Drug & supplement interaction

Rooibos + Encorafenib

Encorafenib brand name: Braftovi.

Moderate Interaction
The bottom line Moderate

Rooibos has a moderate interaction with Encorafenib. Theoretically, taking rooibos with CYP3A4 substrates may increase the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.

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

Rooibos and Encorafenib

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

Moderate

CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES

Why this applies to Encorafenib

Encorafenib falls under CYTOCHROME P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) SUBSTRATES — the group Rooibos interacts with.

Theoretically, taking rooibos with CYP3A4 substrates may increase the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that the methanol extract of rooibos leaves and stems strongly inhibits CYP3A4 enzyme activity.
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 for Braftovi (encorafenib): your body relies on a liver enzyme called CYP3A4 to break this medicine down. Lab studies (done in test tubes, not in people) suggest rooibos may slow that enzyme. In theory, if encorafenib clears more slowly, levels could creep up and you might notice more of its usual side effects, things like fatigue, nausea, joint pain, or skin changes. Encorafenib can also affect heart rhythm, so higher levels are something we take seriously.

That said, the evidence here is weak and only theoretical. A cup or two of rooibos tea is very different from concentrated extracts. Since this drug treats cancer, please run any rooibos use, especially supplements, past your oncology team or pharmacist first.

References
  1. Fantoukh OI, Dale OR, Parveen A, et al. Safety Assessment of Phytochemicals Derived from the Globalized South African Rooibos Tea (Aspalathus linearis) through Interaction with CYP, PXR, and P-gp. J Agric Food Chem. 2019;67(17):4967-4975.

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

Rooibos Also Interacts With Other Medications

Rooibos has 878 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Encorafenib one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Rooibos

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

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Encorafenib

This page covers Rooibos only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Encorafenib page lists 151 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), American Hellebore (major), Arsenic (major), Cesium (major) and Ephedra (major).

By severity: 8 major · 104 moderate · 39 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Encorafenib page

“Grapefruit is the first thing I would take off the table for anyone on encorafenib (Braftovi), a targeted cancer medicine, because it blocks the enzyme (CYP3A4) that clears the drug, pushing levels and side effects higher. St.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Encorafenib interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 142 real supplement products containing Rooibos, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Rooibos. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Encorafenib too, on top of Rooibos — 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 Rooibos and Encorafenib 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 Rooibos
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Encorafenib
Steady interest

#1,524 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 Rooibos

What is Rooibos?

Rooibos
  • Caffeine-free beverage
  • Antioxidant support
  • Heart health
  • Blood sugar support
  • Digestive upset
  • General wellness

Rooibos is a caffeine-free herbal tea from South Africa that is rich in antioxidants and generally considered safe as a beverage. While lab and early studies suggest possible benefits for heart health, blood sugar, and inflammation, strong human evidence is lacking for most medical uses. Enjoy it as a tea, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated extracts for health reasons.

Read the full Rooibos monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Encorafenib

What Is Encorafenib Used For?

Brand name: Braftovi

Braftovi is used to treat cancers that have a specific change (mutation) in a gene called BRAF — specifically the V600E or V600K mutation, which must be confirmed by an FDA-authorized test before starting treatment. It is always used in combination with other medicines, never alone as standard therapy.

Braftovi (in combination with binimetinib) treats unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation. For metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, Braftovi is used either with cetuximab and fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, or with cetuximab alone after prior therapy. Braftovi (in combination with binimetinib) also treats metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a BRAF V600E mutation.

See full Encorafenib drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Rooibos

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

0Major
878Moderate
0Minor
1,951No known interaction
Moderate

878 interactions

Showing 60 of 878 moderate interactions — see all 878 on the Rooibos page.

No interaction 1,951 drugs checked — show the list
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

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Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Rooibos and Encorafenib Together: Common Questions

Can you take Rooibos with Encorafenib?
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 Rooibos and Encorafenib 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 Encorafenib and Rooibos?

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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.