Herb & supplement monograph

Date Palm Drug Interactions, Uses, Effectiveness, Safety & More

Check Date Palm against your medication

Add one medication
Date Palm
+
Start typing any prescription or over-the-counter drug name.
Reviewed by licensed pharmacists Sourced from Natural Medicines
Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Date Palm

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

We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Date Palm. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining supplements with your medications.

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 Date Palm combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
  • Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
Monograph

Date Palm: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

The bottom line

Date palm fruit is a nutritious food rich in natural sugars, fiber, and antioxidants, and is widely eaten as part of a healthy diet. Beyond its value as food, evidence for medicinal benefits like easing labor or boosting fertility is limited and mostly preliminary. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using concentrated date supplements for a health condition.

Scientific name
Phoenix dactylifera
Family
Arecaceae
Part used
Fruit (dates), seeds, pollen, and sometimes sap or flowers
Common forms
Whole fruit, date syrup, date paste, seed powder, capsules, and pollen extracts
People commonly use it for
  • Nutritional energy source
  • Digestive health and constipation
  • Labor support (folk use)
  • Male fertility (pollen, traditional)
  • General wellness and antioxidant support

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

Safety at a glance
OverallLikely safe

Dates are safe as a food for most people when eaten in normal amounts.

PregnancyUse caution

Dates are a common food, but concentrated supplements or large amounts for inducing labor should be discussed with your doctor first.

BreastfeedingInsufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information; avoid using in amounts greater than those commonly found in foods.

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.

Jump to a section

Overview

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a tall palm tree that produces the sweet, chewy fruit known as dates. It has been grown for thousands of years across the Middle East, North Africa, and other warm, dry regions, and dates remain an important food in many cultures.

People mainly enjoy dates as a naturally sweet snack or ingredient. Dates are rich in natural sugars, fiber, potassium, and antioxidant plant compounds. Other parts of the plant, such as the seeds and pollen, are sometimes used in traditional medicine and as supplements.

How it works

Dates contain natural sugars (such as glucose and fructose) that provide energy, along with dietary fiber that supports digestion. They also supply potassium, magnesium, and other minerals.

The fruit and other parts of the plant contain antioxidant compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids. In laboratory and animal studies, these compounds show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. It is important to remember that effects seen in the lab do not always translate to real benefits in people.

Effectiveness

Does Date Palm work?

Evidence overview · 6 uses evaluated
6 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 Date Palm, current evidence isn’t strong enough to rate any specific use. The conditions it has been studied for are listed below.

Also studied for 6 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Aging skin
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

A small preliminary clinical study in females 46-58 years of age shows that applying a cream containing date palm kernel extract 5% around the eyes twice daily for 5 weeks might reduce skin wrinkles. Applying the cream reduces the surface area of wrinkles by 28% and the depth of wrinkles by 3.5% and also improves the subjective appearance of wrinkles in 60% of the patients.

Sources Ref 47093
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Male infertility
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research shows that taking date palm pollen powder 120 mg/kg every other day for 2 months improves sperm count by 52% and sperm motility by 27% when compared with baseline in infertile males. However, these measures did not reach normal values. The validity of this finding is limited by the lack of a comparator group. Another preliminary study in young males with asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, or teratozoospermia shows that taking date palm pollen 3 grams every 12 hours for 90 days improves sperm counts, sperm morphology, and sperm motility when compared with pentoxifylline 400 mg daily.

Sources Ref 98655 Ref 115328
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Neutropenic fever
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research in children (mean age of about 9 years) with various types of cancer shows that eating 3-5 Ajwa date palm fruits (average intake 7 grams) with breakfast daily throughout cancer treatment reduces hospital admissions for neutropenic fever and infections, and is associated with a better survival rate, when compared with patients not eating date palm fruit. The validity of these results is limited by the lack of randomization, dose standardization, or blinding, and the variability in types of tumor and stage.

