Samantha Prabhu slammed for promoting herb for liver detox? What’s Ayurveda-Allopathy debate?

Samantha Ruth Prabhu is facing backlash after a video surfaced online, which accused the actor of spreading misinformation about “liver detoxification” to her fans and 33.5 million followers on Instagram.

In a widely circulated clip from the podcast on Prabhu’s show, the guest talks about the benefits of herbs such as “dandelion” for liver health and detoxification. But is liver detoxification actually real or is it more like a myth than a medical reality?

Medical experts have criticised the concept of detoxification and asserted that the use of herbs can lead to irreversible damage to the liver.

Some doctors told News18 that the efficacy of the liver detox concept, particularly those promoted by alternative medicine or home remedies, should be studied carefully. While the idea of “detoxifying” the liver may seem appealing, it’s essential to understand the science behind it.

The liver is a powerhouse organ, naturally equipped to detoxify the body. It already possesses highly efficient mechanisms for detoxification. These include enzymatic processes that break down toxins and the excretion of waste products through bile and urine. Therefore, the notion of needing additional detoxification methods beyond what the liver naturally performs is not supported by scientific evidence.

Despite strong words of caution from the medical community, ayurvedic experts support the concept.

Doctors practising modern medicine or allopathy advised to apply caution.

According to Dr Sanjay Goja, programme director, liver transplant and robotic liver surgery, at Gurugram-based Narayana Hospital, the notion of needing additional detoxification methods beyond what the liver naturally performs is not supported by scientific evidence.

Some liver detox practices, Goja said, such as extreme fasting or consuming large quantities of specific juices or supplements, can be counterproductive and potentially harmful.

“I have encountered several cases where patients have experienced adverse effects from attempting liver detox regimens. For instance, one patient developed severe liver inflammation after following a strict juice cleanse for an extended period. Another individual experienced liver toxicity from excessive consumption of herbal supplements purported to cleanse the liver.”

He further said certain home remedies or practices rooted in Ayurveda – despite being traditional – can pose risks to liver health if used improperly or in excess.

“For example, the indiscriminate use of certain herbs or herbal concoctions without medical supervision can lead to liver toxicity or drug interactions,” he cautioned.

On the contrary, ayurveda experts swear by the concept. They say the concept of liver detoxification helps for healthy as well as unhealthy liver.

For instance: Anurag Varshney, head, drug discovery and development research at Patanjali Research Institute, Haridwar, explained to News18 the other side of the story.

“There are multiple published research suggesting that the extracts of dandelion, either leaves or roots, have good potential to take care of liver ailments… This work has been done by several research laboratories across the globe and has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. These herbs can be used even to keep the liver healthy,” Varshney said.

Contrary to many medical experts, Varshney thanked Samantha Prabhu for bringing forth the power of herbal medicines and open endorsement of the natural way of staying healthy.

While dandelion has been traditionally used in various cultures for its supposed health benefits, including liver support, contemporary research offers “mixed results”, several studies shared by Ayurveda experts showed the protective effects of dandelion.

Research published in The Journal of Basic and Applied Zoology in July 2020 showed that dandelion prevents the progression of “hepatic fibrosis”. “The dandelion’s anti-fibrotic effects could be attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals and to attenuate inflammatory cell activations,” said the study. It was, however, conducted on adult male albino rats and not humans.

Similarly, another study published in Food and Chemicals Toxicology in 2013 showed that dandelion leaf extracts (DLE) significantly suppressed lipid accumulation in the liver, and reduced insulin resistance. “These results indicate that the DLE may represent a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of obesity-related non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.” This study was again conducted on mice.

Another study published in the Journal of King Saud University in 2022 showed that dandelion seed extract treatment resulted in a marked decrease of liver enzyme activities in addition to hepatic tissue improvement. But this study again was conducted on Swiss albino mice.

Given emerging evidence on the liver protective effects of dandelion, the majority of ayurvedic studies have advised designing large human clinical studies.

Dr Sarathchandra Gorantla, consultant gastroenterologist, hepatologist (liver doctor) and advanced therapeutic endoscopist at Hyderabad-based Yashoda Hospitals said the concept of “detoxifying” the liver with specific herbs or supplements, including dandelion, is a popular notion.

“For instance, research has indicated that dandelion root extract might help prevent liver damage in rats with induced liver failure and may have antioxidant properties beneficial for liver health.”

“However, these findings cannot be directly extrapolated to humans without further clinical trials,” Gorantla said while adding that “as a responsible celebrity, it is essential to present well-researched, scientifically accurate information to the public. Hence, promoting unsubstantiated claims about liver detoxification through herbal remedies like dandelion could lead to misconceptions and potentially harmful self-treatment attempts.”

Johns Hopkins Medicine stresses that the liver does not require detoxification products for daily health maintenance. Many products claiming to detox the liver are not regulated even by the world’s top regulatory authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration, lack uniformity, and have not been adequately tested in clinical trials.

Multiple studies shared by experts showed the protective effects of dandelion — hence, its factual that it works on liver, positively. But the majority of these studies are on animals. So, to say it will work the same way on human bodies is still fictitious, to an extent.

The liver is highly capable of detoxifying itself, and the best way to support liver health is through a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, the safest and most effective way to support liver function is through healthy lifestyle choices, nothing else.