NEW DELHI: Ashwagandha, a staple of Ayurveda and a familiar household remedy, moved into the global health spotlight at the 2nd WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit, 2025, as international experts debated how traditional herbs can be safely integrated into modern healthcare.The summit was inaugurated on Wednesday at Bharat Mandapam by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda, in the presence of Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav, marking the start of the three-day global scientific congregation being held from December 17 to 19. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is expected to grace the closing ceremony on December 19.Against this backdrop, a high-level side event organised by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Ayush brought Ashwagandha into sharp focus. Scientists, regulators and policymakers from across the world examined its growing international use for stress management, brain health and immunity, and discussed how centuries-old traditional knowledge can be aligned with modern scientific evidence.Addressing the gathering, Jadhav said India is steadily expanding international cooperation in traditional medicine through education, research and capacity building. He noted that India offers 104 scholarships annually to foreign nationals, has signed 26 country-level memoranda of understanding, collaborates with more than 50 institutions globally, and has set up Ayush Chairs in 15 universities and Ayush Information Cells in 43 countries. He added that collaborative research — including Ashwagandha trials in the United Kingdom, Guduchi studies in Germany and Ayurveda-based diabetes research in Latvia — is generating a growing body of scientific evidence.Speakers stressed that wider global acceptance of Ashwagandha depends on rigorous clinical research, standardised formulations and strong safety monitoring. While traditional use provides a strong foundation, experts cautioned that herbal products must meet the same quality and safety benchmarks as conventional medicines as their reach expands beyond India.International regulators shared how markets in Europe and the United States are evaluating Ashwagandha, underlining the need for clear dosage guidance and reliable quality testing to prevent misuse and misinformation.Participants agreed that sustained global collaboration is essential to ensure Ashwagandha’s benefits reach people safely without diluting the credibility of Ayurveda. The discussion reflected a broader shift in global health thinking — recognising traditional medicine as a credible, evidence-based partner in public healthcare rather than an informal alternative.
