The husband of a woman left with permanent brain damage after taking the popular “stress-relief” supplement ashwagandha has issued a stark warning about the wellness product.
Lois Kinder, 44, from Cheshire, suffered life-threatening liver failure in July. Doctors linked the illness to ashwagandha-root gummies she had been taking for around a year.
Although such reactions are uncommon, experts warn that high doses of the compound can damage liver cells.
The devastating complication led to a liver transplant. However, surgical complications deprived Ms Kinder’s brain of oxygen, causing permanent damage.
She remains in critical care and has difficulty communicating. Her movement is currently limited to the occasional “twitch” of a finger or toe.
“At this stage, nobody knows what her recovery will look like,” said Mr Kinder, 44, a cabin crew manager.
Lois Kinder, 44, from Cheshire, suffered life-threatening liver failure in July, which doctors linked to gummies containing ashwagandha root that she had taken for around a year
Experts say that although uncommon, high doses of ashwagandha can damage liver cells. Pictured, Lois Kinder before her illness
“We don’t know if she will walk again, regain full use of her body or what level of care she will need in the future.”
Ashwagandha has become widely known as a natural way to manage stress. The herb is classed as an adaptogen, meaning it is believed to help the body respond to everyday stress. Celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow and Kourtney Kardashian are among its high-profile supporters.
Kourtney Kardashian’s supplement company, Lemme, sells a “clinically tested” gummy made with the root. The product is promoted as being “shown to reduce stress and support healthy cortisol (stress hormone)”.
Despite its growing popularity, experts have increasingly highlighted the possible risks of taking ashwagandha for extended periods or in large amounts.
“Although rare, there have been reports of liver problems, including severe liver failure, associated with ashwagandha use,” said Dipa Kamadar, a pharmacy expert at Kingston University, in a report for The Conversation.
“Ashwagandha may stimulate the immune system, potentially causing flare-ups for people with autoimmune conditions such as multiple sclerosis and arthritis.”
Ms Kinder began taking the supplement every day in July last year after seeing adverts on TikTok. So convinced was she by its effects that she also started selling it to her social media followers.
“She would always say that she felt better and more relaxed after taking them,” Mr Kinder said.
About a year after starting the supplements, Ms Kinder went to her GP seeking help for nausea and vomiting.
Ollie Kinder has spoken about the heartbreak of fearing he would lose his wife and the mother of his children
She had also developed jaundice-like symptoms, with her skin and the whites of her eyes turning yellow.
Her doctor arranged blood tests and a liver scan. But within days, her 19-year-old daughter found her unresponsive on the sofa.
‘The paramedics managed to wake her up, but she was confused and couldn’t recognise me or my brother,’ recalled the teenager.
She was then blue-lighted to the Warrington Hospital, and within hours tests found her liver was failing.
Doctors placed her into an induced coma and, three days later, transferred her to the specialist Liver Intensive Care Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Ms Kinder was immediately placed on the urgent transplant list.
After several liver offers that were unfortunately unsuitable, on July 22 a donor liver became available.
However, during the transplant operation, she suffered three cardiac arrests caused by a blood clot blocking the main artery to her lungs.
She was deprived of oxygen for a prolonged period while the surgical and critical care teams fought tirelessly to save her life.
At one point, the family was told to prepare for the worst and that she was unlikely to survive the operation.
But against all odds she survived and woke from a coma on August 13.
‘A number of times we were told we were going to lose her – and then she just defied the odds,’ said Mr Kinder.
‘Doctors thought she was brain dead, and the days that followed were filled with fear, uncertainty and heartbreak. But by some miracle she woke up.’
The complications she suffered have left her with significant brain damage, and she remains in critical care undergoing intensive neurological rehabilitation every day.
Doctors say that ashwagandha is the ‘main cause’ of Ms Kinder’s liver failure, although this is still being investigated.
‘When the doctors ran tests, one of the first things they asked us was if she was taking pills containing ashwagandha, which they later said they believed had caused the liver problems,’ said Mr Kinder.
‘They said there have only been 70 cases of livers failing following prolonged use of the pills.
‘I want to spread awareness and warn people that even if you think the supplement you are taking is safe, there can still be serious health consequences.’
The family is currently crowdfunding to buy a house and adapt it for Ms Kinder’s specialised needs.
‘The thought of losing my wife, and of our children, Imogen and Jacob, losing their mum is unbearable,’ said Mr Kinder. ‘Watching the person you love fight for their life is something no family can ever prepare for.’
