E-ISSN:2456-3110

Editorial

People & Planet

Journal of Ayurveda and Integrated Medical Sciences

2025 Volume 10 Number 9 September
Publisherwww.maharshicharaka.in

Ayurveda for People & Planet: Repositioning Traditional Wisdom in the 21st Century

Baragi UC1*, Ganer JM2*
DOI:10.21760/jaims.10.9.1

1* Umapati C Baragi, Associate Professor and HOD, Dept of Samhita Siddhanta and Sanskrit, Faculty of Ayurved, Main Campus, Uttarakhand Ayurved University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

2* Jyoti M Ganer, Professor and HOD, Department of Agadtantra Evum Vidhi Vaidyak, Uttaranchal Ayurvedic College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

In an era marked by ecological degradation, rising chronic disease, and fragmented healthcare systems, Ayurveda offers a time-tested, integrative framework for restoring balance—within individuals and across ecosystems. The 2025 National Ayurveda Day, themed “Ayurveda for People & Planet,” marks a pivotal moment in India’s efforts to elevate Ayurveda as a cornerstone of integrative, preventive, and personalized healthcare worldwide. This article explores the strategic dimensions of Ayurveda’s global relevance - its philosophical foundations, evidence-based evolution, and alignment with international health priorities such as Universal Health Coverage (UHC), non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, and planetary health. It also examines India’s policy initiatives, digital innovations, and international collaborations that position Ayurveda as a credible contributor to global health systems.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Global Health, Integrative Medicine, AYUSH, Preventive Healthcare, Universal Health Coverage, Traditional Medicine, WHO

Corresponding Author How to Cite this Article To Browse
Jyoti M Ganer, Professor and HOD, Department of Agadtantra Evum Vidhi Vaidyak, Uttaranchal Ayurvedic College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
Email: 		Baragi UC, Ganer JM, Ayurveda for People & Planet: Repositioning Traditional Wisdom in the 21st Century. J Ayu Int Med Sci. 2025;10(9):1-4.
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https://jaims.in/jaims/article/view/5093/

Manuscript Received Review Round 1 Review Round 2 Review Round 3 Accepted
2025-07-06 2025-07-25 2025-08-05 2025-08-15 2025-08-25
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© 2025 by Baragi UC, Ganer JM and Published by Maharshi Charaka Ayurveda Organization. This is an Open Access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ unported [CC BY 4.0].

J Ayu Int Med Sci 2025;10(9)1
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Umapati CB et al. Ayurveda for People & Planet

Introduction

In an era marked by rising chronic diseases, mental health burdens, antimicrobial resistance, and ecological instability, the global health community is increasingly seeking holistic, preventive, and sustainable approaches to healthcare. Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of medicine, offers a time-tested framework rooted in personalized care, ecological balance, and lifestyle optimization.

Its emphasis on Swasthasya Swasthya Rakshanam (preservation of health) and Aturasya Vikara Prashamanam (management of disease) resonates with contemporary priorities such as Universal Health Coverage (UHC), non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention, and planetary health.[1]

The Ministry of AYUSH’s declaration of the 2025 National Ayurveda Day theme - “Ayurveda for People & Planet” - signals a strategic pivot: from cultural preservation to global contribution.[2] This theme reflects India’s ambition to position Ayurveda not merely as a traditional system, but as a scientifically evolving, digitally enabled, and globally relevant healthcare paradigm. The recent recognition by the World Health Organization (WHO) of India’s leadership in integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) with traditional medicine further validates this trajectory, highlighting innovations in Ayurgenomics, AI-driven diagnostics, and digital knowledge systems.[3]

This article explores the philosophical foundations, strategic initiatives, and global relevance of Ayurveda in the context of 21st century health challenges. It argues that Ayurveda, when supported by evidence, ethics, and interdisciplinary collaboration, can serve as a vital pillar in reimagining global health systems—bridging tradition and innovation for a healthier planet.

Ayurveda’s Philosophical Alignment with Global Health

Preventive and Personalized Care

  • Ayurveda’s emphasis on Dinacharya (daily routine), Rutucharya (seasonal regimen), and Prakriti-based interventions aligns with preventive and personalized medicine models.
  • Its biopsychosocial approach addresses lifestyle diseases, stress, and aging - key global health concerns.

Ecological and Planetary Health

  • Concepts like Panchamahabhuta and Loka-Purusha Samya reflect ecological interconnec-tedness, supporting One Health and planetary health frameworks.
  • Sustainable sourcing and biodiversity conser-vation in Ayurvedic pharmacopeia contribute to environmental protection.

Strategic Pillars for Global Integration

1. Evidence Generation and Research

  • India’s push for clinical trials, meta-analyses, and reverse pharmacology is building a robust evidence base.
  • Institutions like CCRAS, IITs, and AIIMS are collaborating on Ayurgenomics, pharmacovi-gilance, and integrative protocols.

2. Digital Health and AI

  • Platforms like Ayush Grid, NAMASTE Portal, and TKDL are digitizing traditional knowledge and enabling AI-driven research.
  • WHO’s 2025 technical brief recognized India’s leadership in applying AI to traditional medicine, inclu. Ayurvedic diagnostics & drug discovery.

3. International Collaborations

  • MoUs with countries like Germany, Japan, and Sri Lanka are fostering academic exchange, product registration, and practitioner training.
  • WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine (GCTM) in Jamnagar serves as a hub for global policy dialogue and capacity building.

