A HEARTBROKEN husband has told how his “fit and healthy” wife has been left brain-damaged after taking a £5 herbal supplement popular with women in menopause.

Lois Kinder, 44, who took the gummy vitamins for a year, was put in a coma, needed a and almost died three times last month – and is still not out of the woods.

Lois Kinder smiling and holding a cocktail.Lois Kinder, 44, took the gummy vitamins for a year Credit: SWNS Lois Kinder, 44, smiling and holding a cocktail.The mum-of-two almost died three times last month and is still not out of the woods Credit: SWNS

The mum-of-two promoted the supplement on and was given supplies to sell from well-known companies based in the UK, America, and India.

But last month, Lois, from Lymm, in Warrington, Cheshire, noticed her eyes and skin had turned yellow, a .

Three days later, on July 13, her daughter Imogen, 19, found her unresponsive on their settee in their living room.

Her family were repeatedly told to prepare for the worst by medics.

Now, Lois’ husband Ollie has been told that life is going to be very different for Lois and that she will be disabled in “some shape or form”.

Ollie, 44, said: “The thought of losing my wife, and for our children, Imogen and Jacob, losing their mum at just 44 years old, was unbearable.

“Watching the person you love fight for their life is something no family can ever prepare for.

“When the doctors ran tests, one of the first things they asked us was if she was taking pills containing ashwagandha, which they later said they believed had caused the liver problems.

“I want to spread awareness and warn people that even if you think the supplement you are taking is safe, there can still be serious consequences.”

Ollie claims that doctors told him they believe Lois’ liver failure was caused by .

Ashwagandha is an Asian herbal supplement that’s sold on UK high streets for as little as £5.

It comes in many forms, from liquid drops to tablets and gummies.

Lois Kinder with her partner and two children.Lois Kinder, pictured with husband Ollie and children, Jacob and Imogen Credit: SWNS Lois Kinder with her partner and two children.Ashwagandha is an Asian herbal supplement that’s sold on UK high streets for as little as £5 Credit: SWNS

Its purportedly helps with mental health, stress and .

The pills are often , promising them to help with sleep issues and mood swings.

On social media, it is also purported by to reduce feelings of stress, boost focus and cognitive performance and even help with muscle strength.

Small studies have suggested that it could improve physical performance and reaction time.

Influencers promote and sell it directly through the app’s built-in shop – TikTok Shop.

These creators review the supplement, offer discount links, and earn a commission on every sale, often after receiving the product for free from brands looking for viral exposure.

Yet, research also shows that ashwagandha is unknowingly in otherwise healthy people.

US research last year found that there had been more than 70 reports in scientific literature of ashwagandha causing liver injury — anything from a mild injury to prolonged jaundice, or even cases of acute liver failure that require a liver transplant.

Most of the cases of severe liver injury have been in people who have underlying chronic liver disease.

But, doctors also reported seeing elevated liver function tests in healthy patients who just happen to be taking this as a supplement.

Experts say people may be at risk of ashwagandha side effects because it it impossible to know exactly what dose they’re taking.

Professor Ashwin Dhanda, a professor of liver medicine at the University of Plymouth, told Sun Health: “While liver damage due to ashwagandha is rare, it can be very serious and potentially life threatening.

“I have personally been involved in managing two patients with severe liver damage due to ashwagandha over the last two years.

“They were both very unwell, required more than a week in hospital, and underwent a host of investigations including a liver biopsy.

“They took several months to recover from the liver damage, jaundice and to regain the weight they lost during their illness.

“In the UK, ashwagandha is considered a dietary supplement and is therefore unregulated by the MHRA.

Lois Kinder smiling with a man.Lois had been taking and selling ashwagandha-based products for around a year Credit: SWNS

HOW TO TAKE SUPPLEMENTS SAFELY

Diet first: Prioritise getting nutrients from a balanced diet, as supplements cannot replace all the benefits of whole foods, such as fibre.

Avoid high doses: Taking more than the recommended dose can be harmful. For example, high doses of vitamin C can cause diarrhea and stomach pain, and high doses of vitamin A over a long period may affect bone health.

Consider specific needs: Supplements are sometimes necessary for specific groups, such as those at risk of vitamin D deficiency or pregnant women who should take folic acid. A doctor can determine if a supplement is needed and prescribe it accordingly.

