Herbal product Kamini may be causing opioid dependence in Australia, doctors warn

Use of Ayurvedic medicine Kamini Vidrawan Ras resulted in 24 reported presentations to addiction clinics in Queensland and Victoria

A herbal “remedy” purportedly for low energy that is often used by shift workers contains opioids and other harmful substances, leading to an increasing number of people seeking help for addiction, doctors have warned.

A commentary published in the September Drug & Alcohol Review journal described how 12 patients in Queensland and 12 patients in Victoria presented to addiction clinics after taking Kamini, also referred to as Kamini Vidrawan Ras, a herbal medicine that is usually illegally imported from India.

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