Lanolin in medicines
This resource on lanolin is for the Muslim community (including patients, carers, parents and members of the public).
Healthcare professionals may also find this resource useful when supporting people with gathering information, sourcing and prescribing halāl alternatives.
It highlights the issues of lanolin use in medicines that you should be aware of. There is also a table to help you understand if lactose is halāl or harām, according to each of the four Sunni schools of thought.
What is lanolin?
Lanolin is a thick, waxy, yellowish substance that is derived from sheep’s wool after shearing. It is then purified and refined for use in cosmetic, pharmaceutical and industrial products.1
Derived from sheep’s wool
How lanolin is used in medicines
Attributes of lanolin include having antimicrobial properties, reducing water loss and reducing itching2. Due to these beneficial properties, it is therefore used in e.g. ointments for skin conditions such as psoriasis, treatments for dry skin, and also in products such as shampoos, soaps and body washes.1
How the use of lanolin in medicines affects the Muslim community
The Muslim community needs to be aware that cross contamination may occur during the manufacturing process if lanolin is processed in facilities that handle harām substances e.g. pork-derived substances.
Therefore, it is important to check for halāl certification to ensure halāl-compliant manufacturing. However, please note that information regarding cross-contamination is not always readily available from all manufacturers.
It is important for the Muslim community to:
- Check if the medicine you are taking contains lanolin
- Check for halāl certification
To find out this information, you may need to directly contact the manufacturer of your medicine. You could also speak to your local pharmacist and your local Imam for advice and support. For further information see section on ‘How do I find out if a medicine contains lanolin?‘.
Is lanolin halāl or harām
The table below summarises the ruling of lactose according to the four Sunni schools1:
| Source | Ḥanafī | Mālikī | Shāfiʿī | Ḥanbalī |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheep’s wool | ✅Halāl -as shearing wool does not harm the animal | ✅Halāl -as shearing wool does not harm the animal | ✅Halāl -as shearing wool does not harm the animal | ✅Halāl -as shearing wool does not harm the animal |
In summary, according to all four schools of thought, lanolin is widely considered pure (ṭāhir) so is therefore permissible. The process of obtaining lanolin does not cause harm to the animal as it is derived from shearing wool, so is therefore accepted as halāl. It is best to confirm halāl certification to ensure no cross-contamination with harām substances occurred during the manufacturing process and that no unethical practices took place in the process.
How do I find out if a medicine contains lanolin?
You can check if a medicine contains lanolin using the relevant patient information leaflet (PIL) or summary of product characteristics (SPC) available on the electronic medicines compendium (emc) website. You may also find our resource on ‘How to find out if a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients’ useful. If you are still unsure if your medicine contains lanolin, speak to your local healthcare professional such as your local pharmacist.
It is important to remember that even if a medicine contains a harām ingredient or excipient, it does not always mean it is prohibited to take. If you find out a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients from harām sources, then see our guide on ‘What to do if a medicine contains harām ingredients or excipients’. The guide includes the conditions of when it is acceptable to take a medicine that contains harām ingredients or excipients from harām sources. It may also help you make informed decisions on the next steps in discussions with your healthcare professional. If you are still not sure if it is permissible to take your medicine, then speak to your local Imam or trusted Islamic scholar (ideally who has relevant knowledge and expertise in the Fiqh of medicines).
Summary
- Lanolin is considered halāl by all schools of thought. However, one should ensure it is halāl certified. If certification is not available, it is important to verify that it is free from cross-contamination with any harām substances.
- You can check if a medicine you are taking contains lanolin using the PIL or SPC. If you are unsure, then speak to your local pharmacist
- Check cross contamination with the manufacturers – check if there is halāl certification available for the medicine, to ensure halāl-compliant manufacturing (e.g if processing agents were used) and compliance with Islamic dietary guidelines (manufacturers may have limited information).
References and further reading
- Islamic Perspective on lactose by Shaykh Dr Rafaqat Rashid ↩︎
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/lanolin ↩︎