Are Herbs Really Damaging People’s Livers? A Closer Look at the Facts Behind the Claim

In recent years, a narrative has emerged warning the public that herbal supplements may be damaging their livers. Mainstream media headlines such as “6 Supplements, Including Green Tea, Turmeric, Linked to Liver Toxicity” and “Silent Threats: Everyday Herbs and Drugs Linked to Liver Damage” have contributed to a growing sense of fear around herbal products. But how valid are these claims?

Are herbs inherently dangerous to the liver, or is this another example of fear-mongering fueled by conflicting interests? A deeper look at the facts reveals a far more nuanced story, one that challenges these sensational claims and shines a spotlight on the very real dangers posed by pharmaceuticals and other commonly used substances.

The Origins of the “Herbs Are Harmful” Narrative

Herbal medicine has been a cornerstone of healing practices for millennia. Traditional systems like Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and indigenous medicine have long used herbs to support liver health and treat a variety of ailments. Despite this, herbs have come under fire in recent years, largely because they threaten the dominance of pharmaceuticals. Many widely used herbal supplements, such as turmeric and green tea extract, are natural and non-patentable, making them less profitable than synthetic pharmaceuticals, which dominate the market.

Several factors contribute to the negative portrayal of herbs:

1. Pharmaceutical Competition: The pharmaceutical industry, which has a vested interest in promoting synthetic drugs, views herbal remedies as a threat to its business model. Many of the studies and reports condemning herbal supplements come from sources closely aligned with pharmaceutical interests.
2. Isolated Incidents Amplified: Many claims about herbal liver toxicity are based on a few isolated cases that fail to consider other potential contributing factors, such as alcohol use, pre-existing conditions, or concurrent prescription drug use. These isolated incidents are often sensationalized, creating an inaccurate picture of the risks.
3. Regulatory Bias: Agencies like the FDA are designed to regulate pharmaceuticals, not herbs. This imbalance in regulatory oversight means that herbs are more easily criticized, while pharmaceuticals, despite their well-documented side effects, are often given a free pass.

The Reality: Pharmaceuticals and Their Impact on Liver Health

When it comes to liver health, the real threat often lies in the pharmaceuticals that many people take daily. Prescription and over-the-counter drugs are among the leading causes of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in the United States. Notably, many of the most commonly used medications, such as acetaminophen and NSAIDs, are known to cause significant liver damage.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol):

Acetaminophen is the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States. It is responsible for 56,000 emergency department visits, 2,600 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths annually.¹ Even slight overdoses can overwhelm the liver’s ability to detoxify, leading to rapid and often irreversible damage.

NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Naproxen):

NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen are widely used to relieve pain and inflammation, but they also come with significant risks. NSAIDs are linked to over 100,000 hospitalizations and approximately 16,500 deaths annually in the U.S. due to gastrointestinal and liver complications. However, considering the underreporting of adverse drug reactions, the real numbers could be much higher–over 1 million hospitalizations and 165,000 deaths annually when taking all underreported cases into account.^2,3 These figures dwarf the unsubstantiated claims made about the risks of herbal supplements.

Statins:

Statins, used by millions to lower cholesterol, have been shown to raise liver enzymes in about 3% of users, signaling liver damage. Given the number of people on statins, this translates to 1.5 million individuals at risk of liver injury from these drugs.⁴

Alcohol: The Overlooked Danger

Another significant cause of liver damage is alcohol, which is socially accepted and widely consumed. Alcohol-related liver disease contributes to over 2 million deaths annually worldwide, yet it receives far less attention compared to the minimal risks posed by herbs.⁵ The discrepancy in media coverage of alcohol versus herbal supplements raises questions about why these substances are treated so differently in public discourse.

ScienceAlert headline above. This is one of dozens of mainstream media headlines alleging herbs are causing massive harm in the population. 

