![]() Needless to say, preserving life takes precedence over keeping kosher. This also includes someone who is at risk of developing a serious illness, to the degree that his doctor prescribes preventative medication for him. This also often includes categories of people who are weak and at greater health risk, such as an elderly person with the flu, an infant with a fever, or a pregnant woman with health concerns (placing either her or the baby at risk). This includes such conditions as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney failure, severe depression, most internal infections requiring antibiotics, and a woman in labor. (a) Someone who is deathly ill (“choleh she’yaish bo sakanah”): This includes anyone who has a condition which may potentially be life-threatening, even if he is not at risk of immediate death. Jewish law recognizes a number of distinct categories: The second factor to consider is the severity of a person’s illness. Thus, if a medicine is derived from such a source, it should pose no kashrut problem. The same is true if food is taken wrapped in something else, such as a medicine served in a (kosher) capsule.įinally, hard parts of animals – such as bones, claws and shells – are not considered food to begin with. This is only Rabbinically forbidden and might be permitted in cases of need. Secondly, since it is not “normal” to eat foul-tasting food, taking a pill or a bitter liquid medicine is considered eating in an abnormal manner. It has thus been transformed from its original state, and might not be considered “food” any longer. ![]() First of all, the non-kosher ingredient has typically been dried and ground to be put in medicine form. Regarding the second category, there are multiple grounds for leniency. It is thus non-kosher unless it was made in a special run, from properly slaughtered and prepared kosher animals. Note that gelatin is generally made from animals. ![]() (b) Inedible medicines such as tablets, capsules and gelcaps, which are made to be swallowed whole. (Note that if an edible medicine has an inedible non-kosher ingredient, there is room to be lenient as the non-kosher itself has not been rendered edible.) (a) Edible medicines, such as flavored syrups, cough drops, chewable tablets.Ī common ingredient in many syrups which may be derived from a non-kosher source is glycerin. In terms of medications, there are two primary types: The issue of non-kosher medicines is very broad, so before I answer your question, I would like to offer a few general guidelines. I wish you a full recovery from your health issue first of all. Am I allowed to take it, even though it’s not kosher? The Aish Rabbi Replies I have been prescribed a drug for severe intestinal issues which is made from enzymes from non-kosher animals.
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