nerve problem that reacts to you laying on that side? Or possibly something behind it? Or maybe something with the muscles that makes it sit funny when you lay on that side? Those are my best ideas (really hope nothings behind it and kinda doubt it but it happens). But if you want to continue laying on your left side I may have a couple ideas to try. You could try them together or try them apart or not at all. You could try putting a body pillow behind you on the right side and use it to prop you somewhat onto your left side but still somewhat be on your back. If you’re a snuggler this may not work and you might just turn around and hug it while you sleep. You could also try laying on your left side but keeping your head turned upright. Using special pillows could aid in this as well. It may take some practice and getting it just right but it could be useful. They may not be fool proof but they may help.
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John Douillardsays
August 10, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Hi Nay,
It is ,of course, impossible to suggest that the left side sleeping is best for every condition.
It sounds like a circulation block that is causing pressure to build in your eye. I would get it checked out.
I would suggest Ayurvedic therapies for the head such as:
Nasya
Brahmi Brain
Bacopa
Shiro abyhanga
Shirodhara
Shiro Abyhanga Nasya
Hope this helps .
Be well,
Dr. John
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Luci Thomassays
May 23, 2017 at 4:07 am
When I sleep on my left side my left arm and hand fall asleep (pins and needles),how can I stop that from happening?
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jutiy says
August 31, 2015 at 8:53 am
I bet I know why.. and this is just from my own experience of having pain in my eye when waking.. from your description of saying you started to sleep on your back or right side.. means you slept on your left right? Well that probably means while on that side your head was turned into the pillow and your eye socket was touching the pillow.. just a guess.. and when this happens sometimes the pillow pushes into the eyelid cause the pillow to touch the eye ball and dry it out.. .. This has happened to me and it is painful..feels like something is in it for hours.. I think it’s just really dry. It happens a lot to me when I wear an eye mask that has a pillowy bump..not the really flat kind inside..this mask has a little pillowy bump at the bottom of it..that sometimes goes into my eyes and causes the pain after a while.. so that’s my best guess and from your description and such I bet it is the reason.. your eye on the left was touching the pillow while you were sleeping..and drying out. and even once you lubricate it it will still hurt for a while afterwards..
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Bob Wray says
December 7, 2015 at 7:29 am
Maybe your pillow is pushing against your left eyeball all night. Make sure your eye is clear of the pillow when you sleep on your left side.
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anita says
April 25, 2017 at 9:36 pm
Don’t lie flat when you sleep! elevate head on 2 pillows and see if that helps
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Tonya says
August 18, 2015 at 12:53 am
I’m up at 2am dealing with acid reflux because I didn’t sleep on my left side tonight.
I have suffered with acid reflux since I was in my teens. I read an article about 8 months ago that talked about the benefits of sleeping on the left side, and it stated that sleeping this way helps reduce acid reflux. I had tried everything else, so I figured why not try this. Long story short, that was the end of my acid reflux.
I used to have to watch what I ate before going to bed, and make sure I ate at least 4 hours in advance. Now, I can lie down right after I eat as long as I lay on the left side.
This past evening, I ate a heavy meal, drank plenty of fluids and went to sleep on my stomach!!! Now I’m up suffering.
I’m a firm believer (and walking testimony) to the benefits of sleeping on the left side.
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Andy Yorke says
February 27, 2016 at 7:41 am
Had to battle with acid reflux for about a mth…. Various visits to doctor various tests…. All normal but the pain as been very intense… Slept on my left side last night feel so much better.. Well….. Less pain will continue to sleep all week on the left to see the outcome.
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anita says
April 25, 2017 at 9:37 pm
left is best!
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Himshaw says
October 4, 2015 at 11:58 am
Hi
I am from the country of origin of Ayurveda. These methods are chosen by a long time observation performed by Ayurvedic practitioners. I too have acid reflux problem which is easily handled by using the above method beleive me I have tried alopathic medicine for 8 years. This process have no side effects, its totally free and useful. Try it for 10 minutes.
