Dinacharya and Ritucharya as Chronobiological Interventions: An Ayurveda Perspective on Lifestyle Disorder Prevention
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background- Lifestyle disorders such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases contribute to a major global health burden; these conditions are strongly associated with altered daily routine, sedentary lifestyle, chronic stress and disturbance of biological rhythms. Chronobiology explains how the internal biological clock regulates physiological processes such as metabolism, hormone secretion, sleep-wake cycles, digestion, and immunological functions. Disrupting these rhythms, common in modern lifestyles with irregular sleep patterns, night-shift work, and untimely food consumption, increases the risk of metabolic deregulation, insulin resistance, and elevated cardiometabolic risk markers. In Ayurveda, dinacharya and ritucharya emphasise aligning human activities with diurnal and seasonal rhythms to preserve physiological balance. Classical Ayurveda texts describe the cyclic predominance of doshas during different times of day and night. This article explores the scientific relevance of these practices in reducing risk markers of lifestyle disorders.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
References
Pallavi, P. B. R., & Aishwarya Ranade. (2026). Role of Dinacharya and Ritucharya in the Regulation of Agni: An Integrative Perspective with Gut Microbiota and Chronobiology. Ayurline: International Journal of Research in Indian Medicine, 10(02)
DOI: 10.52482/ayurline.v10i02.1032
Wehrens SMT, Christou S, Isherwood C, Middleton B, Gibbs MA, Archer SN, Skene DJ, Johnston JD. Meal Timing Regulates the Human Circadian System. Curr Biol. 2017 Jun 19;27(12):1768-1775.e3. Epub 2017 Jun 1. PMID: 28578930; PMCID: PMC5483233.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2017.04.059
Gupta, D. R., Shukla, D. O., Shrivastava, D. V., & Acharya, D. P. (2017). A Decent Science Behind the Brahma Muhurta. International Journal of Ayurvedic and Herbal Medicine, 7(6).
DOI: 10.18535/ijahm/v7i6.14
Sahu DK. Importance of Brahma Muhurta in present era. World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. 2019;8(2):294–299.
DOI: 10.20959/wjpr20192
Anuradha, Yadav CR, Singh BP, Prabhakaran V. Brahma Muhurta and Circadian Rhythms: A Gateway to Optimal Health. IRJAY. [online] 2025;8(6);27-31. Available from: DOI: 10.48165/IRJAY.2025.80606
Sharma, Payal & Dangar, Bhavika & Shukla, Avanish. (2025). Dantaswasthya in Ayurveda w.s.r. to Dantadhavan. AYUSHDHARA. 337- 341. 10.47070/ayushdhara.v11i6.1809
Khairnar MR, Dodamani AS, Karibasappa GN, Naik RG, Deshmukh MA.Efficacy of herbal toothpastes on salivary pH and salivary glucose – A preliminary study. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2017;8(1):3–6.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2016.12.004
Agnivesha.Charaka Samhita revised by Charaka and Drinabala with the Ayurvedic Dipika commentary of Chakrapanidatta. Edited by Yadavji Trikamji Acharya. Reprinted by Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan.Varanasi.2004;42 https://www.scienceopen.com/document?vid=92736359-5bed-4e2f-81ad-229dc09d8126
Singh SK, Rajoria K, Kumar A, Sharma S. A double-blind controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of nasal therapy with Vrihatajivakadya oil on different viscosities in patients with migraine. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2023 Mar-Apr;14(2):100662. Epub 2022 Nov 13. PMID: 36384709; PMCID: PMC10307686.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2022.100662
Dr Jatinder Kumar, Dr. Abhishek Magotra, Dr. Sheetal. Role of Vyayama (Exercise) in maintenance of Health - An Ayurvedic and modern view. J AyurvedaIntegr MedSci. 2020; 5:489-493
DOI: 10.21760/jaims.v5i05.1089
Mahindru A, Patil P, Agrawal V. Role of Physical Activity on Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review. Cureus. 2023 Jan 7;15(1): e33475. PMID: 36756008; PMCID: PMC9902068.
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.33475
Rebello CJ, Zhang D, Kirwan JP, Lowe AC, Emerson CJ, Kracht CL, Steib LC, Greenway FL, Johnson WD, Brown JC. Effect of exercise training on insulin-stimulated glucose disposal: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Int J Obes (Lond). 2023 May;47(5):348-357. Epub 2023 Feb 24. PMID: 36828899; PMCID: PMC10148910. DOI: 10.1038/s41366-023-01283-8
Dhandge, G. B., & Dhandge, R. P. “Ahar–Vyayam–Aushadh”; an effective trinity in management of Sthoulya; A case study. 03.2021-11278686.
DOI: https://doi-ds.org/doilink/04.2022-98785553/IRJHIS2204001, https://irjhis.com/paper/IRJHIS2204001.pdf
Kim YI, Kim E, Lee Y, Park J.Role of late-night eating in circadian disruption and depression: a review of emotional health impacts.Phys Act Nutr. 2025;29(1):18–24, PMID: 40443246
DOI: 10.20463/pan.2025.0003
Ayushi Khandelwal. Ritucharya: A Preventive and Promotive Ayurvedic Regimen for Lifestyle Disorders. J Ayurveda Integr Med Sci [Internet]. 2025 Nov. 7 [cited 2026 Mar. 31];10(10):299-312. Available from: https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/491
DOI: 10.21760/jaims.10.10.42
Singh PK, Byadgi PS, Singh G, Tripathi NS. Impact of season and constitution on lipid parameters. Ayu. 2013 Jan;34(1):77-80. PMID: 24049409; PMCID: PMC3764885. DOI: 10.4103/0974-8520.115454. Works remain significant; see the declaration
Chaturvedi P, Senthiya D.Ayurvedic principles to prevent lifestyle disorders.Int J Ayurveda Pharma Res. 2023;11(Suppl 3):1–6.
DOI: 10.47070/ijapr.v11iSuppl3.2887
Kalsbeek, A., la Fleur, S. & Fliers, E. Circadian control of glucose metabolism.Mol. Metab. 3, 372–383 (2014). PMID: 24944897 PMCID: PMC4060304 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2014.03.002; works remain significant; see the declaration
Morikawa, Y. et al. Effect of shift work on body mass index and metabolic parameters. Scand. J. Work, Environ. Health 33, 45–50 (2007) PMID: 17353964 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.1063, works remain significant, see the declaration
Douma LG, Gumz ML. Circadian clock-mediated regulation of blood pressure. Free Radic Biol Med. 2017; 119:108–114. PMCID: PMC5910276. DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2017.11.024
Puttonen S, Härmä M, Hublin C. Shift work and cardiovascular disease – pathways from circadian stress to morbidity. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2010;(2):96–108. PMID: 20087536 DOI: 10.5271/sjweh.2894, works remain significant; see the declaration
Costello HM, Gumz ML.Circadian rhythm, clock genes, and hypertension: Recent advances in hypertension. 2021;78(5):1185–1196. DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.121.14519
Smith DJ et al. Circadian rhythms and mental health. BMJ Ment Health. 2023.. Costello HM, Gumz ML.Circadian rhythm, clock genes, and hypertension: Recent advances in hypertension. 2021;78(5):1185–1196. PMCID: PMC12161293 DOI: 10.1136/bmjment-2025-301818
Zaki NFW et al. Chronobiological theories of mood disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2018;268(2):107–118. PMID: 28894915. DOI: 10.1007/s00406-017-0835-5