The Ministry of Health imposed Sunday a ban on import of a number of herbal medicines due to their severe toxic nature on patients’ health and life.
The ministry’s laboratory have detected concentration of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in some herbs such as Senecio, Heliotropium, Crotalia and Trichodesma, Assistant Undersecretary for Medicine and Food Monitoring Dr. Abdullah AlBader said in a press release.
Alkaloids are highly toxic on human bodies, affecting mostly liver and cells that would eventually lead to death, AlBader added.
He also pointed out that Aristolochia plant, along with its multiple species, could cause renal failure and urinary cancer, adding that another plant; Kava, also known as Piper Methysticum, has a direct impact on human nervous system, as well as toxic effect on the liver.
Furthermore, Dr. AlBader warned of severity of purchasing such medicines without the recommendation of specialized and ministryauthorized physicians, stressing the importance of obtaining the ministry’s authorization for herbal medicines.
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