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Renata Vlaho says
November 17, 2015 at 5:04 pm
I’ve been suffering from acid reflux and non-acid reflux for sometime now. It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. No prescription pill works for me. I’m having an endoscopy next week, hopefully to find out what’s causing this. I read an article about the benefits of sleeping on the left side and I tried it last night. I had minimal reflux and was able to get a pretty decent night’s sleep so THANK YOU Dr. Douillard for giving me a bit of hope!!!
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anita says
April 25, 2017 at 9:38 pm
try childrens TUMS
i use one and no problems all night
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Bruce Dixonsays
September 5, 2017 at 8:12 am
If TUMS don’t do the job, try drinking a glass of water with a teaspoon of baking soda. Eat chocolate sparingly.
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Edgar Snoeck says
January 5, 2016 at 10:32 pm
This was GREAT ! I’d like to sign-up for your news letters. Thanks Ed
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John Douillardsays
January 7, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Thanks for the positive feedback! You can sign up for the newsletter here…
https://lifespa.com/newsletter-signup/
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Dlams mashsays
October 1, 2017 at 2:06 pm
Indeed it works,I suffered a minor stroke 2years back,on my ryt side n i commonly feel ice cold on my leg n tired when I sleep but I usually wake up sleeping on the very same std or my back
Thanks for sharing Dr
Sincere
Tmash
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Janet R says
January 26, 2016 at 12:54 am
For a long time I was a left side sleeper. Then I suffered a skull fracture on the left side. And for years I could not sleep on that side. It was extremely difficult to break sleeping on the left as it “hurt” my head. Equally it took a long time to get back to sleeping on the left side
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Barbara says
January 26, 2016 at 5:22 pm
I would love to sleep on my sleep side, as I used to years ago, but have a frozen left shoulder. It’s also hard to sleep on my right side as the gravity pulls said shoulder down making it ache. For years now I’ve been sleeping on my back, which I now realise is not good and has increased by breathing problems. But it’s the only position which gives me comfort and some sleep at night. Sleeping on my tummy is also bad for my dodgy neck. Any suggestions?
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Sann Martinho says
February 1, 2016 at 12:33 am
I have found myself of late laying on my left side watching movies and mini series. Sometimes for hours in a day. Now unfortunately my left hip is so sore and have a rather bad pain in my left groin area. Sometimes it’s very painful just to bend my left leg when going up steps or to get into my car. Have I damaged something by laying on my left side like that for hours on end. I’m really concerned and wondering if I have damaged my hip.
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Don Loomis says
February 2, 2017 at 8:23 am
Sann Martinho I know your post was a year ago but I have to reply to it. I damaged the =scarum area of my spine in a fall many years ago and have experienced what you’ve experienced for a year now. Though on my right side. I can tell you and others that may find this comment section your problems are caused by a slippage of the vertebrates in your sacrum area. If you have a Chiropractor, consult with him. He can and will fix your problem. Hot baths, not a heating pad, will also help him, help you.
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Lynn says
February 5, 2016 at 5:09 pm
I was always told laying on your left side squeezes your heart, is that true?
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robin says
February 11, 2016 at 8:31 pm
I notice numerous sites referring to heart issues and sleeping on your left side, some very prominent medical sites……it’s a valid question that should be addressed particularly with reference to AFIB.
So, If you have heart conditions, sleep apnea,GERD and curvature of your spine
due to AS, ankylosing spondylitis and cannot sleep on your stomach, you’re out of luck……
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anita says
April 25, 2017 at 9:40 pm
no
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Melissa says
February 25, 2016 at 6:55 am
I am much more comfortable and prefer sleeping on my left side. But I’ve noticed that almost instantly I get unbearable pains in my abdomen. What could be the cause of this
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anita says
April 25, 2017 at 9:40 pm
gas buildup
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dominick demarcosays
March 8, 2016 at 5:04 pm
I am 85 years old and have suffered from nightly indigestion and elimination problems for as long as I can remember.
Since sleeping on left side for last 4 weeks I feel better than I have in years.
No more getting up at night to take antacids.
Elimination every morning comes naturally and effortlessly.