Herbal Supplements and Liver Damage: What You Need to Know

We don’t think much about our liver — until it’s in trouble. Quietly working 24/7, it filters everything we eat, drink, and swallow… including those “natural” supplements in our medicine cabinet. But that silent workhorse is under attack.

Herbal supplements are everywhere — on store shelves, in health food aisles, and all over social media. But while they’re marketed as “natural” and “safe,” a growing body of research says otherwise. More people are self-medicating than ever, often without telling their providers or pharmacists. And it’s your liver that’s taking the hit.

📚 A Wake-Up Call from the Research

A February 2022 study published in Liver Transplantation found a shocking increase in liver failure cases linked to herbal and dietary supplements (HDS). Between 2004 and 2019, liver transplants due to HDS-related injury rose from just 3% to 16% of all cases studied. Many of these patients had no idea their “health boost” was quietly damaging their liver.

🌿 Common Culprits Include:

⭐ Green tea extract
⭐ Kava
⭐ Black cohosh
⭐ Muscle-building supplements with unlisted steroids
⭐ Weight-loss pills with hidden stimulants

⚠️ Why This Matters:
Your liver filters everything you ingest. Many supplements have no regulation, no quality testing, and no label transparency. Worse? Some interact with medications or preexisting liver conditions.

🩺 What You Can Do:

✔ Always tell your provider or pharmacist about any supplements you take
✔ Don’t assume “natural” means safe
✔ Be wary of bold claims or celebrity endorsements
✔ Ask before you add anything to your routine — especially if you have liver disease, take prescription meds, or are over 60

💬 Bottom Line:

Self-medicating with herbal supplements might seem harmless, but it’s not. Liver injury is real, it’s rising, and it’s often irreversible. If you’re unsure about what’s safe, I’m here to help.