changeadminIndia’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a commemorative postal stamp on Ashwagandha at the closing ceremony of the Second WHO Global Summit on Traditional Medicine in New Delhi.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is an evergreen shrub native to India, Africa, and parts of the Middle East, widely used in traditional Indian medicine (Ayurveda) for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and stress-reducing effects.
Traditional applications include reducing anxiety, fatigue, and joint pain, as well as supporting conditions like diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Modern interest centres on its potential to lower cortisol levels, improve sleep, and enhance energy, though evidence is mixed.
The commemorative postal stamp on Ashwagandha underscores the herb’s global recognition and its integral role in India’s traditional medicinal heritage.
In the last few years, there has been a renewed interest in Ayurveda, supporting the revival of traditional healing practices and indigenous knowledge systems and fueling growth in medicinal plant cultivation in India.
Many of these medicinal plants are used as ingredients in decoctions, powders, oils, tablets, and pastes for various treatments, helping prevent illness and cure conditions, from digestive issues to chronic diseases.
In addition to Ashwagandha, common plants, herbs, and trees used in Ayurveda include giloy, aloe vera, amla, brahmi, tulsi (holy basil), triphala, and neem.
The five-rupee postal stamp on Ashwagandha symbolises the rise of medicinal plants and underscores the use of traditional medicine techniques and philosophies such as Ayurveda.
Prime Minister also addressed the gathering, highlighting India’s growing leadership in advancing traditional medicine as an evidence-based, integrated and people-centred component of global health systems.
The Prime Minister highlighted the summit as a powerful platform for international cooperation, marked by substantive and constructive deliberations among global leaders, policymakers, scientists, and practitioners.
The Prime Minister expressed pride that the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine has been established in Jamnagar, Gujarat, noting that the global community entrusted India with this responsibility in 2022.
He noted that the Centre has rapidly emerged as a global hub for collaboration, research, regulation and capacity building, reflecting growing international trust in India’s leadership. He reaffirmed India’s commitment to serving as a collaborative platform to strengthen global partnerships in traditional medicine.
Emphasising the summit theme, “Restoring Balance: The Science and Practice of Health and Well-being”, the Prime Minister highlighted that balance is the foundation of holistic health, as articulated in Ayurveda.
He pointed out that many modern health challenges—ranging from lifestyle disorders to chronic diseases—are rooted in various forms of imbalance, and restoring balance has become not just a global cause but a global urgency.
He called for faster, coordinated action to address these challenges, particularly amid rapidly changing lifestyles driven by technological transformation.
Highlighting the need to build trust and credibility, the Prime Minister stressed that traditional medicine must be supported by scientific validation, globally accepted regulatory standards and digital innovation.
He noted that initiatives such as the Traditional Medicine Global Library, launched today, will ensure equitable global access to scientific data and policy resources.
Reaffirming India’s commitment to global public health, he called upon the international community to advance traditional medicine with trust, respect and shared responsibility.
Referring to concerns often raised regarding the safety and evidence base of traditional medicine, the Prime Minister observed that India is consistently working to address these issues through research and validation. He cited Ashwagandha as a time-tested herb that has gained global attention, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The launch of the postal stamp on Ashwagandha underscores the herb’s importance, emphasising its use in Ayurveda for stress relief, vitality, and health benefits as an adaptogen.
Prime Minister Modi noted that India is advancing its global acceptance through evidence-based research on safety, quality and usage. He added that India is committed to integrating traditional medicine with modern healthcare, including initiatives to strengthen integrative cancer care and develop evidence-based guidelines, thereby expanding the role of conventional medicine beyond wellness into critical areas of public health.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for championing traditional medicine at the highest global level.
He recalled the Prime Minister’s call for global collaboration during India’s G20 Presidency and noted that it generated an unprecedented international response. Dr Tedros stated that the Prime Minister’s vision of One Earth, One Health resonates deeply with the core principles of traditional medicine, emphasising balance, prevention and harmony with nature.
Dr Tedros lauded India for translating vision into action, describing the country as a global leader in moving traditional medicine from heritage to evidence-informed practice.
He highlighted landmark initiatives, including the establishment of the Ministry of AYUSH and the WHO Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in Jamnagar, noting that these efforts have helped integrate traditional medicine into health systems, research, and policy, contributing to universal health coverage and sustainable development worldwide.
The Prime Minister also launched the Traditional Medicine Global Library, a landmark global platform designed to preserve and provide equitable access to scientific data, policy documents and validated knowledge related to traditional medicine.
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