4. Policy and Institutional Momentum

  • The Ministry of AYUSH has launched initiatives like the Ayurveda at Home campaign, Ayurveda Aahar standards, and Integrative Health Clinics in public hospitals.
  • Ayurveda is being positioned within India’s G20 health diplomacy and South-South cooperation frameworks.
  • Inclusion of Ayurvedic services in insurance schemes and telemedicine platforms is expan-ding access and affordability.

5. Challenges and Strategic Recommendations

A. Standardization and Regulation

  • Global acceptance requires harmonized stand-ards for safety, efficacy, and quality control.

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Umapati CB et al. Ayurveda for People & Planet

  • Strengthening pharmacopoeial norms and international regulatory alignment is essential.

B. Epistemological Bridging

  • Ayurveda’s qualitative, systemic logic must be translated into frameworks compatible with biomedical research.
  • Interdisciplinary education and hybrid research models can foster mutual understanding.

C. Cultural Sensitivity and Equity

  • Globalization of Ayurveda must respect Indi-genous knowledge rights and avoid commodifi-cation.
  • Equitable benefit-sharing and community engagement are critical for ethical expansion.

Discussion

The theme “Ayurveda for People & Planet” invites a multidimensional reflection on how traditional med-ical systems can contribute meaningfully to contem-porary health challenges. Ayurveda’s foundational emphasis on prevention, personalization, & ecolo-gical harmony aligns with global health priorities such as Universal Health Coverage (UHC), non-communicable disease (NCD) management, mental well-being, and planetary health.

However, translating this philosophical congruence into practical integration requires navigating epistemological, regulatory, and infrastructural complexities.

1. Bridging Tradition and Evidence

Ayurveda’s qualitative, systemic worldview often contrasts with the reductionist, quantitative orientation of biomedical science. Yet, emerging research in Ayurgenomics, reverse pharmacology, and systems biology demonstrates that these paradigms can be harmonized. The development of hybrid research models - combining classical Ayurvedic diagnostics with machine learning, or integrating Prakriti profiling with genomic markers - offers promising pathways for evidence generation and personalized care.[4]

2. Digital Transformation and AI Integration

India’s digital health infrastructure, including platforms like Ayush Grid, TKDL, and the NAMASTE Portal, is enabling the digitization, standardization, and global dissemination of Ayurvedic knowledge.

The WHO’s 2025 technical brief on AI in traditional medicine commended India’s leadership in applying AI to Ayurvedic diagnostics, drug discovery, and semantic analysis of classical texts.

These innovations not only enhance clinical decision-making but also position Ayurveda within the global digital health ecosystem.[5]

3. Policy Momentum and Global Diplomacy

The Ministry of AYUSH’s strategic initiatives - ranging from integrative health clinics and Ayurveda Aahar standards to international MoUs and the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine - reflect a concerted effort to elevate Ayurveda’s global profile.

By embedding Ayurveda within India’s G20 health diplomacy and South-South cooperation frame-works, the government is leveraging soft power to promote integrative health models worldwide.[6]

4. Ethical and Cultural Considerations

Globalizing Ayurveda must be approached with cultural sensitivity and ethical foresight. Issues of intellectual property, biopiracy, and benefit-sharing must be addressed to ensure that Indigenous knowledge holders are recognized and protected.

Moreover, Ayurveda’s expansion should not lead to commodification or dilution of its philosophical integrity. Equitable access, practitioner training, and community engagement are essential for sustainable integration.[7]

5. Strategic Recommendations

To realize the vision of “Ayurveda for People & Planet,” the following strategic actions are recommended:

  • Establish international regulatory harmonization for Ayurvedic products and services.
  • Promote interdisciplinary education and collaborative research across Ayurveda, biomedicine, and data science.
  • Expand digital literacy and AI training among AYUSH practitioners.
  • Foster global partnerships for clinical trials, policy exchange, and capacity building.
  • Ensure ethical governance of data, biodiversity, and Indigenous knowledge systems.

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Umapati CB et al. Ayurveda for People & Planet

Conclusion

The 2025 National Ayurveda Day theme - “Ayurveda for People & Planet” - marks a strategic inflection point in India’s efforts to reposition its traditional medical heritage as a globally relevant, scientifically evolving, and ethically grounded healthcare paradigm. Ayurveda’s emphasis on prevention, personalization, and ecological balance resonates deeply with contemporary global health priorities, offering solutions to chronic disease management, mental well-being, and planetary health.

India’s leadership in digital innovation, AI integration, and international collaboration - validated by the World Health Organization’s recognition - demonstrates that Ayurveda is not merely a cultural legacy but a dynamic contributor to the future of global health systems. However, realizing this potential requires sustained investment in evidence generation, regulatory harmonization, interdisciplinary education, and ethical governance.

As the world seeks integrative, sustainable, and person-centered models of care, Ayurveda stands poised to offer not just remedies, but a philosophy of living that nurtures individual and collective well-being. Its global ascent will depend not only on scientific validation but on the integrity with which its wisdom is preserved, adapted, and shared.

References

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3. NewsOnAir. WHO recognises India’s pioneering efforts in integrating AI with traditional medicine, particularly Ayush systems [Internet]. New Delhi: NewsOnAir; 2025 Jul 13 [cited 2025 Aug 28]. Available from: https://www. newsonair.gov.in/who-recognises-indias-pioneering-efforts-in-integrating-ai-with-traditional-medicine-particularly-ayush-systems/ [Crossref][PubMed][Google Scholar]

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