Kuwait bans the import of several herbal medicines

Kuwait’s ministry of Health imposed a ban on several herbal medicines on Sunday, citing their “toxic” impact on a patient’s health and life.

The ministry’s laboratory detected high concentration of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in some herbs such as Senecio, Heliotropium, Crotalia and Trichodesma, the official Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) quoted assistant undersecretary for Medicine and Food Monitoring Dr. Abdullah Al Bader as saying.

Alkaloids have a highly toxic impact on human bodies, mostly affecting liver and cells and even cause death, he said.

Al Bader also added that the Aristolochia plant, along with its multiple species, could cause renal failure and urinary cancer while Kava, known as Piper methysticum, has a direct impact on the human nervous system, as well as a toxic effect on the liver.

He warned consumers against purchasing such medicines without the recommendation of specialised and ministry-authorised physicians.

Al Bader also stressed the importance of obtaining the ministry’s authorisation for herbal medicines, KUNA reported.