Jamu is Indonesia's cultural heritage. Jamu or the trend is called Herbal, used since ancient times to preserve health, prevent and even treat a disease. Unfortunately, the image of herbal medicine has been damaged by people who include medicinal chemicals (BKO) in it. BKO here is a chemical drug added to herbs, can be added to the raw material, the production process or the finished product. Medicinal chemicals (BKO) is a category of hard drugs and has dangerous side effects. Based on the findings of the Indonesian POM Agency, The herbs that are often mixed with BKO are herbs whose properties are as follows :

– Herbs for aches and pains / gout / rheumatism. Added BKO: phenylbutasone, Antalgin, Diclofenac Sodium, Piroxicam, Paracetamol, Mefenamic Acid, Prednisone, Or Dexamethasone.
– Herbs for Slimming. Added BKO : Sibutramin HCL.
– Herbs to increase stamina / male strength medication. Added BKO : Sildenafil Sitrat, Tadalafil, Valdenafil
– Herbs for Diabetes / diabetes. Added BKO : Glibenclamide
– Herbs for Shortness of Breath / asma. Added BKO : Theophylline.
– Herbs for Hypertension. Added BKO : Furosemide.
– Herbs to increase appetite. Added BKO : Ciproheptad.

The addition of BKO to herbs does cause the effects of the herbs to be felt immediately, but the bad impacts far outweigh the benefits. Following are some of the bad effects of consuming BKO without a doctor's supervision :

– Liver Damage, due to BKO Paracetamol and Phenylbutazone.
– Kidney Damage, due to BKO Phenylbutazone, Diclofenac Sodium and Sibutramine HCL.
– Peacock spots on the skin cause blisters if exposed to sunlight, due to BKO Tadalafil and Diclofenac Sodium.
– Lack of white blood cells, with symptoms such as pallor, sluggish, weight loss, sore throat, ulcers in the mouth and throat, Gum bleeding and bruising without cause due to BKO Phenylbutazone and Glibenclamide.
– Stephen Johnson Symptoms, like a fever, sore throat and blistered skin due to BKO Phenylbutazone and Piroxicam.
– Digestive disorders such as pain or pain in the pit of the stomach, stomach aches, diarrhea, burning sensation in the chest and vomiting due to BKO Phenylbutazone, Prednisone, Antalgin, Mefenamic Acid, Furosemide, Cyproheptadine and Piroxicam.
– Heart failure which caused death was caused by BKO Sidenafil Citrate and Tadalafil.
– Thrombocytopenia (platelet deficiency) can occur with symptoms of bleeding in the mucosa, mouth, nose and gums. These symptoms are accompanied by vomiting and coughing up blood, bleeding in the stomach, bloody urine and feces due to BKO Glibenclamide.
– Osteoporosis, growth disorders, Nervous disorders due to BKO Prednisone and Dexamethasone.
– Dll.

The bad impact of BKO appears to be caused by several things, among them :
– Efek samping BKO itu sendiri. BKO termasuk dalam kategori zat yang berbahaya bagi tubuh.
– Interaksi herbal dengan BKO. Penggunaan herbal sebaiknya tidaklah berbarengan dengan obat kimia, berilah jarak 2 until 3 jam. Pada herbal BKO, terjadi pencampuran herbal dengan obat kimia sehingga penggunaannya pun berbarengan dan terjadi interaksi, hal ini akan mengakibatkan keracunan, over dosis sampai kematian.

Sekali lagi, walau tampak menguntungkan, jamu mengandung BKO sesungguhnya mengancam kesehatan masyarakat.

Alhamdulillah, produk Herbal Indo Utama tidak mengandung BKO, kami selalu berusaha memberikan produk-produk yang terbaik, yang aman, bermutu dan berkhasiat.(as)

Disusun oleh : Agus Santosa, S.Farm., Apt.