At least 32 illegal natural medicine products containing pharmaceutical chemicals were discovered by the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) throughout October 2025. These illegal products include Montalinurat, Tawon Premium, Obat Sakit Gigi Cap Lutung, Anrat, Buah Dewa, Kaplet Anti Sakit Gigi dan Gusi Pak Tani New, Tou Gubao, Keong Sakti Asam Urat Plus Pegal Linu, and Dua Semar Jaya Rheumatik. Other products identified include Serat Manggis, Rempah Alam Papua Buah Merah Plus Mahkota Dewa, and Madu Tonik Tjap Kuda.
Professor Agung Endro Nugroho, an expert at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Pharmacy UGM), emphasized that natural-based medicines are still medicines and must be used in accordance with medical guidelines and applicable regulations. The public is urged not to assume that natural medicines are entirely safe simply because they are derived from natural ingredients.
“Natural medicines are still medicines. In principle, any substance can become toxic if it is not used appropriately,” said Professor Nugroho on Wednesday (Dec. 17).
He explained that medicines, including natural medicines, are categorized into over-the-counter drugs, limited over-the-counter drugs, and prescription-only medicines. Therefore, not all products can be consumed freely without the supervision of healthcare professionals.
“Not all natural medicines can be taken without restriction, especially when combined with other medications. Their use must comply with regulations and medical indications,” he stated.
Professor Nugroho also highlighted the risks of using medicines without considering a patient’s medical history. Patients with certain conditions, such as heart disease or rheumatism, need to be particularly cautious, especially when consuming products containing steroids or diclofenac sodium.
“Uncontrolled use of steroids can cause side effects such as moon face, metabolic disorders, and gastric irritation,” he explained.
According to him, natural medicines exhibit a wide range of biological activities, but their effects do not occur as quickly as those of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs. Therefore, claims of instant results should be viewed with suspicion.
“If a natural medicine promises very rapid effects, the public should be critical. Natural medicines generally do not work as fast as chemical drugs,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of recognizing illegal medicines. The first step the public should take is to ensure that a product is registered with BPOM.
“Checking BPOM registration is the very first step. If it is not registered, report it to the supervisory office. This is crucial to protect the public,” he said.
Furthermore, the professor underscored that responsibility for health education rests with healthcare professionals, including academics. The use of social media is considered a strategic means to improve public literacy. He hopes the public will increasingly understand that natural medicines are not risk-free and that their use must adhere to standards, regulations, and professional guidance.
“Healthcare professionals must continue to actively promote health education, including through social media. Public education is part of our responsibility,” he concluded.
Author: Jelita Agustine
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajendra Arya
Illustration: Freepik