AYURVEDIC DOSHA CYCLES AND CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS: A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW WITH CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS AND RESEARCH AGENDA

Purpose: Ayurveda conceptualizes tridosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) as physiological principles exhibiting time-specific dominance across 24-hour cycles. Despite classical descriptions of dosha-regulated rhythms in Sanskrit texts, this framework remains underintegrated with modern chronobiology in peer-reviewed literature. This narrative review explores proposed correlations between Ayurvedic dosha cycles and suprachiasmatic nucleus-regulated circadian physiology, dinacharya (daily routine) applications, and outlines a research agenda for shift workers and metabolic disorders. Methods: Narrative synthesis of classical texts (Charaka Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya) and peer-reviewed studies on chronobiology and Ayurveda (2015–2025) retrieved from PubMed. Data were organized via conceptual mapping of dosha characteristics to circadian biomarkers and proposed mechanisms. Results: Classical dosha phases correspond temporally with documented circadian biomarkers: Vata-dominant periods (2–6 AM/PM) with cortisol elevation and cognitive activity; Pitta-dominant periods (10 AM–2 PM) with peak metabolic rate; Kapha-dominant periods (6–10 AM/PM) with sleep consolidation. Disruptions of time-appropriate behaviors (kaala-viruddha) are associated in observational literature with insomnia, gastroesophageal reflux, and metabolic dysfunction. Selected randomized controlled trials suggest that time-aligned interventions (abhyanga, meal timing, sleep scheduling) may improve sleep quality and metabolic parameters. Conclusions: Dosha-circadian integration offers a hypothesis-generating framework for personalized, non-pharmacological approaches to circadian health. While conceptually promising, existing evidence derives from small trials and observational studies. Rigorous prakriti-stratified randomized controlled trials, objective biomarker standardization, and mechanistic studies are needed to validate proposed dosha–chronotype correlations and establish clinical utility.