OPINION | Why is the world ready for Ayurveda now?

Leading institutions are collaborating with Ayurveda universities to bring evidence based validation to this ancient knowledge.

Ayurveda is the oldest system of healthcare known to humankind. It is holistic in nature, as it approaches illnesses as imbalances in the body and mind, and corrects those imbalances to restore equilibrium and health.

At one time, Ayurveda was the primary system of medicine, and many other medical systems including Chinese medicine, Tibetan medicine, and Unani were offshoots of it. Yet, over the centuries, Ayurveda came to be seen as an “alternative” system of healthcare, despite being the first choice of treatment for thousands of years.

Why did this shift happen? There is no single answer. Some argue that colonization disrupted and diminished the traditional lineages of Ayurveda practice. Others point to the rapid global rise of modern medicine, which changed the tide against traditional systems. Some believe it is because Indians themselves stopped valuing their own heritage. All of these perspectives hold some truth.

Ayurveda and Modern Healthcare

However, the future of healthcare does not lie in choosing one over the other. Instead, it lies in integrated medicine, where Ayurveda and modern medicine work side by side, complementing one another, addressing each other’s limitations, and enhancing each other’s strengths.

Post COVID-19, this need was highlighted as people didn’t just want to manage comorbid conditions through allopathy, but wanted to eliminate them entirely. And this macro-trend sparked a global shift toward prevention focused health. And when we talk about prevention, Ayurveda naturally comes to the forefront as its concepts emphasize preventive care, not only through medicines, but also through diet, lifestyle, treatments, and daily routine.

Another silent pandemic today is the rise in mental health challenges. Stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia affect millions worldwide. Remarkably, Ayurveda was one of the first healthcare systems to classify and address mental health as a distinct area of disease, offering natural and holistic solutions that modern science is only now beginning to validate.

Ayurveda’s Role in Preventive Care and Mental Health

At the same time, global awareness is shifting toward natural, chemical free living. People are demanding clean, sustainable, and side effect free healthcare. The World Health Organization has also recognized Ayurveda as part of its Traditional Medicine strategy, further strengthening its legitimacy on the world stage.

Scientific research is catching up too. Clinical studies on herbs like Ashwagandha, Turmeric, and Triphala as well as even complex formulations like classical preparations are showing promising results in immunity, mental health, and chronic disease management. Leading institutions are collaborating with Ayurveda universities to bring evidence based validation to this ancient knowledge.

This is especially critical for chronic lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, arthritis, which modern medicine often manages but rarely cures. Ayurveda, with its focus on root causes and sustainable balance, provides long-term solutions where modern medicine alone falls short.

Scientific Validation and Global Recognition of Ayurveda

The Government of India is playing their part as well under the visionary leadership of Shri Narendra Modi. The Ministry of AYUSH actively promotes Ayurveda globally, while initiatives like International Ayurveda Day celebrate and spread awareness of its benefits worldwide.

Perhaps most importantly, Ayurveda fits naturally into the modern lifestyle movement. Millennials and Gen Z are increasingly drawn to natural healing, yoga, mindful eating, plant based living, and longevity science and all of which find deep roots in Ayurveda. The alignment between ancient wisdom and modern wellness trends makes Ayurveda both timeless and timely.

Ayurveda's Timeless Appeal

In a world becoming increasingly artificial and fast-paced, the yearning to return to nature has never been stronger. For Indians, this also carries the deeper pull of reconnecting with cultural heritage. Ayurveda fulfils both, aligning human life with the laws of nature, while being a practice based in our customs for modern living.

Ayurveda has always been there for humanity. Its wisdom has always guided us to live in harmony with nature and experience true wellbeing. What is changing now is our readiness to embrace it once again and not as “alternative medicine,” but as a vital partner in the future of global healthcare.

(Lakshman Shrivastava – Director, Maharishi Ayurveda Hospital.)

Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication.