ADI SATRIA, a veteran of the media and marketing communications industry, has always practised natural and sustainable nutrition consumption, and the discovery of traditional health practices of our Eastern civilisation has, to a large extent, helped him to keep the doctor away.

Looking at some of my elders who lived beyond the age of 90, their secret to longevity wasn ' t found in a prescription bottle- it came from the kitchen or garden. Herbal drinks brewed from plants like misai kucing, mahkota dewa, or moringa were their daily tonic.

T h e o n g o i n g d e b a t e about ketum( kratom) is a case in point. A 74-year-old friend of mine, who swears by its benefits, has been consuming ketum juice for years. It keeps him sprightly enough to be walked by his two energetic dogs every morning and evening around the cemetery grounds of Kuen Cheng.

He once bumped into Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad at a funeral and urged him to have a serious discussion on ketum. He promised a meeting, but nothing materialised.

Back in 2022, then-Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin stated that the government was reviewing the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Poisons Act 1952 to regulate cannabis and ketum for medical use.

NATURE ' S PHARMACY

At the time, ketum was regulated under the Third Schedule of the Poisons Act, making it legal to grow, but illegal to harvest or sell commercially.

Despite these restrictions, farmers in areas like Baling, Sik, Padang Terap, and Pendang had already started cultivating ketum, drawn by its economic potential.

A 2022 Utusan Malaysia report estimated that 140 hectares in Kedah were planted with over 84,000 ketum trees by 177 farmers- yielding RM2,500 – RM3,000 from just 0.4 hectares in 40 days.

This is a livelihood issue as much as it is a health policy matter. Yet to date, there has been little clarity or urgency in amending outdated laws. The colonial-era legislation still holds sway, originally designed to protect foreign pharmaceutical interests.

There are claims of ketum abuse, but these are often anecdotal. Medical records show no epidemic. Instead of criminalising ketum users, the government should open space for open dialogue- through forums, research, and academic discourse, to explore the substance ' s real potential.

HERBAL TRUTHS

The World Health Organisation( WHO) itself has adopted a progressive approach, recognising and integrating Traditional Chinese Medicine( TCM) into global health systems, so long as safety, efficacy, and quality control are ensured.

What ' s puzzling is the inconsistency in how substances are treated. Alcohol, cigarettes, and even paracetamol- when misused- can cause significant harm, yet they remain legal and widely consumed.

Why the double standard when it comes to herbal remedies?

Malaysia has the potential to become a global exporter of botanical drugs and high-value natural ingredients. Traditional medicine is not a fringe concept – 80 per cent of the world ' s population uses it in some form, and 40 per cent of modern pharmaceuticals are derived from natural sources.

Even from a religious standpoint, a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia article on the " Legality of Ketum Leaves According to Shariah " concluded that its use is mubah( permissible) if not mixed with harmful substances and if intended for treatment, not recreation.

In conclusion, embracing traditional herbal medicine as a sustainable health solution in an ageing society is both a cultural necessity and an economic opportunity.

It can reduce healthcare costs, uplift rural livelihoods, and reposition Malaysia as a leader in natural health innovation.- The HEALTH