Drug & supplement interaction

Witch Hazel + Interferon Beta-1a

Interferon Beta-1a brand names: Rebif, Avonex.

No Known Interaction
Medically reviewed by · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 20, 2026
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Witch Hazel and Interferon Beta-1a 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

Witch Hazel and Interferon Beta-1a

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 Beta-1a and Witch Hazel 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 Witch Hazel at all — not against Interferon Beta-1a, 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.

Witch Hazel safety at a glance

Witch Hazel overall Use caution Generally well tolerated on the skin short-term, but not meant to be taken by mouth.
Pregnancy Use caution Topical use is likely low risk, but data are limited; avoid oral use and ask your doctor first.
Breastfeeding Use caution Limited safety data; topical use is likely low risk but check with your doctor, and avoid applying to the nipple area.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Interferon Beta-1a and Witch Hazel? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
What to actually watch for

What Witch Hazel Itself Has Been Linked To

This is not an interaction — nothing below involves Interferon Beta-1a. It is the side-effect record for Witch Hazel on its own, from the licensed Natural Medicines monograph. If something new turns up after you add Witch Hazel, this list is the first place to look. One entry is worth acting on rather than waiting out — marked below.

  • Liver problems Worth acting on Additional detail

    “Topically, witch hazel is generally well tolerated. Orally, witch hazel seems to be well tolerated at appropriate doses, but high doses may be associated with more adverse effects due to the tannin content in witch hazel.

    Most Common Adverse Effects:

    Topically: Contact dermatitis.

    Serious Adverse Effects (Rare):

    Orally: Kidney and liver damage when preparations containing at least 10% tannins are used in high doses.”

    Witch Hazel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

  • A skin rash Additional detail

    “Topically, witch hazel can cause contact dermatitis (6,86505). A small number of people develop redness or burning.”

    Witch Hazel · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in dermatitis.

    3 sources cited
    1. 6. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
    2. 86505. Khanna, N. and Datta, Gupta S. Rejuvenating facial massage--a bane or boon? Int J Dermatol. 2002;41(7):407-410. PubMed
    3. 67795. Wolff, H. H. and Kieser, M. Hamamelis in children with skin disorders and skin injuries: results of an observational study. Eur.J.Pediatr. 2007;166(9):943-948. PubMed

Everything above comes from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record for Witch Hazel — expand a row for the licensed statement it rests on. We haven’t matched Interferon Beta-1a 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 Beta-1a.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Interferon Beta-1a

This page covers Witch Hazel only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Interferon Beta-1a 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 Beta-1a page

“Siberian cocklebur, an herb tied to documented cases of liver failure, is the first name to know for anyone injecting interferon beta-1a (Rebif, Avonex) for multiple sclerosis. Interferon beta-1a can strain the liver on its own, which is why prescribers order routine liver blood tests, and 38 of the 57 supplements on file carry that sa…”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Interferon Beta-1a interaction page

One more smart check

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

We hold 150 real supplement products containing Witch Hazel, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Witch Hazel. Even though Witch Hazel itself has no known interaction with Interferon Beta-1a, 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 Witch Hazel and Interferon Beta-1a 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 Witch Hazel
Top half

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

29 days ago today
Medication Interferon Beta-1a
Steady interest

#2,614 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 Witch Hazel reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 20, 2026. The Witch Hazel and Interferon Beta-1a 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 Witch Hazel

What is Witch Hazel?

  • Skin irritation and inflammation
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Minor cuts and bruises
  • Oily or acne-prone skin
  • Itching and minor swelling
  • Soothing after shaving or sun exposure

Witch hazel is a plant-based astringent used mostly on the skin for minor irritation, hemorrhoids, and oily skin. It is generally well tolerated as a topical product for short-term use, but evidence for most uses is limited, and it should not be swallowed. Check with your pharmacist or doctor before using it, especially during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Hamamelis virginiana · Hamamelidaceae · Bark, leaves, and twigs · Liquid astringent (distilled water), gels, ointments, creams, wipes/pads, suppositories, soaps

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

Witch Hazel: dosing

There is no official standardized dose for witch hazel. The right amount depends on the product and the form, such as a liquid, gel, pad, or ointment.The safest approach is to follow the directions on the product label and use it only on the skin as directed. For hemorrhoid pads or creams, follow the package instructions. Do not take witch hazel by mouth unless a healthcare professional specifically advises it.

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

Read the full Witch Hazel monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Interferon Beta-1a Intramuscular Injection

What Is Interferon Beta-1a Intramuscular Injection Used For?

Brand names: Rebif, Avonex

  • Interferon beta-1a intramuscular injection is used to treat adults with various forms of multiple sclerosis (MS; a disease in which the nerves do not function properly and people may experience weakness, numbness, loss of muscle coordination, and problems with vision, speech, and bladder control) including:

    • clinically isolated syndrome (CIS; nerve symptom episodes that last at least 24 hours),

    • relapsing-remitting forms (course of disease where symptoms flare up from time to time), or

    • secondary progressive forms (course of disease where relapses occur more often).

  • Interferon beta-1a is in a class of medications called immunomodulators. It works by decreasing inflammation and preventing nerve damage that may cause symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Most-Reported Side Effects for Interferon Beta-1a

From FAERS, the FDA’s public side-effect reporting system (192,069 reports, all brands). Reports are voluntary and are not proof the drug caused the effect.

Multiple sclerosis relapse 15,851 reports
Influenza like illness 13,253 reports
Fatigue 11,554 reports
Fall 10,604 reports
Multiple sclerosis 9,358 reports
See full Interferon Beta-1a Intramuscular Injection drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Witch Hazel

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Witch Hazel — 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
2,829 No interaction
No interaction 2,829 drugs checked — show the list

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

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,829 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Witch Hazel list.

See the full Witch Hazel interactions page
See every supplement checked against Interferon Beta-1a, ranked by severity
Evidence & sources

Witch Hazel References

The 7 references that drive our Witch Hazel 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. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  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. Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Tyler's Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press, 1999.
  4. Hormann HP, Korting HC. Evidence for the efficacy and safety of topical herbal drugs in dermatology: part I: anti-inflammatory agents. Phytomedicine 1994;1:161-71. PubMed
  5. Wolff, H. H. and Kieser, M. Hamamelis in children with skin disorders and skin injuries: results of an observational study. Eur.J.Pediatr. 2007;166(9):943-948. PubMed
  6. Khanna, N. and Datta, Gupta S. Rejuvenating facial massage--a bane or boon? Int J Dermatol. 2002;41(7):407-410. PubMed
  7. Theisen LL, Erdelmeier CA, Spoden GA, Boukhallouk F, Sausy A, Florin L, Muller CP. Tannins from Hamamelis virginiana bark extract: characterization and improvement of the antiviral efficacy against influenza A virus and human papillomavirus. PLoS One. 201 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 Witch Hazel and Interferon Beta-1a Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Witch Hazel with Interferon Beta-1a?
We do not list a known interaction between Witch Hazel and Interferon Beta-1a. 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 Beta-1a interact with any supplements?
Yes. Interferon Beta-1a has documented interactions with 57 supplements in our database — Witch Hazel is not one of them. The Interferon Beta-1a interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

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

Where next

Keep Exploring

Witch Hazel monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Interferon Beta-1a Intramuscular Injection drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Interferon Beta-1a supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Interferon Beta-1a, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 7 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

Still Have a Question About Interferon Beta-1a and Witch Hazel?

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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.