WHO, ICD-11 and International Recognition of Ayurveda
What the World Health Organization has and has not said about Ayurveda: ICD-11 traditional medicine coding, practice and training benchmarks, and its 2025-2034 strategy.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
How WHO describes traditional medicine
WHO defines traditional medicine as codified or non-codified systems for health care and well-being, with practices, skills, knowledge and philosophies from different historical and cultural contexts that are distinct from and pre-date biomedicine. [1] It separates this from complementary medicine (additional practices not part of a country's mainstream medicine) and integrative medicine, which it describes as an interdisciplinary, evidence-based approach combining biomedical and traditional or complementary knowledge. [1] Ayurveda fits under traditional medicine in these terms.ICD-11 and the traditional medicine chapter
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is the system used to record and report health conditions worldwide. ICD-11 includes a separate Traditional Medicine chapter for optional use. [2] Its first module covers conditions that originated in ancient China and are now used in China, Japan, Korea and elsewhere. [2] It is not an Ayurveda module.WHO's FAQ says development of a second module, derived from Ayurveda and related traditional medicine diagnostic systems, has started. [2] In the FAQ read for this page, no finished Ayurveda module was described. The status of that work beyond this statement was not verified.
Three limits matter for how to read this:
- The chapter is neither judging nor endorsing the scientific validity of any traditional medicine practice or the efficacy of any intervention. [2]
- It is used only for optional dual coding in morbidity data collection, such as reporting, reimbursement, patient safety and research, and not for mortality statistics. [2]
- Its stated purpose is counting and comparing traditional medicine encounters, so that research can later test whether practices work. [2]
In plain terms: a code lets a health system record that a visit happened. It does not say the treatment was effective.
Benchmarks for practice and training
WHO has published two documents specific to Ayurveda. The benchmarks for practice set minimum reference standards for safety and quality of Ayurveda practice and describe general and minimum technical requirements for quality assurance and regulation in member states. [3] The benchmarks for training set minimum criteria for establishing Ayurveda training, including safety issues in clinical application and medicinal preparation, and are meant as a reference for national authorities to strengthen regulatory standards. [4] Both documents say they reflect consensus from practitioners, service providers, academics, managers and regulators. [3][4]These are guidance. They do not make Ayurveda legal or licensed in any country, and they do not grant recognition to any individual school or practitioner. Rules still differ country by country. See Ayurveda outside India and Ayurvedic training in India.
WHO strategy for 2025 to 2034
WHO's Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034 describes four aims: strengthening the evidence base, supporting safe and effective use through regulation, integrating safe and effective approaches into health systems, and optimizing cross-sector value and empowering communities. [1] It stresses that integration should be evidence-based and culturally respectful. [1]WHO's Global Traditional Medicine Centre was established in 2022 with foundational support from the Government of India and is outposted to Jamnagar, Gujarat, India. [5] The centre says that around 90% of WHO member states have reported on the use of traditional medicine and have asked for robust evidence and data to guide policy, practice and regulation. [5] A 2019 WHO global report drew on contributions from 179 member states. [1]
What this does and does not mean
| Statement | What WHO's pages show |
|---|---|
| "WHO recognizes Ayurveda" | WHO publishes Ayurveda practice and training benchmarks, and is developing a related ICD module. |
| "WHO says Ayurveda works" | Not found. The ICD chapter states it does not judge or endorse scientific validity. |
| "Ayurveda is regulated worldwide" | Not found. The benchmarks are minimum reference standards for countries to use. |
| "Traditional medicine needs more evidence" | Stated: member states asked for robust evidence and data. |
Frequently asked questions
Does WHO recognize Ayurveda?
WHO has published benchmarks for Ayurveda practice and training. [3][4] It has also said development of an Ayurveda-derived ICD module has started. [2] Recognition in this sense means setting standards, not proving effectiveness.
Is Ayurveda in ICD-11?
Not as a finished module in the FAQ read. The Traditional Medicine chapter's first module covers conditions from ancient China, and WHO says a second module derived from Ayurveda has started development. [2]
Does an ICD code mean a treatment is proven?
No. WHO says the Traditional Medicine chapter neither judges nor endorses scientific validity or efficacy. [2]
What is the WHO traditional medicine strategy?
It is a plan for 2025 to 2034 with four strategic objectives, including strengthening the evidence base and supporting safe use through regulation. [1]
Do WHO benchmarks mean my country regulates Ayurveda?
No. They are minimum reference standards intended to help national authorities. [3] In the United States, for example, NCCIH says no state requires a license. [7]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety note
International interest does not make a product safe. Heavy metal contamination and other quality problems are documented for some Ayurvedic products, and the FDA says there are no FDA-approved Ayurvedic products. [6] See heavy metals and product quality and WHO reports and guidelines that mention Ayurveda.
References
- World Health Organization. Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (overview). Read 2026-10-22.
- World Health Organization. ICD-11 frequently asked questions: Traditional medicine. Read 2026-10-22.
- World Health Organization. WHO benchmarks for the practice of Ayurveda. Read 2026-10-22.
- World Health Organization. WHO benchmarks for the training of Ayurveda. Read 2026-10-22.
- World Health Organization. WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre. Read 2026-10-22.
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA warns about heavy metal poisoning associated with certain unapproved ayurvedic drug products (content current as of 12/02/2025). Read 2026-10-22.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH, US). Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth. Read 2026-10-22.