Drug & supplement interaction

Oak Moss + Imiquimod

Imiquimod brand names: Aldara, Zyclara, Vyloma.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Oak Moss and Imiquimod 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. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Oak Moss and Imiquimod

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 Imiquimod and Oak Moss 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 Oak Moss at all — not against Imiquimod, 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.

Oak Moss safety at a glance

Oak Moss overall Use caution Oak moss is a recognized skin allergen and is not well studied as an oral supplement.
Pregnancy Possibly Unsafe When used orally. The constituent thujone shows evidence of uterine stimulant activity. Read the full pregnancy detail
Breastfeeding Possibly Unsafe When used orally. The constituent thujone shows evidence of uterine stimulant activity. Read the full breastfeeding detail

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 Imiquimod and Oak Moss? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Oak Moss and Imiquimod May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Tiredness Additional detail

    Oak Moss

    “Orally, usnic acid, a constituent of oak moss, has been associated with reports of hepatotoxicity. From July to December 2000 there were at least seven cases of acute hepatotoxicity in patients taking LipoKinetix, a product containing usnic acid as sodium usniate.”

    Oak Moss · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in fatigue.

    6 sources cited
    1. 7091. Favreau JT, Ryu Ml, Braunstein G, et al. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with the dietary supplement LipoKinetix. Ann Intern Med 2002;136:590-5. PubMed
    2. 81595. Durazo, F. A., Lassman, C., Han, S. H., Saab, S., Lee, N. P., Kawano, M., Saggi, B., Gordon, S., Farmer, D. G., Yersiz, H., Goldstein, R. L., Ghobrial, M., and Busuttil, R. W. Fulminant liver failure due to usnic acid for weight loss. Am.J Gastroenterol. PubMed
    3. 81600. Neff, G. W., Reddy, K. R., Durazo, F. A., Meyer, D., Marrero, R., and Kaplowitz, N. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with the use of weight loss diet supplements containing ma huang or usnic acid. J Hepatol. 2004;41(6):1062-1064. PubMed
    4. 81607. Hsu, L. M., Huang, Y. S., Chang, F. Y., and Lee, S. D. 'Fat burner' herb, usnic Acid, induced acute hepatitis in a family. J Gastroenterol.Hepatol. 2005;20(7):1138-1139. PubMed
    5. 81612. Arneborn, P., Jansson, A., and Bottiger, Y. [Acute hepatitis in a woman after intake of slimming pills bought via Internet]. Lakartidningen 7-11-2005;102(28-29):2071-2072.
    6. 81619. Sanchez, W., Maple, J. T., Burgart, L. J., and Kamath, P. S. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with use of a dietary supplement containing usnic acid. Mayo Clin Proc 2006;81(4):541-544. PubMed

    Imiquimod

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Imiquimod. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Dizziness Additional detail

    Oak Moss

    “Orally, large amounts or long-term use of thujone-containing products, such as oak moss, may cause convulsions, restlessness, tremors, and vertigo (12).”

    Oak Moss · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in vertigo.

    1 source cited
    1. 12. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.

    Imiquimod

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Imiquimod. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Oak Moss but not commonly for Imiquimod: yellowing of the skin or eyes, an allergic reaction, stomach pain and liver problems.

Effects for Imiquimod come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Oak Moss come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Oak Moss in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally. The constituent thujone shows evidence of uterine stimulant activity.

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 Imiquimod

This page covers Oak Moss only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Imiquimod page lists 3 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Dimethylsulfoxide (dmso) (moderate), Turpentine Oil (moderate) and Alchemilla (minor).

By severity: 2 moderate · 1 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Imiquimod page

“Imiquimod (Aldara, Zyclara, Vyloma) is a cream for warts, precancerous spots, and certain skin cancers, and its supplement list is short and workable for most people. Only 3 ingredients are on file, none rated major, and all involve products applied to the skin rather than swallowed.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Imiquimod interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Oak Moss and Imiquimod 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 Oak Moss
Steady interest

#1,031 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Imiquimod
Steady interest

#1,982 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 Oak Moss reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Oak Moss and Imiquimod records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 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 Oak Moss

What is Oak Moss?

Oak Moss
  • Perfume base note and scent fixative
  • Aromatherapy and fragrance
  • Traditional antimicrobial use
  • Soaps and cosmetics fragrance

Oak moss is a lichen that grows on oak and other trees and is best known as a perfume ingredient prized for its earthy, woody scent. There is very little human evidence to support taking it for any health condition, and it is a well-known skin allergen, so it is mainly used externally in fragrances rather than as a dietary supplement.