Sources Ref 106734
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Oral mucositis
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research in patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy for head and neck cancer shows that swishing and swallowing a solution containing date palm pollen at bedtime for 6 weeks prevents the development of oral mucositis when compared with standard care with an antifungal agent and analgesics. Only 10% of patients using the date palm pollen solution required soft or liquid food compared with 80% of patients receiving standard care.

Sources Ref 98654
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Parturition
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Meta-analyses of low- to medium-quality studies, conducted mainly in the Middle East and Indonesia, including patients in late pregnancy, labor or postpartum show that eating date palm fruit, 40-100 grams daily, in addition to standard care, shortens the length of gestation by 1-2 days, reduces the duration of labor when compared with standard care alone. Additionally, date palm improves cervical readiness (Bishop score), reduces the need for induction, increases spontaneous delivery, reduces postdelivery hemorrhage, and improves breast milk supply, when compared with standard care alone. However, there is disagreement on which stages of labor are reduced, no effect on the frequency of Caesarian sections, and insufficient date to analyze effects on infant outcomes.

Sources Ref 106430 Ref 115327
Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Pre-eclampsia
Rating & evidence shown verbatim from Natural Medicines

Preliminary clinical research in pregnant patients, with a mean gestational age of about 22 weeks and at least one risk factor for pre-eclampsia, shows that eating seven Ajwa date palm fruits daily for 8 weeks reduces mean arterial pressure by 13%, compared with an increase of 8% in patients not eating date palm fruit. Blood pressure in the roll-over test is reduced by 66% in patients consuming date palm fruit, compared with an increase of 6% in those not doing so. These results suggest a reduction in the risk for pre-eclampsia, but data on the incidence of the condition in either group is not provided.

Sources Ref 106735

Source & disclaimer. Effectiveness ratings and evidence summaries are provided by Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) and shown as licensed. Where Natural Medicines hasn’t rated a use, HelloPharmacist’s pharmacists may add their own reviewed rating and evidence (each such entry is labeled). This is educational information, not medical advice — talk with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing a supplement.

Safety & precautions

Eating dates as a food is safe for most people. Because dates are high in natural sugar, people with diabetes or those watching their blood sugar should be mindful of portion sizes.

People with kidney problems may need to watch their potassium intake, since dates are high in potassium. Allergic reactions to dates are uncommon but possible.

Pregnancy: Dates are a common food and are generally considered fine to eat. However, using large amounts or concentrated supplements to try to induce labor should only be done after talking with your doctor or midwife.

Breastfeeding: Eating dates as part of a normal diet is generally considered safe, but concentrated supplements have not been well studied, so caution is best.

Side effects

Dates are usually well tolerated. Possible side effects include:

  • Digestive upset, bloating, or loose stools if eaten in large amounts (due to the fiber and sugar).
  • Blood sugar spikes in people with diabetes.
  • Weight gain if eaten in excess, since dates are calorie-dense.
  • Rare allergic reactions.

Dried dates can also stick to teeth and contribute to dental cavities, so good oral hygiene is helpful.

Date Palm: Reported Adverse Effects

Documented safety reports on Date Palm from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database, shown word-for-word from the licensed record.

Reports by condition
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.

Adverse-effects data: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

Dosing

There is no official or standardized medicinal dose for date palm. As a food, dates are eaten according to personal taste and dietary needs, and a few dates make a typical serving.

For date supplements, syrups, or pollen products, follow the directions on the product label. Because these products vary and have not been well studied, it is a good idea to check with your pharmacist or doctor before using them for a specific health purpose, especially during pregnancy.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Date Palm & Breastfeeding

Insufficient reliable information

Insufficient reliable information; avoid using in amounts greater than those commonly found in foods.

