VNS analysis measures the autonomic nervous system via heart rate variability (HRV).

The VNS analysis shows simply, quickly and scientifically recognized worldwide how our autonomic nervous system (VNS) regulates and functions. The VNS with its two main nerves sympathetic and parasympathetic, also called vagus, is a higher-level control center in the body, which controls and regulates subordinate processes and all vital functions such as blood pressure, respiration, heart rate, immune, hormonal and digestive systems, energy supply, etc.

When a higher-level system controls and regulates lower-level systems, the functional state of the higher-level system is the most important diagnostic parameter.

The heart becomes the focus of the VNS analysis. Since it is directly controlled by sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems through the conduction system, it serves as the organ of success in VNS analysis to measure the autonomic nervous system.
As internal and external stimuli are registered and processed by the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, sensible reactions (regulation) follow in order to prepare the organism as best as possible for the current needs (e.g. acute danger = provision of energy).
A disturbance of the VNS with overactive sympathetic and hypoactive parasympathetic nervous system will physiologically and inevitably lead to altered excitation of the heart. This changes the heart rate variability (distance from heartbeat to heartbeat) accordingly and is therefore measurable!

The Chinese physician Wang Shu-he documented this in his writings “Mai Ching”/”The Knowledge of Pulse Diagnosis” (today a “pulse classic”). He wrote down a sentence that is often quoted in modern times:

If the heartbeat becomes as regular as the woodpecker’s knock or the drip of rain on the roof, the patient will die within four days.

• 1891- Muller shows lower increase in HF to atropine in cardiac patients.
• 1927 – Winterberg and Wenkelbach describe respiratory sinus arrhythmia.
• 1965 – Hon and Lee describe changes in RR intervals in “fetal distress”.
• 1972 – Hinkel et al. Show increased risk of cardiac death with reduced respiratory sensory arrhythmia.
• 1978 – Wolf et al. describe the relationship between HRV and infarct mortality
• 1981 – (Akselrod et al. 1981) “Spectral analysis of HRV is significant as a noninvasive, quantitative measure of the functionality of cardiovascular regulatory circuits.
• 1990 – HRV analysis finds its way into clinical cardiology and diabetology
• 2000 – HRV becomes part of the risk stratification for sudden cardiac death.
• 2007 – Commit GmbH is founded and develops the VNS Analysis
• 2010 – HRV analysis is included in the program for national care guidelines in the field of neuropathy in adult-onset diabetes.
• 2016 – TheInternational Society for Autonomic Functional Diagnostics and Regulatory Medicine e.V., in short IGAF, is founded.

The scientist v. Hering prohezeite 1925:

“The wise use of the autonomic system will one day constitute the main part of the medical art.”

Dr. Johann Diederich Hahn-Godeffroy:

“To keep the vegetative, the balance of tension and relaxation, harmoniously in balance means: art of living.”