Ayurveda for Thyroid, Liver and Kidney Conditions: Why Extra Caution Is Needed
Why thyroid, liver and kidney conditions call for extra caution with Ayurvedic products, what small trials found, and the liver and kidney injury reports to know before using any herb.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Why these three organs need extra care
Reports of liver and kidney injury, and the thyroid's reliance on regularly checked medicine, are why these conditions get their own page. Some Ayurvedic preparations may contain lead, mercury or arsenic in amounts that can be toxic. [1] If someone may have swallowed too much of a product, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 in the US (see Poison Help by country), or 911 in an emergency.Thyroid
The NHS says an underactive thyroid is usually treated with levothyroxine, which you usually take for the rest of your life, with regular blood tests to check the dose. [2] Two kinds of Ayurvedic studies exist:| Study | What it was | What it can show | Evidence label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashwagandha root extract, subclinical hypothyroidism | Pilot, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 50 adults aged 18 to 50, 8 weeks, one hospital in India [3] | Thyroid blood tests improved versus placebo; it was small and short | Promising but limited |
| Whole-system Ayurveda protocol versus a kanchanara guggulu group | 46 people on stable levothyroxine whose control was suboptimal, 60 days [4] | Compared two Ayurvedic arms, so there was no non-Ayurvedic control | Insufficient evidence |
| Review of yoga and Ayurvedic herbs | Narrative review | The authors say evidence remains preliminary and heterogeneous [5] | Insufficient evidence |
Blood-test changes are not the same as feeling better, and a pilot cannot show long-term safety. Because the ashwagandha trial measured changes in thyroid blood tests, tell your clinician if you take it, so your results are read correctly. See ashwagandha in Ayurveda and Ayurvedic herbs with diabetes, thyroid and blood pressure medicines. Do not replace levothyroxine with a herb.
Liver
A 2020 review concluded that recent well-performed observational studies have confirmed the hepatotoxic (liver-damaging) potential of Ayurvedic drugs. [6] It says toxicity can come from the herbs themselves, from herb-herb and herb-drug interactions, from adulteration with prescription medicines, and from contamination due to poor manufacturing. [6] In a published case, a woman who used various Indian Ayurvedic herbal products for 9 months for vitiligo developed severe liver injury, and rapid improvement followed after she stopped. [7]Authenticity matters too. A 2023 review of guduchi (giloy) liver-injury reports notes that other Tinospora species are commonly traded under the same name, and that the botanical authenticity of the products in the case series was not investigated. [8] See giloy in Ayurveda and liver injury from Ayurvedic herbs. General guidance is in liver safety and supplements.
The NHS lists yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), itchy skin and feeling sick among symptoms of advanced liver disease. [9] If you notice these while using a product, see a clinician promptly and bring the product with you.
Kidney
A 2020 review states that more than 100 kinds of herbal medicine are reported to induce kidney toxicity, including some herbs, animal products and minerals. [10] One published case describes nephrotic syndrome possibly due to a gold-salt Ayurvedic product. [11] (Metal-containing preparations are covered on Rasa Shastra and bhasma.)What about positive studies?
| Topic | What the source found | Evidence label |
|---|---|---|
| Kidney stones | A 2008 review of nine Ayurvedic medicines found Phyllanthus niruri the best studied, and said controlled randomized trials were still justified [12] | Preclinical to promising but limited |
| Advanced chronic kidney disease | A 2020 pilot of 52 patients with stage IV or V disease had no control group; its authors call for randomized trials against usual care [13] | Insufficient evidence |
The NHS says larger kidney stones can be very painful and need to be checked urgently. [14] The NHS advises an urgent GP appointment or NHS 111 if you think you have kidney stones and are in severe pain or have a high temperature or feel hot, cold or shivery. [14] Do not treat these signs with herbs.
Before you use anything
- Tell every clinician about every herb.
- Do not stop prescribed medicine.
- Have blood tests as advised, and report any new symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
Can Ayurvedic herbs damage the liver?
Yes, reports exist. A 2020 review says observational studies confirm the hepatotoxic potential of Ayurvedic drugs. [6]
Is ashwagandha safe for thyroid disease?
A pilot trial in subclinical hypothyroidism reported improved thyroid tests, but it was small and 8 weeks long. Tell your clinician if you use it. [3]
Can Ayurveda treat kidney disease?
Evidence is insufficient. The pilot of advanced kidney disease had no control group, and its authors called for randomized trials. [13]
Do Ayurvedic medicines contain metals?
Some do. NCCIH notes some may contain lead, mercury or arsenic in toxic amounts. [1]
Can I use Ayurveda instead of levothyroxine?
No. The NHS says levothyroxine is usually needed for life, and NCCIH advises not postponing conventional care. [2][1]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Proper evidence not found
References
- Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth, NCCIH. Read 2026-10-22.
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism): treatment, NHS. Read 2026-10-22.
- Efficacy and Safety of Ashwagandha Root Extract in Subclinical Hypothyroid Patients. J Altern Complement Med 2018. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Add on effect of Whole System Ayurveda protocol in suboptimal controlled primary hypothyroidism. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2025. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Alternative and Complementary Therapies: Yoga and Ayurveda-based Herbal Medicines in Hypothyroidism. Ann Neurosci 2026. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Comprehensive review of hepatotoxicity associated with traditional Indian Ayurvedic herbs. World J Hepatol 2020. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Severe hepatotoxicity by Indian Ayurvedic herbal products: a structured causality assessment. Ann Hepatol 2009. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Can Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), a well-known ayurvedic hepato-protectant cause liver damage?. J Ayurveda Integr Med 2023. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Liver disease, NHS. Read 2026-10-22.
- Nephrotoxicity of Herbal Medicine and Its Prevention. Front Pharmacol 2020. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Adverse events with ayurvedic medicines: possible adulteration and some inherent toxicities. Wellcome Open Res 2019. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Ayurvedic medicine and renal calculi. J Endourol 2008. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Deceleration of disease progress through Ayurvedic treatment in nondialysis stages IV-V patients with chronic renal failure: a quasi-experimental pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 2020. PubMed record, abstract read 2026-10-22.
- Kidney stones, NHS. Read 2026-10-22.