Drug & supplement interaction

Mugwort + Interferon Alfa-2b

Interferon Alfa-2b brand names: Rebetron, Intron A, Viraferon.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Mugwort and Interferon Alfa-2b in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first.

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Interaction report

Mugwort and Interferon Alfa-2b

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Interferon Alfa-2b and Mugwort in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

Worth understanding: our licensed dataset holds no drug-interaction record for Mugwort at all — not against Interferon Alfa-2b, and not against any other medication we track. This verdict therefore rests on the absence of any recorded data, not on research that looked at this combination and found nothing. We cannot rule an interaction out.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Mugwort safety at a glance

Mugwort overall Use caution May cause allergic reactions, especially in people sensitive to ragweed and related plants.
Pregnancy Likely Unsafe When used orally. Mugwort is said to be an abortifacient and a menstrual and uterine stimulant. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Avoid Not enough safety information is available, so it is best avoided while breastfeeding.

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Interferon Alfa-2b and Mugwort? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Mugwort Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Interferon Alfa-2b. It is the side-effect record for Mugwort on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Mugwort, this list is the first place to look. 2 entries are worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Mania or an unusually elevated mood Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Orally, mania has been reported in a 49-year-old male following the intake of 1 liter of an infusion thought to contain mugwort. The presence of thujone in the patient's serum and urine was confirmed, and thujone poisoning was considered to be the cause of these symptoms. Although thujone levels are normally low in mugwort, concentrations can be variable.”

    Mugwort · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in poisoning.

    1 source cited
    1. 101053. Di Lorenzo C, Ferretti F, Moro E, et al. Identification and quantification of thujone in a case of poisoning due to repeated ingestion of an infusion of Artemisia vulgaris L. J Food Sci. 2018;83(8):2257-2264.
  • Wheezing / A severe allergic reaction Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Allergy to mugwort pollen has been reported when taken orally or inhaled. Symptoms have included asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis, rash, and anaphylaxis.”

    Mugwort · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

    4 sources cited
    1. 101049. Borghesan F, Mistrello G, Amato S, Giuffrida MG, Villalta D, Asero R. Mugwort-fennel-allergy-syndrome associated with sensitization to an allergen homologous to Api g 5. Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;45(4):130-7.
    2. 101050. Kim SH, Lee SM, Park HW, et al. Chinese bellflower root anaphylaxis: IgE-binding components and cross-reactivity with mugwort and birch. Korean J Intern Med. 2009;24(3):279-82. PubMed
    3. 101051. Silva R, Lopes C, Castro E, et al. Anaphylaxis to mango fruit and crossreactivity with Artemisia vulgaris pollen. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2009;19(5):420-2.
    4. 101052. Rodrigues-Alves R, Pregal A, Pereira-Santos MC, et al. Anaphylaxis to pine nut: cross-reactivity to Artemisia vulgaris? Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2008;36(2):113-6. PubMed
  • A stuffy or runny nose / A skin rash Additional detail

    Recorded for Mugwort in the same Natural Medicines adverse-effect record shown under Wheezing / A severe allergic reaction above.

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Mugwort — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Interferon Alfa-2b to its FDA label in our system yet, so we can’t compare its own side-effect list here — the leaflet that comes with your prescription is the authoritative list for Interferon Alfa-2b.

Special populations

Mugwort in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy Likely Unsafe

When used orally. Mugwort is said to be an abortifacient and a menstrual and uterine stimulant.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Interferon Alfa-2b

This page covers Mugwort only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Interferon Alfa-2b page lists 57 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major), Alfalfa (moderate) and Angelica Archangelica (moderate).

By severity: 3 major · 53 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Interferon Alfa-2b page

“People taking interferon alfa-2b (Intron A, Rebetron) are usually treating hepatitis or a cancer, so the liver may already be under strain, and that is exactly where most of this list points. Of the 57 supplements on file, 38 can add to liver stress, and all three major-rated interactions sit in that group: Siberian cocklebur, which ha…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Interferon Alfa-2b interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 87 real supplement products containing Mugwort, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Mugwort. Even though Mugwort itself has no known interaction with Interferon Alfa-2b, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Mugwort and Interferon Alfa-2b 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 Mugwort
Steady interest

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

29 days ago today
Medication Interferon Alfa-2b
Steady interest

#2,433 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.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Mugwort reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Mugwort and Interferon Alfa-2b records this page draws on were last updated July 11, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Mugwort

What is Mugwort?

