Exploring evidence-based uses of traditional medicine, such as ginger to treat nausea, is one of the topics at the second World Health Organization (WHO) summit dedicated to Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM) taking place in India this week.
While most WHO member states report that 40 to 90 percent of their populations use traditional medicine, only one percent of global health funding supports research in this area. In addition, a WHO study showed regional imbalances in the percentage of countries that have a national policy on TCIM.
Why are so few funds allocated to traditional medicine? And is traditional medicine a treatment, a lifestyle or something else?
To find out, Pakinomist spoke to Rabinarayan Acharya, director general of India’s Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), which works with the WHO to promote research in the field.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Pakinomist: How did you get into the field of traditional medicine?
Rabinarayan Acharya:My foray into traditional medicine was shaped early at home. My father was formally trained in both Ayurveda and Sanskrit at a reputed Sanskrit institution in Puri, Odisha, and I grew up with classical texts, philosophy and scientific traditions. Odisha’s strong living heritage of Ayurveda instilled in me a deep respect for Ayurveda as a system of knowledge, not just a form of treatment. This foundation, combined with my scientific background and honors in botany, naturally led me to pursue Ayurveda as a career focused on research, evidence generation and teaching.
Pakinomist: Is Ayurveda a way of life or a treatment?
Rabinarayan Acharya:Ayurveda is both a way of life and a system of medicine, but its reach extends far beyond either in isolation. At its core, Ayurveda emphasizes healthy living through appropriate lifestyle practices (Vihara), dietetics (Ahara) and ethical behavior (Sadvritta). These principles are designed to maintain homeostasis, prevent disease, and promote long-term wellness rather than simply addressing disease after it occurs. When illness occurs, Ayurveda offers well-structured therapeutic measures aimed not only at symptom relief, but at restoring systemic homeostasis.
This holistic orientation is closely aligned with conventional public health priorities, such as disease prevention, healthy aging, and management of chronic lifestyle-related disorders. The principles and practices of Ayurveda are particularly relevant in the context of the global shift towards non-communicable diseases, which are largely driven by modifiable risk factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, stress and environmental exposures.
UN news: The WHO’s Global traditional medicine 2025-2034 strategy aims, among other things, to strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine. What role do national institutions play in promoting these goals?
Rabinarayan Acharya:At CCRAS, our mandate directly addresses the need identified by the WHO that, although the use of traditional medicine is widespread, solid evidence of safety, efficacy and appropriate use must be systematically generated.
We do this by designing and conducting methodologically rigorous clinical trials, observational research and public health evaluations rooted in classical Ayurvedic principles while adhering to contemporary scientific and ethical standards. These research initiatives focus on drug development, clinical research, pharmacology, medicinal plant research, epidemiology and health systems research, thereby enabling evidence generation across the entire research continuum.
Pakinomist: Currently, less than one percent of global health research funding is allocated to traditional medicine. Why do you think that is and what will be needed to change it?
Rabinarayan Acharya:The limited share of global health research funding for traditional medicine is largely due to structural and methodological factors, not lack of relevance or demand. Systems like Ayurveda are complex, individualized and delivered as whole-system interventions that do not always fit neatly into conventional biomedical research frameworks that dominate global funding priorities.
Changing this will require a strategic shift towards evidence-informed integration, as outlined in WHO’s Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034. This means sustained investment in high-quality, fit-for-purpose research that clearly demonstrates safety, efficacy and public health value – from health promotion and prevention to treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. Equally critical is integrating validated traditional medical interventions into national health policies.
Pakinomist: How hopeful are you that more countries will incorporate traditional medicine into their health systems?
Rabinarayan Acharya:I am cautiously optimistic and the global momentum is certainly encouraging. This is particularly relevant at a time when health systems are under pressure from increasing non-communicable diseases, aging populations and workforce and resource constraints.
Importantly, integration does not imply replacement of conventional care, but rather a complementary approach where safe and effective traditional medicine practices are aligned with national health priorities and public health goals.
Pakinomist: Can you give us an example of evidence-based traditional medicine used to treat physical ailments or mental health?
Rabinarayan Acharya:Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), traditionally used as an adaptogen in Ayurveda, has been studied as a complementary treatment for mental health. Evidence suggests that it can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, while being generally safe and well-tolerated, highlighting its potential as a therapy in mental disorders.
