Lois Kinder, a 44-year-old mother of two from Cheshire, UK, was left with significant brain damage after suffering acute liver failure following about a year of taking ashwagandha gummies. Lois had been taking two gummies a day after discovering the wellness supplement online, where she also received products to promote through social media. She reportedly began using them in July 2025 because she believed they helped her feel more relaxed and supported her wellbeing. In early July 2026, she developed jaundice, with her eyes and skin turning yellow, and was later found unresponsive on the family’s couch by her 19-year-old daughter, Imogen. Doctors discovered that her liver was failing and transferred her to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she was placed on the emergency transplant list. A suitable donor liver became available on July 22, but Lois suffered three cardiac arrests during the transplant after a blood clot blocked a major artery to her lungs. The resulting prolonged loss of oxygen caused serious brain damage. After spending about a month in a coma, she woke on August 13 and has since been able to recognize relatives, speak a few words and make small movements, although she remains critically ill and requires intensive neurological rehabilitation.

Her husband, Ollie, has spoken publicly about the ordeal to warn others about potential risks associated with supplements. Doctors told the family they believed ashwagandha was the main suspected cause of Lois’s liver failure, although investigations are continuing and medical experts have stressed that a direct cause cannot always be established. Hepatologist Lisa Forman has previously said more than 70 cases of liver injury associated with ashwagandha have been reported in medical literature, ranging from abnormal liver tests and jaundice to acute liver failure requiring transplantation. She also emphasized that contamination or another ingredient could potentially be responsible in some cases. Wellness trends have also prompted broader warnings about relying on supplements without medical guidance. Doctor Xand van Tulleken has argued that “wellness” should not be confused with healthcare, while Forman advises people to speak with a doctor before taking supplements. Ollie says the family still does not know whether Lois will walk again, regain full physical function or require long-term care. The family is now raising funds to secure and adapt a home suitable for Lois as she begins what they describe as a long and uncertain recovery.