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@article{194424,
        author = {Dr Maheshchandra Gupta and Dr. Snehal Suhas Deshpande},
        title = {UNDERSTANDING PRANA VAYU AS A NEURO-RESPIRATORY REGULATORY MECHANISM: AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {10},
        pages = {3448-3452},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=194424},
        abstract = {In Ayurveda, Prana Vayu is considered the foremost subtype of Vata Dosha, responsible for regulating vital functions such as respiration, sensory perception, mental activity, and consciousness. Classical texts including the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita describe Prana Vayu as residing primarily in the head and chest, governing the intake of air, swallowing, and the coordination of higher neurological processes. From a modern physiological perspective, these functions show strong parallels with the neuro-respiratory regulatory mechanisms controlled by the central nervous system, particularly the brainstem respiratory centers and autonomic pathways. This integrative review explores the conceptual correlation between Prana Vayu and the neuro-respiratory control system. It analyzes classical Ayurvedic descriptions alongside contemporary knowledge from neurophysiology and respiratory medicine. The regulation of breathing rhythm, airway reflexes, sensory processing, and maintenance of consciousness can be interpreted through the coordinated action of medullary respiratory centers, vagal regulation, and cortical inputs, which collectively resemble the functional attributes of Prana Vayu. Furthermore, disturbances in Prana Vayu described in Ayurveda—manifesting as dyspnea, anxiety, impaired cognition, and altered consciousness—can be compared with dysfunctions in neural respiratory regulation and autonomic imbalance. Understanding Prana Vayu through a neuro-respiratory framework provides a scientific basis for integrating Ayurvedic concepts with modern physiology. Such an approach may enhance interdisciplinary research and support evidence-based interpretation of traditional knowledge, contributing to a broader understanding of human physiological regulation and holistic healthcare.},
        keywords = {Prana Vayu, Vata Dosha, Neuro-respiratory regulation, Ayurveda physiology, Brainstem respiratory centers, Integrative physiology, Autonomic nervous system.},
        month = {March},
        }