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Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), one of the most respected herbs in Ayurveda, was the main focus at a major international side event that took place alongside the 2nd WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit in 2025, highlighting India's role in promoting traditional medicine through evidence-based discussions. The event, named 'Ashwagandha: From Traditional Wisdom to Global Impact - Insights from Leading Global Experts,' was organized by the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (WHO-GTMC) together with the Ministry of Ayush at Bharat Mandapam in this location. The gathering included prominent global experts, regulators, researchers, and policymakers who came together to discuss the changing scientific, regulatory, and safety issues related to Ashwagandha. With Ashwagandha receiving increasing attention worldwide for its stress-relief, brain-protecting, and immune-boosting benefits, the conversations aimed to strengthen the connection between traditional practices and modern scientific proof. Specialists stressed the need for thorough preclinical and clinical studies, safety evaluations, monitoring of drug effects, and standardization to support its safe global use, as stated in a release.
Led by Dr JB Gupta, Secretary of the World Ashwagandha Council, the session included key presentations from top international experts. Dr Roy Upton from the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia pointed out international standards for identifying, testing quality, and therapeutic use. Mari Lyyra, who is in charge of Food and Feed at Medfiles Ltd in Finland, discussed the regulations in Europe and how acceptance of Ashwagandha is growing. Dr Ikhlas Khan, who is the Director of the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi, highlighted the necessity for strict methods and solid data to guide regulatory choices. Dr Geetha Krishnan from WHO-GTMC talked about finding a balance between the potential benefits and caution in the worldwide use of Ashwagandha.
An interactive panel allowed for open discussions among experts about aligning standards, ensuring consistent effectiveness, and encouraging collaborative research to improve evidence-based Ashwagandha products. The session ended with a shared agreement on the importance of ongoing international collaboration to include Ashwagandha within standard healthcare systems while honoring traditional knowledge. The discussions showed a rising global commitment to blending traditional medicine into modern health systems in a safe, scientific, and sustainable way, aligning with the larger goals of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit. The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Summit serves as a worldwide platform for conversation, cooperation, and policy alignment concerning traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine, with a strong focus on evidence, safety, and quality, the release mentioned.
