'The Liver Doc' Warns Against Ayurvedic Medicines After Acute Liver Failure Case
Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, commonly known as "The Liver Doc," criticized proponents of Ayurvedic medications in his recent post on X (formerly known as Twitter). In the post, concerning a woman suffering from acute liver failure following the consumption of an Ayurvedic medicine, "The Liver Doc" lashed out at Ayurveda apologists, questioning whether they would step up to help the woman.
Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, one of the most vocal critics of the Ayush Ministry, did not hold back in calling out Ayurveda supporters and the Ayush Ministry in his recent post. He wrote, “Will any Ayurveda apologist and sympathizer be kind enough to donate money or at least a part of their liver for this woman who will die without a liver transplant because of acute liver failure (ALF) due to this proprietary Ayurvedic product?”
This is not the first time someone has pointed out how certain herbal medicines could lead to acute liver failure. Many studies linking Ayurvedic medicines to hepatotoxicity have been published in recent years. It is estimated that drug-induced liver injury is responsible for 50% of acute liver failure cases in developed countries. Drug-induced liver injury is difficult to diagnose, and certain Ayurvedic medications are commonly used without full knowledge of their side effects. [1] Medicines such as the one mentioned in the post contain hepatotoxic herbs as primary ingredients. Many individuals, unaware of the adverse health effects of these drugs, tend to consume them, resulting in serious health issues like acute liver failure (ALF).
"The Liver Doc" shared a screenshot of the conversation regarding the woman's condition and the alleged Ayurvedic product. Besides the woman, her husband was also taking such medications, leading to abnormal liver function test (LFT) results.
Furthermore, he lashed out at the regulatory body overseeing Ayurveda, calling it a "promotional body that calls itself a regulatory body on paper."
The Ministry of Ayush is a ministry of the Government of India responsible for developing education, research, and the promotion of traditional and alternative medicine systems in India. Formed on November 9, 2014, the Ministry of Ayush focuses its attention on education and research in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy.
References
1. Dalal, Kunal K, Thomas Holdbrook, and Steven R Peikin. 2017. “Ayurvedic Drug Induced Liver Injury.” World Journal of Hepatology 9 (31): 1205–9. Accessed on February 28, 2025. https://doi.org/10.4254/wjh.v9.i31.1205.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Jithin Paul/MSM)
