Danish ban on Ashwagandha: Truth, evidence, ethics, and regulations
Bhushan Patwardhan, Sarika Chaturvedi, Girish Tillu, Sharad Deshpande, B M Hegde
Abstract
Danish ban on Ashwagandha: Truth, evidence, ethics, and regulations "There are two ways to be deceived: one consists in believing in what is not true, and the other in refusing to believe what is true."-Sren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopherThe ban on Ashwagandha by Denmark invites scientific scrutiny as this decision may have far reaching consequences.Therefore, as a scientific journal, it is our duty to take its due cognizance.Ashwagandha, botanically classified as Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, Family Solanaceae, is also known as Indian ginseng or winter cherry.Ashwagandha roots have been used for centuries in Asian cultures and Indian traditional medicine systems, including Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, and Sowa Rigpa.It is widely known for its health benefits and has attracted more attention during COVID-19 pandemic.It is readily available as a dietary supplement in many countries.It is recognized in several pharmacopoeia and authoritative compendiums worldwide, such as the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Indian Pharmacopoeia, British Pharmacopoeia,