Critical review on physiological aspects of Samana Vata

Background: Samana Vata which is located near the seat of Agni and it have role in digestion as well as in the assimilation of ingested food. Anna Grahana, Pachana, Vivechana and Munchan are the functions of Samana Vata. The physiological functions of Samana Vata can be correlated with enteric nervous system which is known as the second brain, and parasympathetic and sympathetic supply of autonomic nervous system. ENS functions by maintaining the enteric homeostasis and also act as modulator in gut barrier functions. After the food reaches stomach, several digestive juice acts on it. Gastric juice, pancreatic juice, all contains important digestive enzymes and act on food. Secretion of this enzyme is mostly under the control of intrinsic and extrinsic enteric nervous system. Aims and Objective: To critically analyse the concept of Samana Vata and find out the correlation with modern physiology. Materials and Methods: Literature review was referred from different classical text books and relevant modern textbooks, articles, data bases like google scholar, pubmed. Conclusion: Samana Vata chiefly locates in the middle part of body. It is primarily responsible for stimulation of Agni and leads to digestion, absorption, separation of essence and waste material. Function of Samana Vata, described by Acharyas can be compared with the physiological function of enteric nervous system. It can be partially correlated with enteric nervous system, sympathetic and parasympathetic supply of autonomic nervous system.