An Integrative Review of the Correlation between the Ayurvedic Concept of Vata Dosha and the Neurophysiological Phenomenon of Nerve Impulse

Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical tradition, identified Vata Dosha as the core element responsible for movement and communication within the body. In contemporary neurophysiology, a nerve impulse or action potential serves as the main process for swift information transmission. Although these concepts arise from different knowledge systems, their functional descriptions reveal significant connections. This review sought to systematically investigate the conceptual similarities and functional parallels between Vata Dosha and nerve impulses. This integrative review complied with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the AYUSH Research Portal for available literature up to May 2025. This study emphasizes a notable functional overlap. The principal characteristic of Vata , referred to as chala (mobility), is essentially similar to the transmission of an action potential along an axon. The five Vata subtypes ( Prana, Udana, Samana, Apana , and Vyana ) are associated with some functional regions of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Conditions marked by an excess of Vata ( Vata Vriddhi ), which exhibit symptoms such as tremors, pain, and irregular movements, closely resemble neurological conditions caused by aberrant nerve impulse activity, including neuropathy and movement disorders. Vata Dosha offers a comprehensive systemic perspective on the body’s regulatory and communication systems, whereas nerve impulses provide a detailed mechanistic explanation. Their relationship is not a direct equivalence but rather a functional analogy at different levels of abstraction. Combining the Vata model with contemporary neurophysiology presents a promising paradigm for a more integrated approach to neurological health, diagnostics, and treatment.