Herb & supplement monograph

Cypress Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS ·Updated July 2026

What is this page for?

First and foremost: how Cypress interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Cypress is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Cypress is, what people use it for and how strong the evidence is, its safety and side effects, and answers to the questions we’re asked most — written and reviewed by the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases, not medical advice, and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

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Cypress Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line

From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026

Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Cypress drug interaction appears low for most people, though anyone taking a blood thinner should be more careful. Every listed interaction is rated moderate rather than major, and none is supported by strong human studies.

Interactions deserving the most attention

The one concern that stands out involves anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs, often called blood thinners. Lab research suggests cypress cone extract can slow blood clotting, and there is a single case report of prolonged bleeding during a minor surgery in a woman with no other clear explanation. Because bleeding risk is closely watched with these medicines, even a modest added effect could matter, so this combination deserves the most caution in Cypress's profile.

What the rest of the list means

Although well over a hundred medications appear on the list, they essentially reflect this one bleeding-related concern spread across the many drugs that affect clotting. The evidence comes from lab studies and one case report, not controlled human trials, so a harmful effect has not been proven for any specific medication and may not occur at all in typical use.

Check your medications against Cypress

Based on HelloPharmacist’s Cypress interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Cypress

122 medications have a known interaction with Cypress, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.

Don’t want to scroll the list? Just ask.

Tell us the medications you take and we’ll check each one against Cypress using our pharmacist-reviewed interaction data.

AI summaries are generated from our Cypress interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI

2,830 drugs

Read The List Like a Pharmacist

What Severity, Likelihood & Evidence Mean

Severity — How Serious It Can Be

Major. Clinically significant; generally best avoided, or used only under direct professional supervision.
Moderate. May need monitoring, a dose adjustment, or separating the times you take each one.
Minor. Generally not clinically significant, but still worth noting and mentioning to your pharmacist.
No known interaction. Checked against our sources with nothing documented — not the same as proven safety.

Likelihood — How Well It’s Documented

Likely. Well-controlled human studies have demonstrated the likely existence of this interaction
Probable. Interaction 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.
Possible. 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
Unlikely. Interaction has been demonstrated in animal or in lab research but has been shown not to occur in humans.

Where This Data Comes From

Interaction records are evidence-graded and sourced from the Natural Medicines database (TRC Healthcare), the same reference used by pharmacists and hospitals.
Each drug listed above links to the full report for that exact Cypress combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

The big picture

The kinds of drugs Cypress affects

Every type of medication (drug category) Cypress is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

All 1 drug category Cypress interacts with

Anticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

In vitro evidence shows that cypress cone extract inhibits blood coagulation in a concentration-dependent manner. In one case report, prolonged bleeding time during surgery occurred in a 52-year-old female undergoing removal of a premalignant skin lesion. Based on preoperative questioning, the patient had no relevant history of systemic disease, drug use, or allergy. Upon postoperative questioning, the patient reported taking cypress cone extract for one year prior to surgery. Theoretically, taking cypress extract along with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding in some patients. Some anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs include aspirin; clopidogrel (Plavix); nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), and naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others); dalteparin (Fragmin); enoxaparin (Lovenox); heparin; warfarin (Coumadin); and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Monograph

Cypress: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Reviewed July 2026 ·

The bottom line

Cypress comes from the Mediterranean cypress tree and is most often used as an essential oil in aromatherapy or skin care, and traditionally for circulation and respiratory complaints. High-quality human evidence for these uses is very limited, so it should not replace proven treatments. The essential oil is for external use only and should be diluted, and you should talk with your pharmacist or doctor before using it.

Scientific name: Cupressus sempervirens
Family: Cupressaceae
Part used: Cones (galbuli), leaves/needles, and essential oil
Common forms: Essential oil, extracts, capsules, and dried plant material

People commonly use it for

Circulation and varicose veins
Coughs and respiratory complaints
Excess sweating
Skin and minor wounds
Aromatherapy for relaxation

Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Often used externally or in aromatherapy; the essential oil should not be swallowed and human safety data are limited.

PregnancyInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.

Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

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Overview

Cypress usually refers to the Mediterranean or Italian cypress tree (Cupressus sempervirens), a tall evergreen tree in the Cupressaceae family. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is now grown in many warm parts of the world.

The cones, leaves (needles), and steam-distilled essential oil have a long history of use in traditional and folk medicine. Today, cypress is best known as an essential oil used in aromatherapy, massage blends, and skin and body care products. It is also found in some teas and herbal extracts.

How it works

Cypress essential oil contains aromatic compounds such as alpha-pinene and other terpenes. In laboratory studies, these compounds have shown antioxidant, antimicrobial, and astringent (tissue-tightening) effects.

The astringent action is the traditional reason it is used for sweating, oily skin, and vein support, while the aromatic compounds are thought to give it a relaxing scent in aromatherapy. Keep in mind that most of this research is from test-tube or animal studies, and these effects have not been clearly proven in people.

Effectiveness

Does Cypress work?

Here’s what the research actually shows for each use — graded by Natural Medicines and reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD.

Evidence overview · 7 uses evaluated

7 Insufficient evidence

How to read these evidence grades

Natural Medicines’ 7-point scale. We show each rating’s label word-for-word.

1EffectiveStrong, consistent evidence it works.

2Likely EffectiveGood evidence, though not yet conclusive.

3Possibly EffectiveSome evidence suggests a benefit.

4Possibly IneffectiveSome evidence it may not help.

5Likely IneffectiveFairly strong evidence it doesn’t help.

6IneffectiveStrong evidence it doesn’t work.

7Insufficient Reliable Evidence to RateToo little research to say either way.

For Cypress, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 7 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)