Exploring evidence-based uses of traditional medicine, such as ginger to treat nausea, is one of the themes of the second World Health Organization (WHO) summit dedicated to traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM), being held in India this week.
While most WHO Member States report that between 40 and 90 percent of their population use traditional medicine, a meager one percent of global health funding funds research in this field. Furthermore, a WHO survey showed regional imbalances in the percentage of countries that have a national TCM policy.
Why has so little funding been allocated to traditional medicine? And is traditional medicine a treatment, a lifestyle or something more?
To find out, PakGazette spoke to Rabinarayan Acharya, Director General of the Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) in India, which collaborates with the WHO to advance research in this field.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
PakGazette: How did you get into the field of traditional medicine?
Rabinarayan Acharya:My entry into traditional medicine was formed early at home. My father received formal training in both Ayurveda and Sanskrit at a prestigious Sanskrit institution in Puri, Odisha, and I grew up exposed to classical texts, philosophy and academic traditions. The strong living heritage of Ayurveda in Odisha instilled in me a deep respect for Ayurveda as a system of knowledge, not just a treatment modality. This foundation, combined with my scientific training and honors in botany, naturally led me to pursue Ayurveda as a career focused on research, evidence generation and teaching.
PakGazette: Is Ayurveda a lifestyle 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. In essence, Ayurveda emphasizes healthy living through appropriate lifestyle (Vihara), dietary (Ahara) and ethical conduct (Sadvritta) practices. These principles are designed to maintain homeostasis, prevent disease, and promote long-term well-being rather than simply addressing disease after it occurs. When disease occurs, Ayurveda offers well-structured therapeutic measures aimed at not only relieving symptoms but also restoring systemic homeostasis.
This holistic orientation aligns closely with conventional public health priorities, such as disease prevention, healthy aging, and treatment of chronic lifestyle disorders. The principles and practice of Ayurveda are especially 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.
PakGazette: The WHO global traditional medicine strategy 2025-2034 aims to strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine, among other objectives. What role do national institutions play in advancing these goals?
Rabinarayan Acharya:At CCRAS, our mandate directly addresses the need identified by WHO that, while the use of traditional medicine is widespread, robust evidence on safety, efficacy and appropriate use must be systematically generated.
We do this by designing and conducting methodologically rigorous clinical studies, 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, enabling the generation of evidence throughout the research process.
PakGazette: Currently, less than one percent of global health research funding is allocated to traditional medicine. Why do you think this is and what will it take to change it?
Rabinarayan Acharya:The limited proportion of global health research funding for traditional medicine is largely due to structural and methodological factors, not a lack of relevance or demand. Systems like Ayurveda are complex, individualized, and offered as system-wide interventions, which do not always fit neatly into conventional biomedical research frameworks that dominate global funding priorities.
Changing this will require a strategic shift towards evidence-based integration, as outlined in the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034. This means sustained investment in high-quality, fit-for-purpose research that clearly demonstrates safety, efficacy and value to public health, from health promotion and prevention to treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. Equally critical is incorporating validated traditional medicine interventions into national health policies.
PakGazette: What hope do you have 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 rising non-communicable diseases, aging populations, and workforce and resource constraints.
Importantly, integration does not imply replacing conventional care, but rather a complementary approach where the safe and effective practices of traditional medicine are aligned with national health priorities and public health objectives.
PakGazette: Can you give us an example of evidence-based traditional medicine used to treat bodily 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 may help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as being generally safe and well tolerated, highlighting its potential as a therapy in mental disorders.
