Drug & supplement interaction

Thuja + Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone brand names: Cortef, Hydrocortone, Carmol HC cream, Hydrocortisone Iodoquinol Cream, Vytone Cream, and others.

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

Thuja has a moderate interaction with Hydrocortisone. Thuja might stimulate immune function. Theoretically, taking thuja might decrease the effects of immunosuppressive therapy.

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

Thuja and Hydrocortisone

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

Moderate

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS

Why this applies to Hydrocortisone

Hydrocortisone falls under IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS — the group Thuja interacts with.

Thuja might stimulate immune function. Theoretically, taking thuja might decrease the effects of immunosuppressive therapy. Immunosuppressant drugs include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), and other corticosteroids (glucocorticoids).
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 idea behind this pairing. One reason people take hydrocortisone is to calm down an overactive immune system, whether that's for severe allergies, lupus, or certain inflammatory conditions. Thuja, on the other hand, is thought to nudge the immune system in the opposite direction and stir it up a bit. So in theory, thuja could work against what your hydrocortisone is trying to do, making it a little less effective at controlling your symptoms.

I want to be honest with you though: this is a theoretical concern based on how these things behave in lab settings, not from real patient studies. It's not about side effects so much as your medication possibly not working as well. The undiluted oil also contains thujone, which can be toxic, so I'd skip it and check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding any thuja product.

Contact Dr. Brian directly if you have additional questions on this interaction
References
  1. Gohla SH, Haubeck HD, Neth RD. Mitogenic activity of high molecular polysaccharide fractions isolated from the Cupressaceae Thuja occidentale L. I. Macrophage-dependent induction of CD-4-positive T-helper (Th+) lymphocytes. Leukemia 1988;2:528-33.

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

Thuja Also Interacts With Other Medications

Thuja has 575 moderate known drug interactions in our database — the Hydrocortisone one above is one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Moderate 575 No known interaction 2,255 (incl. Hydrocortisone)
Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Thuja

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

From our Q&A

Questions About Thuja or Hydrocortisone

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Thuja or Hydrocortisone, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Hydrocortisone

This page covers Thuja only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Hydrocortisone page lists 205 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Grapefruit (major), Lily-of-the-valley (major), St. John's Wort (major) and Acacia Rigidula (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 164 moderate · 37 minor.

Open the Hydrocortisone interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 84 real supplement products containing Thuja, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Thuja. Your product may carry other ingredients that interact with Hydrocortisone too, on top of Thuja — 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 Thuja and Hydrocortisone 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 Thuja
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Hydrocortisone
Top 25%

#469 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 Thuja

What is Thuja?

  • Warts and skin growths
  • Respiratory and immune support
  • Cold and upper respiratory symptoms
  • Topical skin conditions
  • Traditional use as a diuretic or to bring on menstruation

Thuja, also called northern white cedar or arborvitae, is a tree whose leaf and oil have a long history in folk and homeopathic medicine, especially for warts and immune support. Solid human evidence for these uses is very limited, and the undiluted oil contains thujone, which can be toxic. Talk with a pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read the full Thuja monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Hydrocortisone

What Is Hydrocortisone Used For?

Brand names: Cortef, Hydrocortone, Carmol HC cream, Hydrocortisone Iodoquinol Cream, Vytone Cream, Massengil Medicated Towelettes, Dioderm, Efcortelan Cream, Mildison, Alphaderm, Calmurid HC, Efcortelan Ointment, Texacort, Alkindi Sprinkle

Hydrocortisone is used to calm skin inflammation and relieve itching caused by conditions that respond to corticosteroid treatment. In adults, it treats a broad range of inflammatory skin conditions. In children as young as 3 months old, it is specifically approved for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (eczema).

It is also used in rectal foam form to treat inflammation of the lower bowel, such as ulcerative proctitis.

See full Hydrocortisone drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Thuja

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

0Major
575Moderate
0Minor
2,254No known interaction
575 Moderate 2,254 No interaction
Moderate

575 interactions

Showing 60 of 575 moderate interactions — see all 575 on the Thuja page.

No interaction 2,254 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,254 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Thuja list.

See the full Thuja interactions page
See every supplement checked against Hydrocortisone, 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
Thuja monograph › Uses, safety, and every drug interaction in one place Hydrocortisone supplement interactions › Every supplement checked against Hydrocortisone, ranked by severity Hydrocortisone 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 Thuja and Hydrocortisone Together: Common Questions

Can you take Thuja with Hydrocortisone?
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 Thuja and Hydrocortisone 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 Hydrocortisone and Thuja?

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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.