What are Akarkara’s main drawbacks?

The main drawback is the lack of randomized controlled trials assessing the effects of Akarkara supplements or extracts from Anacyclus pyrethrum on humans. Therefore, it remains to be determined whether Akarkara can provide any benefit to humans. Importantly, the animal studies cited above don’t report any major side effects following treatment with extracts from Anacyclus pyrethrum. Furthermore, pharmacological studies in rodents find evidence of toxicity at high doses (e.g., 2,000 milligrams of extract per kilogram of body weight)^[1] but not when extracts from Anacyclus pyrethrum are administered at low doses.^[2][1][3] Finally, the one aforementioned human trial with Akarkara did not report on any safety or adverse events data.^[4] Consequently, Akarkara supplements are likely safe for human consumption, but because there is currently no data on toxicology, side effects, or adverse outcomes from human studies, it is not yet possible to make firm conclusions about their safety.