Be aware of interactions: High-dose supplements can interfere with how the body absorbs other nutrients. They can also interact with certain medications, such as warfarin.

Check the product: Many supplements are classified as food products, not medicines, and may not have undergone the same strict quality and safety checks. Ensure you buy from reputable sources like pharmacies or supermarkets.

Consult a professional: Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new supplements, especially if you have health conditions, are pregnant, or are taking other medicines.

“The dose and purity are not monitored and these can vary between manufacturers and batches.”

While he noted that there “may be some positive effects” of ashwagandha, there are still “very few high quality clinical trials in humans to support its use”, he added.

Lois’ family have chosen not to reveal which brand Lois took.

She worked as a TikTok affiliate and had been taking and selling ashwagandha-based products for around a year.

Ollie, an airline cabin crew manager, said there was “no end” to pills containing the herb she would be sent by companies to sell on the social media platform.

She drank a and ingested two gummies that claimed to contain ashwagandha every day to “promote her overall wellbeing”.

Ollie said: “She would always say after taking them she felt better and was more relaxed.”

In early July 2026, Ollie said his wife had visited her thinking she had a stomach bug after being sick and noticing , including her eyes and skin turning yellow.

According to the dad, the doctor said he wasn’t “unduly worried” and ordered a blood test and a liver scan.

But on July 13, Imogen noticed that Lois hadn’t woken up her brother Jacob, 15, for school. It’s then that she found her collapsed in the living room.

Imogen said: “The paramedics managed to wake her up, but she was confused and couldn’t recognise me or my brother.”

She was then blue-lighted to the Warrington Hospital, and within hours, tests found her liver was failing.

Doctors placed her into an induced coma and, just three days later, transferred her to the specialist Liver Intensive Care Unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

It is one of only a handful of centres in the UK able to perform emergency liver transplants.

The mum was immediately placed on the urgent transplant list.

After several liver offers that were unfortunately unsuitable, on July 22, a donor liver finally became available.

Lois Kinder and her two children seated at an outdoor table.Lois was immediately placed on the urgent transplant list Credit: SWNS Lois Kinder, 44, smiling while sitting at a table with glasses and plates.She has been able to recognise her family, say a couple of words and has started to give signs such as the odd twitch of her finger or toe Credit: SWNS

The family hoped this would be the moment everything began to get better, but it was only the start of an “unimaginable battle”.

During the transplant operation, Lois suffered three cardiac arrests caused by a blood clot blocking the main artery to her lungs.

But against the odds, Lois survived and woke from her coma after a month on August 13.

Ollie says: “The number of times we have been told we are going to lose her and then she just defies the odds.

“Doctors thought she was brain-dead and put a do-not-resuscitate order on her.

“The days that followed were filled with fear, uncertainty and heartbreak.

“But by some miracle, she woke up.

“Doctors brought in a retired neurological specialist to figure out why she is awake as scans showed otherwise – but they can’t give any answers.”

She has been able to recognise her family, say a couple of words and has started to give signs such as the odd twitch of her finger or toe.

However, the complications she suffered have left her with significant brain damage, and she remains in critical care undergoing intensive neurological rehabilitation every day.

Ollie visits his wife at Queen Elizabeth Hospital every day.

He says: “The medical team caring for Lois have told us that her case is so rare and medically complex that they intend to publish it as a case study in medical journals to help healthcare professionals around the world learn from the extraordinary challenges they faced while saving her life.”

At this stage, it is believed that ashwagandha is the “main cause” of Lois’ liver failure, although this is still being investigated.

“We don’t know if she will walk again, regain full use of her body, or what level of care she will need in the future,” Ollie says.

“What we do know is that Lois has already shown incredible strength, and we will continue to fight alongside her every step of the way.”

The family is currently crowdfunding to buy a house and adapt it for Lois.

Lois and her family live in a rental property which they have recently been given notice on due to the landlord wanting to sell it.

To date, they have raised £10,300 on their GoFundMe page .

Ollie said: “If you are able to donate, no matter how big or small, you will be helping to give my wife the opportunity to rebuild her life and helping our family face the future together.

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your kindness, generosity and support.”

TikTok has been approached for comment by Sun Health.