Patna: The growing popularity of herbal supplements and “detox” products promoted on social media may be putting people’s liver health at risk, a senior physician has warned, calling for greater public awareness and reliance on evidence-based medical care.
The warning was issued during a World Hepatitis Day awareness programme organised on Tuesday at the clinic of Dr Diwakar Tejaswi on Exhibition Road, Patna, under the banner of Public Awareness for Healthful Approach for Living (PAHAL).
Warning Over Unverified Herbal Products
Addressing the gathering, Dr Diwakar Tejaswi, Medical Director of PAHAL and a senior physician, said social media is increasingly flooded with advertisements promoting products labelled as “herbal”, “detox”, “immunity booster” and other alternative remedies without adequate scientific evidence, quality testing or standardisation.
He cautioned that the indiscriminate consumption of such products could seriously affect vital organs, particularly the liver and kidneys.
Dr Tejaswi referred to international scientific studies published after the Covid-19 pandemic, which, he said, reported a rise in cases of Herb-Induced Liver Injury (HILI) among people who consumed herbal preparations and plant extracts without medical supervision.
According to him, some patients developed severe liver inflammation, fibrosis and, in extreme cases, liver failure.
Hepatitis B And C Remain Major Threats
Dr Tejaswi also highlighted that Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C continue to be among the leading causes of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer.
He stressed that both conditions can often be prevented or managed through timely screening, Hepatitis B vaccination, a healthy lifestyle and appropriate medical treatment.
Advice To The Public
The physician urged people not to rely on health claims circulated on social media when choosing medicines, supplements or herbal products.
Instead, he advised the public to take any medication or supplement only after consulting a qualified medical practitioner.
Dr Tejaswi also recommended maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol and undergoing periodic health check-ups as key measures to protect liver health.
The awareness programme was organised to mark World Hepatitis Day, which is observed annually to promote awareness of viral hepatitis, encourage early diagnosis and improve access to prevention and treatment.
