Indonesia has advantages in terms of developing herbal medicine, because there are at least 9,600 types of medicinal plants that can be used as basic ingredients of herbal medicine. Jamu fans are also very diverse, ranging from parents to children. How is the halal side?
It is undeniable that in terms of the economy, the herbal medicine industry has contributed greatly to national income, both in terms of improving community welfare and providing employment. The raw material for herbal medicine, which is almost 99% of domestic products, is considered capable of carrying a significant multiplier effect in economic growth in Indonesia.
Data from the Association of Herbal Medicine Entrepreneurs shows that until the end of 2018 the herbal medicine industry and traditional medicine grew by 10% with turnover reaching Rp 17 trillion, with a national increase of around 5% per year on average. In 2017 the herbal and herbal industries produced turnover of around Rp 15 trillion.
In terms of labor, overall the national drug industry is able to absorb a workforce of 15 million people. Around 3 million people are absorbed in the herbal medicine industry which functions as a medicine. Meanwhile, around 12 million people are absorbed in the herbal industry as food, drinks, cosmetics, spas, and aromatherapy.
Should Halal Certified?
Deputy Director of LPPOM MUI, Division of Auditing and Halal Assurance System, Ir. Muti Arintawati, M.Sc, said that traditional herbal medicines are derived from plant ingredients which are certainly guaranteed halal. But in fact, even though it is called derived from herbal ingredients or plants, it turns out there are also herbs that use additional ingredients or mixtures of animal ingredients. Some even use a mixture of ingredients from wild animal organs. So that the halal status can be doubted, or even be consumed by Muslims.
In his opening remarks on the Halal Assurance System (HAS) Training, February 23, 2016, at the LPPOM MUI training facility, Bogor Global Halal Center (GHC), Muti explained, there were herbal medicines from China, which were widely used for patients after major surgery. For example, mothers after a C-section, or a patient operating appendicitis.
It is said that consuming traditional Chinese medicines does indeed help speed recovery of wounds. And herbs or herbal medicines are widely used in general, including by Muslim communities. Because it is considered to have good properties. “But after the ingredients contain the ingredients carefully read, it turns out, herbs or drugs called herbs contain animal ingredients as well. Among them is the blood of snakes,” he stressed.
In fact, the blood is generally prohibited from being consumed. Even for medicines. Moreover, this snake blood is clearly forbidden in Islam. In addition, there are also herbal ingredients or herbal medicines, especially those from traditional Chinese using various animal additives. Like someone who uses tangkur crocodile, tiger nails, bear hearts, etc.
For most ordinary people, herbal medicine is considered only from plants. In fact this is not the case. From here, it is clear, herbal medicine must be examined with a halal certification process, in order to ensure that all ingredients and production processes are lawful according to the rules of sharia.
There are also herbal medicinal ingredients that are inserted into the capsule shell. Well, the capsule must also be examined carefully. Because basically, the capsule shell is made from gelatin. And most of the gelatin material comes from animals, especially pigs which are forbidden in Islam. And if you use capsules from the pigatin gelatin, of course it is also not halal for Muslims.
Based on the Qur’an and Sunnah guidelines, it is actually very easy to determine the halal nature of a drug. This is especially true for herbs and herbal medicines, where all plants (except the harmful ones) are guaranteed halal for consumption. However, the rapid involvement of technology and free trade makes this assessment not easy. There are many aspects that must be fulfilled and reviewed by experts before the traditional medicines and herbs are declared halal. (FM/AH/YN)
Source : Jurnal Halal No. 137
