I am writing to you about the dreams I have been having of late. Some are pleasant, a few nightmarish, but the ones that are embarrassing relate to bed-wetting. I often dream of visiting a mall and during a shopping spree am forced to use a washroom. While I am using the washroom in my dream, I end up wetting the bed in reality. This is despite the fact that prior to retiring for the night I always use the toilet and avoid intake of fluids at night. Please advise.
Name withheld on request

While dream analysis is a trendy wellness theme, there is no universally accepted biological definition and understanding of the phenomenon. Ayurvedic books detail dream analysis in certain diagnostic processes. According to one school of thought, during the night there may be many troubling external stimuli, but the brain often interprets them and makes them part of a dream in order to ensure continuous sleep: this is called dream incorporation. For instance, the sound of a phone ringing in the bedroom is incorporated into a dream where you end up dreaming of a bell ringing. Similar is the case of you dreaming of wanting to use the washroom and in reality ending up wetting the bed. The wetting episode generally begins with an increase in bladder contractions, body movements, and heart and breathing rates during sleep. As the bladder empties, sleep lightens, at times to momentary awakening.

Bed-wetting is normal among children. By age 12, about 3 per cent of kids still wet the bed (mostly boys). Your age and gender is not mentioned here. My suggestion is that you see a urologist for an evaluation. And stay away from caffeine and allergy-causing foods, which can irritate the bladder. You can also try taking chandraprabha vati* twice daily for two weeks.

My friend is 15 years old and her height is 1.5 metres and her weight is 47 kg. Her father is 1.8 metres tall and her mother is 1.55 metres. She is pretty short compared to other girls in her age group at school and in her family. She exercises regularly. Is there any way she can increase her height?
Name withheld on request

Some doctors calculate the genetic growth potential of children using mid-parental height. The adult heights of a major proportion of children will fall into the range predicted by these calculations. Adult height is usually the product of genetics, but underlying medical conditions, as well as general health and nutrition, can also affect the final height attained. Her mid-parental height is 1.61 metres. Children grow at a steady rate for the first 10 to 12 years of their lives, then experience a growth spurt for the next two years. Then their growth rate slows, until it stops at the end of puberty. She might grow to reach her mid-parental height provided she has good health and her nutrition intake is good. She should eat foods rich in protein and take regular exercise. Her diet should regularly contain mung bean (moong dal), milk, yoghurt, eggs and meat. Consult a doctor to evaluate if she is facing any health concerns. Also consider taking digestive tonics like vaiswanara choornam*. Consulting an Ayurvedic doctor in person would help.

*Available at shops selling herbal products