title: Ayurvedic doshas as predictors of sleep quality.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The 3 Ayurvedic constitutional types or Doshas--vata, pitta, and kapha--are responsible for homeostasis and health. The doshas determine various functions, including sleep. According to the Ayurvedic texts, sleep is caused by increased kapha and insomnia by increased vata or pitta, which may follow physical or mental exertion, or disease. The present study was carried out to determine whether this relationship could be found using contemporary standardized questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional single-group study, 995 persons participated (646 males; group average age ±S.D., 49.1±15.2 years). Participants were attending a 1-week residential yoga program in northern India. Participants were assessed for dosha scores using a Tridosha questionnaire and the quality of sleep in the preceding week was self-rated using a sleep rating questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine if each dosha acted as a predictor of quality and quantity of sleep. Vata scores significantly predicted the time taken to fall asleep [p<0.01], and the feeling of being rested in the morning [p<0.001]; with higher vata scores being associated with a longer time to fall asleep and a lesser feeling of being rested in the morning. Kapha scores significantly predicted day-time somnolence [p<0.05] and the duration of day-time naps in minutes [p<0.05], with higher kapha scores being associated with longer day-time naps.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that the doshas can influence the quality and quantity of sleep.
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Telles
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Shivangi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Ankur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Prabhat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Department of Yoga Research, Patanjali Research Foundation, Haridwar, India.
authors.forename: Acharya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balkrishna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008515:Medicine, Ayurvedic; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D057566:Self Report; D012890:Sleep; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013008:Somatotypes; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult