How to Read a Herbal Product Label in Pakistan and India: DRAP, AYUSH (Video)

Transcript

Flip the Pack Over

Ever wonder what’s really inside that herbal bottle on your shelf? Let’s flip it over and see what the label is actually telling you.

At a Glance

A proper label should show the whole ingredient list, a batch number, manufacture and expiry dates, the maker’s address, and the regulatory mark, DRAP in Pakistan or AYUSH in India. If you see a vague phrase like ‘special herbal mixture’, that’s a red flag.

Start with Ingredients

Ingredients are listed from the biggest amount to the smallest. The first three names give you the bulk of what you’re buying. If the first item is something like sugar or honey, you’re mostly getting a sweetener. If you can’t find the first name anywhere, or the list is just one phrase, walk away.

Batch, Dates, Address

The batch or lot number is the product’s fingerprint; it links to a production record and is what regulators use in a recall. Look for printed manufacture and expiry dates, no handwritten stickers. Most powders and syrups stay good for two to three years, so the expiry should be at least six months away.

Regulatory Marks

In Pakistan, herbal and Unani items must carry a DRAP enlistment number, usually printed as ‘DRAP Enlistment No.’. In India, look for an AYUSH licence number issued by the state. You can verify the number on the respective agency’s website. If the label skips this, treat it with caution.

When to See a Doctor

A label can tell you what a product claims, but not whether it’s safe for you. Don’t start any herbal or Unani remedy during pregnancy, breastfeeding, for a child, or together with blood pressure meds, insulin, thyroid tablets, warfarin, or sedatives without your doctor’s okay. If you feel palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness, yellow eyes, dark urine, black stool, a fit, or confusion, stop and seek medical help.

Two-Minute Counter Check

When you’re at the counter, flip the pack and quickly count six things: ingredient list, batch number, two dates, address, and net weight. Read the first three ingredients aloud. If sugar tops the list, decide if you’re buying a tonic or just a sweetener. Look for amount statements like ‘Each 10 g contains’ or percentages, none is a weak label. Make sure the expiry is at least six months away and the seal is intact.

Try This Tonight

Gather every herbal, Unani or Ayurvedic item in your home, lay them on the table, and run the six-item count on each. Snap a photo of any label that passes and save it in an album on your phone. Anything that fails gets a decision: contact the maker for the missing info or toss it. Most families discover at least one jar with no batch number and no clear origin.

Missing Clues

When a product doesn’t match its claim, you’ll often see several red flags together. The ingredient list might be a single phrase, the batch number could be missing, dates may sit on a sticker, the address might be just a city, and the registration line could be vague or borrowed from another product. One or two issues might be a printer error, but three or more is a good reason to walk away.

Traditional View

Classic formularies like the Qarabadeen for Unani or the Ayurvedic Formulary were essentially public recipes with exact weights, meant for any practitioner to follow. A product that hides its ingredients breaks that tradition, not honors it.

Food-Style Labels

Many herbal items dodge medicine rules by calling themselves tea, jam, or a food supplement. Treat those labels like a biscuit packet: note the sugar per serving, sodium, serving size, and whether the herb is the first ingredient or just a flavor. Look for the small disclaimer that says ‘not for medicinal use’ or ‘not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease’. That line tells you you’re holding a supplement, not a regulated medicine.

Thanks for Watching

For the full guide and more tips, visit thecareonline.com. Remember, this is general information, not medical advice.