Mugwort
  • Digestive upset and poor appetite
  • Menstrual discomfort
  • Sleep support and vivid dreaming
  • Used in moxibustion (traditional Chinese medicine)
  • Mild anxiety or relaxation

Mugwort is a traditional herb used for digestion, menstrual issues, and sleep, but there is very little high-quality human research to confirm these uses. It is closely related to ragweed and can trigger allergic reactions, and it should be avoided in pregnancy. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Artemisia vulgaris · Asteraceae · Leaves, flowering tops, and root; sometimes essential oil · Tea, capsules, tincture, dried herb, essential oil, and moxa (used in moxibustion)

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Mugwort is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Mugwort record says about it on its own.

Mugwort: dosing

There is no well-established, standardized dose for mugwort. The amount in teas, capsules, and tinctures varies a lot between products.If you choose to use mugwort, follow the directions on the product label and do not exceed them. Avoid swallowing the concentrated essential oil.

From our Mugwort monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Mugwort monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Interferon Alfa-2b Injection

What Is Interferon Alfa-2b Injection Used For?

Brand names: Rebetron, Intron A, Viraferon

  • Interferon alfa-2b injection is used to treat a number of conditions.

  • Interferon alfa-2b injection is used

    • alone or in combination with ribavirin (Copegus, Rebetol, Ribasphere) to treat chronic (long-term) hepatitis C infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,

    • to treat chronic hepatitis B infection (swelling of the liver caused by a virus) in people who show signs of liver damage,

    • to treat hairy cell leukemia (a white blood cell cancer),

    • to treat genital warts,

    • to treat Kaposi's sarcoma (a type of cancer that causes abnormal tissue to grow on different parts of the body) related to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS),

    • to treat malignant melanoma (a cancer that begins in certain skin cells) in certain people who have had surgery to remove the cancer,

    • along with another medication to treat follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; a slow-growing blood cancer).

  • Interferon alfa-2b is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. Interferon alfa-2b works to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) by decreasing the amount virus in the body. Interferon alfa-2b may not cure hepatitis B or hepatitis C or prevent you from developing complications from these infections such as cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver failure, or liver cancer. It also may not prevent the spread of hepatitis B or C to other people. It is not known exactly how interferon alfa-2b works to treat cancer or genital warts.

See full Interferon Alfa-2b Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Mugwort

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

0Major
0Moderate
0Minor
2,829No known interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Mugwort References

The 7 references that drive our Mugwort monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Borghesan F, Mistrello G, Amato S, Giuffrida MG, Villalta D, Asero R. Mugwort-fennel-allergy-syndrome associated with sensitization to an allergen homologous to Api g 5. Eur Ann Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;45(4):130-7.
  4. Kim SH, Lee SM, Park HW, et al. Chinese bellflower root anaphylaxis: IgE-binding components and cross-reactivity with mugwort and birch. Korean J Intern Med. 2009;24(3):279-82. PubMed
  5. Silva R, Lopes C, Castro E, et al. Anaphylaxis to mango fruit and crossreactivity with Artemisia vulgaris pollen. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol. 2009;19(5):420-2.
  6. Rodrigues-Alves R, Pregal A, Pereira-Santos MC, et al. Anaphylaxis to pine nut: cross-reactivity to Artemisia vulgaris? Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2008;36(2):113-6. PubMed
  7. Di Lorenzo C, Ferretti F, Moro E, et al. Identification and quantification of thujone in a case of poisoning due to repeated ingestion of an infusion of Artemisia vulgaris L. J Food Sci. 2018;83(8):2257-2264.

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Mugwort and Interferon Alfa-2b Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Mugwort with Interferon Alfa-2b?
We do not list a known interaction between Mugwort and Interferon Alfa-2b. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Does Interferon Alfa-2b interact with any supplements?
Yes. Interferon Alfa-2b has documented interactions with 57 supplements in our database — Mugwort is not one of them. The Interferon Alfa-2b interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Still Have a Question About Interferon Alfa-2b and Mugwort?

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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.