Woman Left With Brain Damage After Ashwagandha Gummies Trigger Liver Failure: What You Need To Know
A woman suffered acute liver failure after taking ashwagandha gummies, raising concerns about supplement safety. Here’s what ashwagandha does, its rare liver risks and warning signs.
A 44-year-old woman has been left with brain damage after suffering acute liver failure and undergoing a liver transplant, with her family linking the medical crisis to a popular ashwagandha gummy supplement she had been taking for stress and sleep.
According to a reports published, Lois Kinder had used the gummies for around a year before becoming critically ill. She reportedly went into a coma, required a liver transplant and nearly died three times. The case has once again put the spotlight on the safety of ashwagandha supplements, particularly products marketed as an easy way to manage stress, improve sleep or support overall wellness.
However, the brain damage should not be interpreted as a direct neurological effect of ashwagandha. The reported brain injury occurred in the context of her severe illness and complications surrounding her treatment. The more established medical concern is the potential for rare, serious liver injury associated with ashwagandha-containing products.
What Does Ashwagandha Do To The Body?
Ashwagandha, or Withania somnifera, is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Ayurveda. Its active compounds include withanolides, and modern supplements commonly market it for stress, anxiety, sleep, exercise performance and other wellness benefits.
There is some evidence that certain ashwagandha preparations may help with stress and insomnia, although research remains limited and different studies have used different extracts and doses. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health says there is not enough evidence to establish its effectiveness for several other commonly promoted uses.
For short-term use of up to about three months, ashwagandha appears to be tolerated by many people. Reported side effects can include drowsiness, stomach upset, diarrhoea and vomiting. But its long-term safety is less well established.
How Can Ashwagandha Affect The Liver?
The liver processes substances absorbed from the digestive system, including compounds found in medicines and supplements. In rare cases, exposure to certain substances can cause drug- or herb-induced liver injury. Ashwagandha has been linked to a small but growing number of such cases. LiverTox, a database maintained by the US National Library of Medicine, notes that reported cases have typically involved jaundice and itching, with liver injury often appearing within weeks of starting the supplement. Most reported patients recover after stopping the product, although severe cases, including acute liver failure requiring transplantation, have also been documented.
A study of cases from India found that liver injury associated with ashwagandha was commonly cholestatic, meaning bile flow was affected. Importantly, patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease experienced much more severe outcomes; three patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure died. Researchers also found liver injury in people using single-ingredient ashwagandha products, meaning the concern cannot always be explained by contamination or mixing with other herbs.
Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration issued a safety update in July 2026, noting a very rare risk of liver injury and citing international reports of liver failure, including a case requiring transplantation.
What Should Ashwagandha Users Watch For?
Yellowing of the eyes or skin, unusually dark urine, severe itching, persistent nausea, unusual tiredness or abdominal discomfort can be warning signs of liver injury and should not be ignored.
The bigger takeaway is that 'herbal' or 'natural' does not automatically mean risk-free. Anyone taking ashwagandha regularly, particularly someone with existing liver disease or those taking other medicines, should discuss its use with a healthcare professional rather than assuming a supplement is harmless.