Drug & supplement interaction

European Barberry + Aspirin

Aspirin brand names: Children's Aspirin, Easprin, Ecotrin, ASA, Asaphen, and others.

Moderate Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated October 2026
The bottom line Moderate

European Barberry has a moderate interaction with Aspirin. Theoretically, European barberry may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.

Read the full interaction report
SeverityModerate
LikelihoodPossible
EvidenceD
What do Severity, Likelihood & Evidence mean?
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Interaction report

European Barberry and Aspirin

Here is the interaction we found between these two, with the evidence behind it.

Moderate

ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS

Why this applies to Aspirin

Aspirin falls under ANTICOAGULANT/ANTIPLATELET DRUGS — the group European Barberry interacts with.

Theoretically, European barberry may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro and animal evidence suggest that berberine, a constituent of European barberry, might inhibit platelet aggregation. Theoretically, European barberry might have a similar effect.
Severity Moderate Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Interaction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.

Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Dr. Brian Staiger explains PharmD, Clinical Pharmacist

Here's the gist: aspirin already works by making your platelets less sticky, so your blood clots more slowly. That's exactly why it helps prevent heart attacks and strokes, but it's also why aspirin can cause bruising, nosebleeds, or stomach bleeding. European barberry contains berberine, and in lab dishes and animal studies berberine seemed to slow platelet clumping too. Put the two together and, in theory, you could nudge that bleeding risk a little higher.

Keep this in perspective. This concern is only theoretical, based on test-tube and animal data, not real patient studies. It's not a reason to panic. Still, before you add a concentrated barberry or berberine supplement, check with your pharmacist or doctor, especially if you take aspirin daily.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Kostalova, D., Bukovsky, M., Koscova, H., and Kardosova, A. [Anticomplement activity of Mahonia aquifolium bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids and berberine extract]. Ceska.Slov.Farm 2001;50(6):286-289.
  2. Wu, J. F. and Liu, T. P. [Effects of berberine on platelet aggregation and plasma levels of TXB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in rats with reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion]. Yao Xue.Xue.Bao. 1995;30(2):98-102.
  3. Xuan, B., Wang, W., and Li, D. X. Inhibitory effect of tetrahydroberberine on platelet aggregation and thrombosis. Zhongguo Yao Li Xue.Bao. 1994;15(2):133-135.
  4. Tripathi YB and Shukla SD. Berberis artistata inhibits PAF induced aggregation of rabbit platelets. Phytotherapy Research 1996;10:628-630.

What These Ratings Mean

Every interaction above is graded three ways — here’s the key to each label.

Severity how clinically significant the interaction is
Major

Clinically significant. Avoid the combination, or use only under close professional supervision.

Moderate

Usually worth avoiding or managing — may need monitoring, a dose change, or timing apart.

Minor

Generally not serious. Be aware of it and mention it to your pharmacist.

Likelihood how strong the evidence is that the interaction actually happens in people
  • LikelyWell-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction.
  • ProbableInteraction has not been documented in well-controlled studies, however, the interaction has been demonstrated in some small human studies or in controlled animal studies in conjunction with multiple case reports.
  • PossibleInteraction has been documented in animal or in lab research, or the interaction has been documented in humans but is limited to case reports or conflicting clinical research exists.
  • UnlikelyInteraction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.
Evidence the quality of the studies behind the rating (graded A–D)
  • AHigh-quality meta-analysis (quantitative systematic review).
  • BCase-control study.
  • CConsensus.
  • DAnecdotal evidence.

These ratings are for information only. Never start, stop, or otherwise change your therapy before speaking with your provider.

Keep it in perspective

European Barberry Also Interacts With Other Medications

European Barberry has 1,211 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Aspirin one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 1,211 No known interaction 1,619 (incl. Aspirin)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against European Barberry

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against European Barberry. Pick one to open its full report.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Aspirin

This page covers European Barberry only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Aspirin page lists 242 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Asarabacca (major), Beer (major), Danshen (major) and Piracetam (major).

By severity: 7 major · 206 moderate · 29 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Aspirin page

“Aspirin thins the blood on purpose, and most of the 242 supplements and herbs on this page push that same effect further, so genuine care is warranted here rather than a shrug. Just over 200 of the entries can add to aspirin's antiplatelet action and raise the odds of bruising or bleeding, particularly in the stomach.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Aspirin interaction page

One more smart check

Taking European Barberry as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 2 real supplement products containing European Barberry, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides European Barberry. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Aspirin too, on top of European Barberry — and those would not show on this page. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where European Barberry and Aspirin Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement European Barberry
Top 25%

#296 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Aspirin
Top 1%

#16 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Supplement

About European Barberry

What is European Barberry?

European Barberry
  • Digestive upset
  • Antimicrobial support
  • Blood sugar support
  • Cholesterol and metabolic support
  • Skin conditions

European barberry is a shrub whose root, bark, and berries contain berberine, a bitter plant alkaloid that has been studied mostly in isolated form. Some early research on berberine is promising for blood sugar and cholesterol, but high-quality evidence for the whole barberry herb is limited. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full European Barberry monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Aspirin Rectal

What Is Aspirin Rectal Used For?

Brand names: Children's Aspirin, Easprin, Ecotrin, ASA, Asaphen, Aspirin, Gencardia, Micropirin, Angettes 75, Caprin, Nu-Seals Aspirin, Resprin, Durlaza, Cartia

  • Aspirin rectal is used to reduce fever and to relieve mild to moderate pain from headaches, menstrual periods, arthritis, toothaches, and muscle aches. Aspirin is in a group of medications called salicylates. It works by stopping the production of certain natural substances that cause fever, pain, swelling, and blood clots.

See full Aspirin Rectal drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & European Barberry

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against European Barberry — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
1,211Moderate
0Minor
1,618No known interaction
1,211 Moderate 1,618 No interaction
Moderate

1,211 interactions

Showing 60 of 1,211 moderate interactions — see all 1,211 on the European Barberry page.

No interaction 1,618 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked European Barberry against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 1,618 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full European Barberry list.

See the full European Barberry interactions page
See every supplement checked against Aspirin, ranked by severity
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Interaction details are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database. The medication overview comes from MedlinePlus.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

Keep exploring
European Barberry monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Aspirin supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Aspirin, ranked by severity Aspirin Rectal drug information › The full plain-English guide to this medication Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking European Barberry and Aspirin Together: Common Questions

Can you take European Barberry with Aspirin?
There is a moderate interaction, so it may be acceptable with monitoring or timing changes — but check with your pharmacist first. Read the full details on this page and confirm with your pharmacist before combining them.
How serious is the European Barberry and Aspirin interaction?
We rate it Moderate. This combination may require monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one. Consult your pharmacist before using them together.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Aspirin and European Barberry?

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.