Could a Sleep Dohar Be The Cure For Night Sweats?

Virtually unknown in Europe, traditionally sleep dohars were the reserve of the Maharajah. Their design comprises three layers of superior quality, super soft finely woven Mul Mul cotton which is not only breathable, but it regulates your body temperature at night. Layers of voile cotton trap cool air in the summer months, and act as a lightweight coverlet to be used in place of a top sheet, and in winter, the blankets layers trap warm air between the layers to keep you snug but not overheated.

This all sounds great, but what does it mean for women? Belle spoke to Angel Skillman, founder of Shades of Cool London, who has brought this ancient Indian sleep secret to the menopause market in the UK, to find out exactly how the blanket can help ease symptoms…

How can Sleep Dohars help support sleep problems for women going through menopause? 

Not only do eight out of ten women find sleeping difficult because of menopause but according to The Sleep Foundation, sleep disorders affect 39-47% of perimenopausal women, and 35-50% of postmenopausal women. Dohars have been used for centuries during the hottest nights of the year before the arrival of air conditioning systems in India. Soft and luxurious, dohar blankets help to ward off the unpleasant feeling of waking sweaty and hot from night sweats during the menopause, but thanks to its layered and weightier construction, it helps you to feel cosy and comfortable without the extra inbuilt heat that comes with using a duvet. 

As an added advantage, dohars become even more comfortable and soft over time. Each time they’re washed in your washing machine and then line dried or popped into a tumble dryer on a low heat, their 100% cotton natural fibres become twisted, pulled, and bent, and that only serves to make them feel softer and cosier. They also come in beautiful, subtle designs that look wonderful in any bedroom thanks to their skilful handcrafted construction by talented artisans. Each dohar is completely unique, which makes it a beautiful choice for any home.

How does menopause affects sleep, and what should we be doing to help ourselves get a better night’s sleep? 

Most women entering the menopause find their sleep is disturbed regularly by sweats and hot flushes. There are a few ways to tackle this problem, beginning with reducing or eliminating alcohol, caffeine, nicotine and spicy foods from your lifestyle to minimise the possibility of hot flushes. 

Reducing screen time just before bed is also a good idea since blue light from smartphone and tablet screens can affect melatonin levels and make it harder to drift off. The next port of call is to examine your bedroom environment to check it isn’t making your problem worse. First, you need to check the temperature in your sleeping environment. It should be about 18 degrees Celsius to achieve optimal sleep. Any warmer than this, and you’re likely to find that you wake up sweating at some point during the night.

With this in mind, you should think about what you’re wearing in bed. Nightwear made from polyester and other man-made materials traps sweat and heat close to your body and makes you more uncomfortable. Switching to cool, cotton nightwear helps to dissipate the heat away from your body to keep you at an even temperature. You should also consider changing your bedding to blankets that keep you cool at night.

Thick duvets can be too heavy during the menopause and contribute to the discomfort of hot flashes and sweats. A cotton cooling blanket is a far better option. Using multiple thin cotton muslin blanket layers allows you to remove one at a time to achieve the perfect temperature during the night to promote restful sleep. 

What Makes the Shades of Cool London Sleep Dohars Unique?

We are one of the only companies in the UK which sells them in their traditional design where the middle layer is block printed and the design is visible subtly through the outer layer. The cotton used is sustainably produced and hand-block printed by our female team of Artisan tradespeople in Jaipur. We use azo-free dyes making them chemical free and eco-friendly. They are fantastic for menopause as they control your body temperature by trapping cold air in between the three layers helping subside hot flushes during the night. Plus for every Dohar sold, we donate £1.00 to The Pink Rickshaw Company in India which provides employment opportunities to 200 women from low income households in Jaipur.

What can be other benefits of buying a Dohar from Shades of London?

• Each Dohar is made by a female team of fairtrade Artisan tradespeople in India
• Every Dohar is made with 100% ethically sourced Mul Mul Cotton
• Each Dohar is Hand Block-Printed with Azo-Free dyes making them chemical free and eco-friendly
• Every product at Shades of Cool London is shipped in 100% plastic-free, biodegradable packaging
• Every Dohar is hypoallergenic to make sure you can sleep comfortably without experiencing any unwanted reactions thanks to the natural cotton used
• The Dohar Collection is available in 6 designs and several colours including Wild Fungi, Golden Ferns, Blue Jay Feathers, Blossoming Tulips, Camellia and a Japanese Wave.
• Every product sold allows SOCL to donate £1.00 to The Pink Rickshaw Company in India; a project which provides employment opportunities to 200 women from low income households in Jaipur