05/05/2026
Statement on Ashwagandha Use and AYUSH Advisory
Recent advisories from the Ministry of AYUSH regarding the use of Ashwagandha leaf extracts do not apply to Ayurda products.
A ban has been imposed on products containing Ashwagandha leaf, not the root.
Ayurda has always adhered strictly to traditional Ayurvedic principles by using only the root of Withania somnifera, the plant part consistently described in classical texts and widely recognised as safe when used appropriately.
Dr Ajit (BAMS, PCAS), drawing on over 20 years of Government service in India - including inspection and auditing of Ayurvedic manufacturers and hospitals - has long advocated for the use of authentic, properly sourced, practitioner-grade herbal materials. This standard is consistently reinforced within the AIAS Ayurveda Institute for all students and graduates.
It is important to note that adulteration and incorrect plant part usage remain longstanding challenges across all herbal medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Western herbalism, and even pharmaceutical manufacturing. Practitioner-grade herbs should not be equated with products commonly found in general retail or grocery outlets.
In Ayurveda, herbs are prescribed based on traditional indications, correct plant-part, appropriate dosage, and supportive diet and lifestyle measures, with modern safety considerations also taken into account.
Context is essential: while herb-related adverse events receive attention, it is well established that medications such as Paracetamol are a leading cause of drug-induced liver injury in the Western world.
When herbal medicines receive bad press, various political and business interests will use any and all bad press against herbal medicines to undermine confidence.
Increases in non-pharmaceutical ( including herbal and nutritional products) adverse reactions are often associated with unsupervised self-prescribing, poor-quality products, and inappropriate use, particularly in individuals with pre-existing conditions or conflicting lifestyle, dietary and alcohol factors.
Ayurda remains committed to safe, traditional, and professionally guided use of Ayurvedic medicine, grounded in both classical knowledge and responsible modern practice.
