A man in Indonesia experienced a severe allergic reaction after consuming a sachet of herbal medicine, leading to significant facial swelling. The incident, which went viral on TikTok, highlights the potential dangers of herbal remedies containing undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients.
The content creator, known as @zulrahman21, shared his experience online, explaining that he sought out the jamu – a traditional Indonesian herbal medicine – to improve his health. Instead, he developed swelling and itching, later discovering the product contained ibuprofen.
“I bought this jamu intending to be healthy… Instead, I had an allergic reaction because the sachet contained ibuprofen, and I can’t take time off work,” he wrote in the post, shared with permission on Monday, March 2, 2026.
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In response to the incident, Professor Dr. Zullies Ikawati, a pharmaceutical expert from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), issued a strong warning to the public. She emphasized that traditional jamu made purely from natural ingredients should not provide an immediate or overly potent effect, often described as a “cespleng” effect.
“It’s important to understand that herbal medicines work more gently and are not as fast-acting as chemical drugs,” Prof. Zullies explained when contacted on Monday, March 2, 2026. “people should be cautious if a jamu has a very quick and strong effect, as this could indicate the presence of chemical drugs.”
Herbal vs. Chemical Medicines
Natural ingredients commonly found in jamu, such as ginger, turmeric, and galangal, do offer health benefits, but their effects are gradual.
“Ingredients like ginger, turmeric, and galangal do have mild anti-inflammatory effects and are relatively safe when used as directed,” she added.
However, when jamu is illegally mixed with chemical drugs like ibuprofen, the risks become significantly dangerous, especially for individuals with a history of allergies to those medications. This case underscores the importance of knowing the ingredients in any health product you consume.
Prof. Zullies advised the public to be more selective when choosing traditional health products.
“If you still want to drink jamu, it’s best to choose products with clear ingredients and that are registered with the National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM),” she stated.
(sao/kna)
