Why Ayurveda Has Grown So Popular In The West Lately

Written by Jennifer Birch

Thanks to government support, technology, and a growing interest in holistic wellness, the market for Ayurvedic products and services is experiencing steady growth. WBOC¹ reports that in 2019, Ayurveda reached a market value of 3.716 billion USD, and the market is expected to surpass 7.223 billion USD by 2025. Below, we'll dive deeper into the reasons for the public's rising interest in India's oldest holistic health lifestyle system.  

People are becoming more health-conscious

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed health-consciousness to the forefront of mainstream awareness. This time, physical health is not the only thing at stake: the pandemic’s effect on the economy also placed many workers under stressful conditions, even increasing working hours for many employees. As noted in a SymptomFind² article about the 40-hr working week, long working hours can lead to all kinds of problems, thus blurring the line between work and life. And this lack of a work-life balance only increases occupational stress. 

Therefore, with the current climate and the increasing risks being placed on both mental and physical health, there’s an increasing need for medicinal systems that cover all aspects of health. And because Ayurveda focuses on the perfect balance between the mind, body, and spirit, it can sufficiently accommodate today’s health concerns. 
 
Technology media amplifies Ayurveda awareness 
 
Dr. Shyam VL³, a World Health Organization member for Ayurveda Health Practices Benchmark, explains that before any Ayurvedic medical education system was developed, Ayurvedic knowledge was mainly passed down from family elders to students, which limited its spread. As technology developed, the channels for spreading awareness of the system grew. Today, many Ayurvedic practitioners use social media to spread information about Ayurveda, including its benefits and proper techniques. Dr. Dixa Bhavsar, for example, shares videos about lifestyle tweaks that align with Ayurvedic practices. Doctors like Dr. Shyam and Dr. Aparna K, BAMS, MD, PhD, on the other hand, use social media to discuss Ayurvedic concepts with their followers. 
 
Thanks to the internet, anyone interested in Ayurveda can access educational material online. Ayurvedic practitioners can educate people through online classes. In webinars like Jennifer Maklan’s Ayurveda Life, Ayurvedic practitioners can help peope from all over the world understand Ayurvedic principles, concepts, and practices. 
 
Formal recognition boosts Ayurveda popularity 
 
Ayurveda’s rising popularity can also be attributed to the endorsements it receives from public figures. In the 4th Global Ayurveda Festival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi⁴ of India addressed the importance of Ayurvedic practice, noting the growing interest in the science worldwide. According to Modi, the Indian government’s efforts to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of Ayurvedic products and services can enhance Ayurveda’s availability worldwide. Additionally, the World Health Organization is set to establish a global center for traditional medicine to promote Ayurveda and other channels of wellness worldwide. 
 
Now, as more influential channels push for the acknowledgment of Ayurveda as a legitimate healthcare practice, it will only spread further across the world. This growing recognition, paired with the public interest and increased accessibility, will no doubt cement Ayurveda as a useful method for tending to one's holistic health. 

The practice of Ayurveda has many benefits. Its focus on mental, physical, and spiritual balance can help prevent diseases and improve wellbeing for the long term. And thanks to technology and government endorsements, knowledge of Ayurveda and its effects on health as a whole may soon break into the wider mainstream consciousness.
  

References 

1. Ayurvedic Market Size 2021 to 2025, Capacity, Production and Consumption Professional Analysis with Impact of COVID-19 on Industry. WBOC. 2021 June 11. Web. September 11, 2021.

2. Vaquera, Estaban. Here's How Doing Away with the 40-hour Workweek Benefits Our Health. SymptomFind. 2021 September 9. Web. September 26 2021.

3. Narayanan, Jayashree. Young doctors on what’s keeping them hooked to Ayurveda. The Indian Express. 2021 September 17. Print. October 12, 2021.

4. Ayurveda & traditional medicines gains popularity during Covid-19: Prime Minister Modi. Pharmabiz.com. 2021 March 13. Web. March 28, 2021.

Jennifer Birch discovered Ayurveda after becoming more interested in her yoga classes.  

After reading up on the different kinds of yoga, she chanced upon Ayurveda. She loved how holistic it was and was instantly hooked. Now, she wants to read and write more about the topic as a means of exploring it.