Evernia prunastri · Parmeliaceae · Whole lichen (thallus) and its extract/absolute · Essential oil, absolute, extract, fragrance ingredient; occasionally tinctures

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

Oak Moss: dosing

There is no established safe or effective oral dose for oak moss. It is not a standard dietary supplement, and reliable dosing information from human studies does not exist.If you come across an oak moss product, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed them. Given the lack of safety data, oral use is generally not recommended.

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

Read the full Oak Moss monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Imiquimod Topical

What Is Imiquimod Topical Used For?

Brand names: Aldara, Zyclara, Vyloma

Imiquimod cream is used to treat three skin conditions in adults: actinic keratoses (rough, scaly patches on the skin caused by sun damage) on the face or scalp; superficial basal cell carcinoma (a type of skin cancer) on the trunk, neck, or limbs when surgery is not the best option; and external genital and perianal warts (condyloma acuminata) in patients 12 years and older.

It is not effective for molluscum contagiosum in children ages 2–12, and it has not been proven safe or effective in people with weakened immune systems. It should not be used for warts inside the urethra, vagina, cervix, rectum, or anal canal.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Imiquimod

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (0 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Erythema 183 reports
Fatigue 179 reports
Nausea 114 reports
Influenza like illness 102 reports
Application site erythema 100 reports
See full Imiquimod Topical drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Oak Moss

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Oak Moss — 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

Oak Moss References

The 16 references that drive our Oak Moss 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. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. Dahlquist I, Fregert S. Contact allergy to atranorin in lichens and perfumes. Contact Dermatitis 1980;6:111-9. PubMed
  4. Goncalo S. Contact sensitivity to lichens and compositae in Frullania dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 1987;16:84-6. PubMed
  5. Goncalo S, Cabral F, Goncalo M. Contact sensitivity to oak moss. Contact Dermatitis 1988;19:355-7. PubMed
  6. Thune P, Solberg Y, McFadden N, et al. Perfume allergy due to oak moss and other lichens. Contact Dermatitis 1982;8:396-400. PubMed
  7. Favreau JT, Ryu Ml, Braunstein G, et al. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with the dietary supplement LipoKinetix. Ann Intern Med 2002;136:590-5. PubMed
  8. Ingolfsdottir K. Usnic acid. Phytochemistry 2002;61:729-36.
  9. Mitchell, J. C. Allergy to lichens. Allergic contact dermatitis from usnic acid produced by lichenized fungi. Arch Dermatol 1965;92(2):142-146.
  10. Durazo, F. A., Lassman, C., Han, S. H., Saab, S., Lee, N. P., Kawano, M., Saggi, B., Gordon, S., Farmer, D. G., Yersiz, H., Goldstein, R. L., Ghobrial, M., and Busuttil, R. W. Fulminant liver failure due to usnic acid for weight loss. Am.J Gastroenterol. PubMed
  11. Neff, G. W., Reddy, K. R., Durazo, F. A., Meyer, D., Marrero, R., and Kaplowitz, N. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with the use of weight loss diet supplements containing ma huang or usnic acid. J Hepatol. 2004;41(6):1062-1064. PubMed
  12. Hsu, L. M., Huang, Y. S., Chang, F. Y., and Lee, S. D. 'Fat burner' herb, usnic Acid, induced acute hepatitis in a family. J Gastroenterol.Hepatol. 2005;20(7):1138-1139. PubMed
  13. Arneborn, P., Jansson, A., and Bottiger, Y. [Acute hepatitis in a woman after intake of slimming pills bought via Internet]. Lakartidningen 7-11-2005;102(28-29):2071-2072.
  14. Sanchez, W., Maple, J. T., Burgart, L. J., and Kamath, P. S. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with use of a dietary supplement containing usnic acid. Mayo Clin Proc 2006;81(4):541-544. PubMed
  15. Rafanelli, S., Bacchilega, R., Stanganelli, I., and Rafanelli, A. Contact dermatitis from usnic acid in vaginal ovules. Contact Dermatitis 1995;33(4):271-272. PubMed

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 Oak Moss and Imiquimod Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Oak Moss with Imiquimod?
We do not list a known interaction between Oak Moss and Imiquimod. 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.
Do Oak Moss and Imiquimod have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 2 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
Does Imiquimod interact with any supplements?
Yes. Imiquimod has documented interactions with 3 supplements in our database — Oak Moss is not one of them. The Imiquimod 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 Imiquimod and Oak Moss?

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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.