Misleading Media Coverage and Pharmaceutical Advertising

It’s important to understand that much of the media’s focus on the dangers of herbal supplements is driven by the influence of pharmaceutical advertising. The pharmaceutical industry is one of the largest advertisers, particularly in non-election years, and this financial support may shape the way media outlets frame their stories. Consider these recent fear-mongering headlines:

• Medical News Today: “6 Supplements, Including Green Tea, Turmeric, Linked to Liver Toxicity”⁶
• The People’s Pharmacy: “Silent Threats: Everyday Herbs and Drugs Linked to Liver Damage”⁷
• The Denver Post: “Study Estimates Millions in US Risk Liver Damage From Herbal Remedies”⁸

These headlines often ignore the complexity of liver health and fail to provide context, such as the far greater risks posed by pharmaceuticals like NSAIDs and acetaminophen.

Examining the Evidence: Herbs and Liver Health

Many of the herbs that have been vilified in the media are not only safe but also have hepatoprotective (liver-protecting) properties. GreenMedInfo.com, a comprehensive natural medicine research platform, has cataloged 3,708 studies on 683 substances with liver-protective effects. These include many of the herbs that have been wrongly accused of causing liver damage.

Curcumin (Turmeric):

With 158 studies supporting its hepatoprotective properties, curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is a well-researched herb known to reduce liver inflammation and protect against oxidative damage.⁹

Green Tea Extract:

Although some reports suggest that green tea extract can harm the liver, 95 studies highlight the antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), found in green tea, as a liver-protective agent. EGCG has been shown to reduce fat accumulation in the liver, a major factor in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).¹⁰

Milk Thistle (Silymarin):

Milk thistle is one of the best-known herbs for supporting liver health, with over 90 studies showing its ability to regenerate liver cells and detoxify the liver.¹¹ Many people use milk thistle to counteract the harmful effects of pharmaceuticals and alcohol on the liver.

The Misuse of Herbal Supplements and Adulteration

While it’s true that some adverse effects have been reported from herbal supplements, these cases are often the result of improper use or adulteration. For example, some low-quality supplements are contaminated with synthetic drugs or heavy metals. In other cases, people misuse herbs by taking them in excessive doses or combining them with pharmaceuticals that are known to interact negatively.

Furthermore, herbs should not be used as a way to “justify” or “mitigate” unhealthy behaviors, such as excessive alcohol consumption or reliance on pharmaceuticals. Instead, herbs should be consumed in their natural, food-based forms–like incorporating turmeric into meals or drinking green tea–rather than in the heroic doses seen in some allopathic models of herbal medicine.

Why You Don’t See Advertisers on GreenMedInfo.com

Unlike many mainstream media outlets, GreenMedInfo.com is 100% membership-supported and does not rely on pharmaceutical advertisers. This allows the platform to present unbiased information on natural health without corporate influence. GreenMedInfo serves 500,000 visitors a month, offering free access to thousands of carefully curated research studies on natural medicine. Memberships start at just $8 per month, and support from its users allows GreenMedInfo to continue providing this vital resource.¹²

Regulatory Bias and the Unfair Treatment of Natural Medicine

The pharmaceutical industry’s influence extends beyond the media to the regulatory environment. According to the FDA, only substances that “diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease” can legally be called drugs. This excludes many natural remedies that have been used for centuries to promote health, including liver health. As Sayer Ji points out in his article Why the Law Forbids the Medicinal Use of Natural Substances, the FDA’s regulatory framework systematically marginalizes herbs in favor of patented, profitable pharmaceuticals.¹³

Conclusion: A Call for Balance and Transparency

The narrative that herbs are damaging people’s livers is largely unfounded. While any substance, including herbs, can cause harm when used improperly, the overwhelming evidence shows that pharmaceuticals and alcohol pose far greater risks to liver health than herbs. The current media focus on the dangers of herbal supplements appears to be driven more by pharmaceutical interests than by a commitment to truth.

Herbs, when used responsibly, offer a safe and effective way to support liver health. Instead of vilifying these natural remedies, we should focus on educating the public about their proper use and promoting high-quality, uncontaminated products. GreenMedInfo.com is committed to providing free access to research on natural medicine, but it needs your support to continue this mission. Visit GreenMedInfo.com to learn more about how you can become a member or donate to keep this valuable resource alive.

Originally posted: https://greenmedinfo.com/content/are-herbs-really-damaging-peoples-livers-closer-look-facts-behind-claim