Key Points for Members:
- Amygdalin and hydrocyanic acid are minor constituents of Prunus serotina (Wild Cherry Bark). Amygdalin breaks down to hydrocyanic acid upon metabolism.
- There are genuine safety concerns arising from the improper usage of some amygdalin-containing products, and the Scheduling Committees have been reviewing this issue for several years.
- The NHAA is not aware of any recorded adverse reactions to products containing Wild Cherry Bark, and there does not appear to be any documented evidence of the misuse of Wild Cherry Bark.
- Nevertheless, the Delegate has released a final Scheduling decision which prohibits the supply and use of Wild Cherry Bark, effective immediately.
In a release dated 20th February 2025, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced its final Scheduling decision regarding Wild Cherry Bark, and two of its minor constituents: amygdalin and hydrocyanic acid. This comes after multiple rounds of consultation with stakeholders since at least 2021.
The Poisons standard has been amended in relation to these substances as follows:
- Wild Cherry Bark is now considered to be a Schedule 10 substance. Schedule 10 is defined as “Substances of such danger to health as to warrant prohibition of supply and use”. The only exception to this is preparations of Wild Cherry Bark containing 10mg/kg or less of amygdalin.
- Amygdalin remains in Schedule 10, with an exception for preparations containing 10mg/kg or less.
- Hydrocyanic acid remains in Schedule 7 (“Dangerous poisons”) except when included in Schedule 4 (“Prescription only medicines and prescription animal remedies”), or in preparations containing 10mg/kg or less of hydrocyanic acid.
You can read the full notice from the TGA here:
The NHAA was heavily involved in trying to achieve a different outcome in relation to Wild Cherry Bark, and we would like to thank the Industry Affairs SIG for their work and advocacy in this matter.
What does this mean for practitioners?
This outcome means that naturopaths and herbalists in Australia have lost the ability to use and prescribe Wild Cherry Bark for the foreseeable future. Companies will not be able to sell Wild Cherry Bark in any form (including dried herb), and any products in your dispensary containing Wild Cherry Bark will need to be disposed of as a Schedule 10 poison, which means taking the products to your local pharmacy to be destroyed in a RUM (Return of Unwanted Medicines) bin.
Whilst this decision is disappointing and marks lost access to an effective herbal medicine, we are fortunate that many other respiratory medicines remain in our dispensaries, allowing us to continue to serve our patients with efficacious and safe botanical prescriptions. We would like to assure our members of our ongoing commitment to working with the TGA in order to retain our access to herbal medicines in Australia.