The Heart-Axon Axis: Correlating Vyana Vayu with Bioelectrical Signaling in Neurocardiac Pathways
Keywords:
Action Potential, Dysautonomia, Heart Rate Variability, Intrinsic Cardiac Nervous System, Nerve Conduction Velocity, NeurocardiologyAbstract
Background: Vyana Vayu is the all-pervading sub-dosha of Vata Dosha, which arises in Hridaya (heart) and
traditionally regulates bodily movement, circulation and integration of sensory-motor function. The characteristics
of Vyana Vayu include an all-encompassing nature of spread with Mahajava (great velocity), Prasarpana-Akunchana
(contractility and extensibility) and systemic regulatory capacity. There are two possible biomedical correspondences
related to Vyana Vayu: (i) Biophysics of action potential (AP) and nerve conduction and (ii) Cardiac neuro-humoral
control mechanisms.
Aims and Objectives: (1) Correlation between Vyana Vayu attributes and biophysics of the AP/nerve conduction;
(2) Association of Vyana Vayu properties with cardiac neuro-humoral signaling; (3) Proposal of the concept of
“Heart-Axon Axis” as a translational framework; (4) Contemporary biomedical understanding of Vyana Dushti and
Ayurvedic management approaches to it.
Materials and Methods: Classical Ayurvedic literature such as Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga
Hridayam was analyzed, together with an electronic literature search from PubMed, Scopus and AYUSH resources
(2000–2025). Diagnostic criteria of Vyana Dushti were correlated with nerve conduction velocity and electromyography.
Observations and Results: Vyana Vayu has a correlation with two biomedically related entities: (i) AP and nerve
conduction physiology: Ion gradients (Na⁺/K⁺), membrane depolarization, saltatory conduction and neuromuscular
excitation-contraction coupling (ii) Cardiac neuro-humoral signals: Intrinsic Cardiac Nervous System, cardiokines
(atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide and calcitonin gene-related peptide); exosomal micro RNA
signaling and vagal-sympathetic balance. Vyana Dushti corresponds clinically with peripheral neuropathy, cardiac
arrhythmias and autonomic dysfunction.
Conclusion: The concept of the “Heart-Axon Axis” integrates Vyana Vayu’s bioelectric and neurohumoral
components into a unified translational framework that may be beneficial in integrating cardiovascular-neurology
research and evidence-based.
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