Is khat (miraa) safe?
Last reviewed
Khat is legal in Kenya and the WHO judges its dependence potential to be low, but it is not risk-free. Research links khat chewing to raised blood pressure and heart rate, and heavy use to cardiovascular and oral-health problems. It is not suitable for under-18s, or for people who are pregnant, nursing or have heart conditions.
What the evidence shows on the heart
The most robust finding concerns the cardiovascular system. A systematic review and meta-analysis drawing on 9,207 subjects — 2,123 khat chewers and 7,084 non-chewers — found chewers had systolic blood pressure higher by 7.9 mmHg (95% CI 2.65–13.18), diastolic higher by 5.1 mmHg (95% CI 2.7–7.5) and heart rate faster by 6.9 beats per minute (95% CI 0.5–13.3).
The same review reported khat having either a causative or a worsening effect on stroke, myocardial infarction and heart failure, and its authors concluded that health promotion should aim to encourage quitting khat chewing. That is the plain reading of the strongest evidence available, and it belongs on this page alongside anything positive.
Chronic use has separately been associated with hypertension, myocardial infarction and cardiomyopathy in the wider literature.
Dependence: low, but not nil
The WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence assessed khat's potential for abuse and dependence as low, which is why it has repeatedly declined to place the plant under international control.
The same Committee recommended that national authorities run educational programmes to discourage excessive use, acknowledging that heavy consumption produces social and health concerns. Low dependence potential is not the same as no consequences from heavy use.
Other reported effects
Alongside the sought-after effects — alertness, elevated mood, talkativeness, appetite suppression — khat produces sympathomimetic effects including raised blood pressure, dilated pupils, elevated body temperature, arrhythmias and increased respiration.
Commonly reported after-effects include difficulty concentrating, numbness and insomnia. Appetite suppression, which some users seek, is worth watching if it displaces meals over long periods.
Who should not consume it
Jaba Juice is sold strictly to adults aged 18 and over. It is not recommended for people who are pregnant or nursing.
Given the measured effects on blood pressure and heart rate, anyone with a diagnosed heart condition, hypertension, or an anxiety or sleep disorder should speak to a doctor before consuming khat in any form. The same applies to anyone taking prescription medication, since khat has been shown to affect the activity of major drug-metabolising enzymes.
Almost all published khat research studies people chewing fresh leaves over a session lasting several hours. A bottled drink made with khat extract is not the same exposure, so treat these figures as background on the plant rather than as measurements of Jaba Juice.
Quick answers
- Does khat raise blood pressure?
- Yes. A meta-analysis of 9,207 subjects found khat chewers had systolic blood pressure 7.9 mmHg higher, diastolic 5.1 mmHg higher and heart rate 6.9 beats per minute faster than non-chewers.
- Is khat addictive?
- The WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence assessed khat's potential for abuse and dependence as low, which is why it has not been placed under international control. It nonetheless recommended education to discourage heavy use.
- Who should avoid khat?
- Anyone under 18, anyone pregnant or nursing, and anyone with a heart condition, high blood pressure, or an anxiety or sleep disorder should avoid it or seek medical advice first.
Sources
- 1.Khat (Catha Edulis) as a Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disorders: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis — Oman Medical Journal (via PubMed Central), 2017.
- 2.Khat — Expert Committee on Drug Dependence reviews (12th, 33rd, 34th meetings) — World Health Organization, 2006.
- 3.Khat (Catha edulis) — drug and chemical information — US Drug Enforcement Administration, 2023.
- 4.Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of khat: a controlled study — Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (via PubMed), 1994.
This page is general information, not medical advice. Jaba Juice is sold to adults 18 and over and is not recommended for people who are pregnant or nursing, or who have a heart condition or high blood pressure. If you are unsure whether khat is right for you, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.