However, there are some herbalists who still practice the profession in the Kingdom. Some of them play the role of pharmacists, while there are others who act as physicians. These greedy and unscrupulous people have been successful in luring customers, especially women, after convincing them of the magical effect of herbal medicine.

Women, who are eager to have a better complexion and attractive physical features, fall easily in their trap. They are unaware of the fact that such medications can cause health complications and physical abnormalities. An investigative report, carried recently by Al-Riyadh daily, shed light on this problem.

An overwhelming majority of victims of this illegal practice interviewed by the newspaper are young women. School teacher Najwa Homaid said some reckless and greedy spice dealers offer concoctions to customers without having authentic knowledge.

“Some of them are totally unaware of the ingredients of mixtures and the methodology of mixing. They also keep them in unsuitable temperatures in unhygienic conditions,” she said.

Hala Muhammad is one of the victims of such “spice physicians.”

“When I approached a spice dealer, he started explaining to me before listening to what I had to say,” she said.

“He displayed a number of packets and started explaining the mixtures of honey and herbs. One, he said, was for enlarging the buttocks and the other for shrinking it. Another one was for enlarging lips. A third one was for breast enhancement, and another was for breast reduction. This dealer appeared to be an encyclopedia of what a woman wants to secure in pursuit of her ideal physical features.”

Hala said she bought a soap the man claimed would lighten her complexion. After using the soap for a few days she developed spots on her skin. She said her sister bought a concoction to make her hair longer and fuller. Instead, her sister acquired ringworm and lost much of her hair.

Hayam Al-Oqaili said she was keen to lose weight for her wedding and bought a herbal medication from a dealer.

After taking the treatment, “I started feeling acute pain on one side of the stomach. When I consulted a doctor, it was found that the mixture contained some chemical that is toxic to the kidneys.”

Wod Daifulla said she had to go to a dermatologist for treatment of adverse effects of a skin-lightening cream.

Dr. Khaled Al-Ghamdi, dermatologist and surgeon, warned against application of such illegal herbal mixtures and cosmetics.

“We should be wary of such unscrupulous guys who offer remedies, even for cancer, hypertension and diabetes. Some of these dealers resort to mixing herbs with medicines bought from pharmacies. They are totally unaware of the serious side effects caused by these mixtures,” he said. “Strict punitive measures should be taken against those engaged in such illegal practices.”

Abdul Rahman Al-Sultan, a pharmacist at Saudi Food and Drugs Authority (SFDA), blamed the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs for “giving licenses to spice dealers.”

“The ministry should take strict measures to curb these unethical practices through intensifying inspections and monitoring,” he said, adding that most of the workers at such shops are legal or illegal foreigners.