Experts Warn of Dangers in Unregulated Herbal Remedies

Medical experts and researchers are raising red flags about the risks of using unregulated herbal remedies — especially when they are self‑prescribed, purchased from informal vendors, or used alongside modern medicines. In a recent analysis published in 2025, the Integrated Medicine Society of Kenya (IMSK) cautioned that lack of regulation, quality control, or standardised dosing in herbal medicine has led to many unsafe products circulating in the market. Similarly, a comprehensive review of traditional and herbal medicinal practices in Kenya found major gaps: poor oversight, minimal scientific validation, and widespread use of herbal concoctions with unknown safety or effectiveness.
Health‑facility data from Kenya add concrete urgency to these warnings. One study at a national referral hospital found that a significant proportion of in‑patients suffering from chronic kidney disease had a history of herbal‑medicine use — suggesting that toxic herbs or contaminated herbal products may contribute to kidney damage. Further research on African and global herbal‑medicine use has documented cases of kidney failure, acute kidney injury, and other renal problems linked to traditional remedies — often because of toxic compounds, overdoses, adulteration, or lack of standardized preparation.
Beyond kidneys, unregulated herbal and botanical supplements have been associated with liver toxicity and other serious health effects. A 2025 study from the U.S. warned that several common herbal supplements (for example, extracts of certain plants) previously regarded as benign may cause significant liver damage — especially when combined with other drugs or taken in high doses. More broadly, scientific reviews have repeatedly concluded that natural does not guarantee safe. Some herbs have pharmacologically active components, potential toxicity, or unpredictable effects depending on dose, user’s health status, and interactions with other medicines.
Given the widespread use of herbal remedies in Kenya and many parts of Africa — often without regulation or oversight — experts emphasize the urgent need for stronger policies, better public education, and formal regulation. Some suggest integrating traditional medicine practitioners into the formal health system, ensuring licensing, quality‑control of products, and evidence‑based guidelines to protect users. Until such safeguards are in place, health professionals urge caution: people should avoid self‑medicating with herbs for serious conditions, always discuss any herbal supplement use with a qualified clinician, and treat herbal medicines with the same seriousness as other medicines.