Prediction of Deha Prakriti by Hand Shape and Hand Area: A Cross-sectional Study

Export Introduction: Prakriti (body constitution) of a person can be ascertained by physical, physiological, and behavioral attributes. Individuals of Kapha Prakriti have well-built muscular bodies, long arms, big, prominent chests, and big foreheads, while the individuals of Vata Prakriti are lean and thin, but none of the attributes are described quantitatively in Ayurveda. In contemporary science, on the basis of hand shape, the hand has been categorized into five types: hyperdolichocheir, dolichocheir, mesocheir, brachycheir, and hyperbrachycheir and this study aimed to discriminate the shape and area of the hand among dominant Prakriti so that Prakriti can be predicted by ascertaining the shape or area of the hand of an individual. Methods: Two hundred healthy male individuals between 18 and 40 years were enrolled from the population of Delhi. Prakriti of the subjects was determined by a validated questionnaire. The dimensions of the hand were measured by the instrument, a digital caliper. The shape of the hand was ascertained using the scale of Martin and Saller, and the area of the hand was calculated by the product of the length and breadth of the hand. The difference in the hand shape (nominal data) and hand area (continuous data) among the dominant Prakriti groups was statistically analyzed using Chi-squared and analysis of variance tests, respectively. Results: The hand shape of Vata dominant, Pitta dominant, and Kapha dominant Prakriti person is largely hyperdolichocheir, dolichocheir, and mesocheir, respectively (P < 0.001), and there is a statistically significant difference in the area of hand among the dominant Prakriti groups (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The shape and area of the hand significantly differ among dominant Prakriti groups, thus Prakriti can be ascertained by determining the shape and area of the hand of a person.