Weeks after criticising Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s post on hydrogen peroxide nebulisation, Dr Cyriac AB Phillips, better known as the Liver Doctor on X, has slammed actress Nayanthara for claiming that drinking hibiscus tea helps with “diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and cardiac ailments”.

The post has now been removed from the actor’s social media. Dr Phillips, who is known for his outspoken stance on Ayurvedic claims about health and debunking online misinformation, termed Nayanthara’s statements about hibiscus tea as “complete nonsense, bordering on hypocrisy”.

He pointed out that none of the health benefits mentioned by Nayanthara have been scientifically proven. He clarified that the specific variety of hibiscus mentioned, Hibiscus sabdariffa, has no proven health benefits, while the potential benefits of Hibiscus macranthus for men are limited and poorly studied.

“It would have been fine if she had just said that hibiscus tea tastes delicious. But no, she has to go ahead and beat the drum of health illiteracy and also claim that hibiscus tea helps with diabetes, high blood pressure, acne, is antibacterial and prevents flu. Well, none of the above claims have been proven,” he wrote.

The Kerala-based hepatologist also raised doubts about Nayanthara’s nutritionist Munmun Ganeriwal, who on her official website described herself as the world’s only gut microbiome expert blending Ayurveda and modern science.

Dr. Phillips reiterated in his post that one should be “very careful when drinking hibiscus tea every day.”

Here is Nayanthara’s deleted post.

She posted scientific studies about the claims of hibiscus tea made by Nayanthara in the deleted post, about lowering blood pressure, which was “false”, and how “there are no studies” that prove it prevents acne, has antibacterial properties or prevents seasonal infections.

“One concern is that testicular damage in males is possible, which is quite possible in animals at 200 mg/kg or more (= 2.2 g dried flower in a 68 kg human) but has not been investigated in humans,” Dr. Phillips wrote.

Underlining his point about the widely sold tea, hibiscus tea, the expert said, “So men and women in the reproductive age group, please do not consume hibiscus tea regularly, as there is not enough evidence about its safety. It is better to be safe than sorry.”

He also criticised Nayanthara for citing Ayurveda as the basis for making these claims. He wrote, “Ayurveda is pseudoscientific nonsense and the theory of “hot and cold” foods is an absurd and unscientific theory on diet and nutrition.”

After Nayanthara’s post was deleted, Dr. Phillips said, “The post has been deleted. But no apology. No accountability. This is like a surgical strike on public health. There is a need for legislation to prevent such behaviour by the celebrity community and registered practitioners (non-AYUSH) need to be empowered and supported to provide evidence-based scientific education to improve public health options.”

Dr. Phillips has previously clashed with actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who promoted hydrogen peroxide nebulization as an “alternative” medicine for treating colds and flu. He strongly criticized her and the doctors she quoted for spreading scientific misinformation to the public.