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

Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center

References & further reading

The 9 references that drive our Date Palm 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. Kwaasi, A. A., Harfi, H. A., Parhar, R. S., Saleh, S., Collison, K. S., Panzani, R. C., Al Sedairy, S. T., and Al Mohanna, F. A. Cross-reactivities between date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) polypeptides and foods implicated in the oral allergy syndrome.
  2. Bener, A., Safa, W., Abdulhalik, S., and Lestringant, G. G. An analysis of skin prick test reactions in asthmatics in a hot climate and desert environment. Allerg.Immunol.(Paris) 2002;34(8):281-286.
  3. Bauza, E., Dal Farra, C., Berghi, A., Oberto, G., Peyronel, D., and Domloge, N. Date palm kernel extract exhibits antiaging properties and significantly reduces skin wrinkles. Int.J.Tissue React. 2002;24(4):131-136.
  4. Blanco, C., Carrillo, T., Quiralte, J., Pascual, C., Martin, Esteban M., and Castillo, R. Occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma due to Phoenix canariensis pollen allergy. Allergy 1995;50(3):277-280.
  5. Elkerm Y, Tawashi R. Date palm pollen as a preventative intervention in radiation- and chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis: a pilot study. Integr Cancer Ther. 2014;13(6):468-72. PubMed
  6. Rasekh A, Jashni HK, Rahmanian K, Jahromi AS. Effect of palm pollen on sperm parameters of infertile man. Pak J Biol Sci. 2015;18(4):196-9. PubMed
  7. Bagherzadeh Karimi A, Elmi A, Mirghafourvand M, Baghervand Navid R. Effects of date fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on labor and delivery outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020 Apr 14;20(1):210. PubMed
  8. Al Jaouni SK, Hussein A, Alghamdi N, et al. Effects of Phoenix dactylifera Ajwa on infection, hospitalization, and survival among pediatric cancer patients in a university hospital: A nonrandomized controlled trial. Integr Cancer Ther. 2019;18:15347354198
  9. Royani I, As'ad S, Mappaware NA, Hatta M, Rabia. Effect of Ajwa dates consumption to inhibit the progression of preeclampsia threats on mean arterial pressure and roll-over test. Biomed Res Int. 2019 Dec 10;2019:2917895. PubMed
Keep reading

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.

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

Product directory

Supplement products with Date Palm

179 products in our database contain Date Palm. Open any to see its full ingredient list and every drug interaction we check.

Chewable Papaya Enzyme With Chlorophyll by American Health Tablet Or Pill 100 Chewable Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Chewable Papaya Enzyme With Chlorophyll by American Health Tablet Or Pill 250 Chewable Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Chewable Papaya Enzyme with Chlorophyll by American Health Tablet Or Pill 250 Chewable Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Children's Chewable Tummy Zyme Natural Tropical Fruit Flavor by Natures Plus Source of Life Animal Parade Tablet Or Pill 90 Animal Shaped Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Digestion Support by Natures Plus AgeLoss Capsule 90 Capsule(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Digestion Support by NaturesPlus AgeLoss Capsule 90 Capsule(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions GI Natural by Nature's Plus Tablet Or Pill 90 Bilayered Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions GI Natural by Natures Plus Tablet Or Pill 90 Bilayered Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions GI Natural Total Digestive Wellness by Natures Plus Powder 0.38 lbs · 174 Gram(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions GI Natural Total Digestive Wellness by Natures Plus Tablet Or Pill 90 Bilayered Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions GI Natural Total Digestive Wellness by Natures Plus Tablet Or Pill 90 Bi-Layer Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Gold Capsules by Nature's Plus Source of Life Capsule 90 Vegetarian Capsule(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Gold Capsules by Nature's Plus Source Of Life Capsule 90 Vegetarian Capsule(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Gold Liquid Delicious Tropical Fruit Flavor by Nature's Plus Source of Life Liquid 30 fl. Oz. · 887.1 mL Off market View ingredients & interactions Gold Tablets by Nature's Plus Source of Life Tablet Or Pill 90 Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Golden Milk by Gaia Herbs Powder 3.7 oz. · 105 Gram(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Golden Milk by Gaia Herbs Powder 3.7 oz. · 105 Gram(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Golden Milk by Gaia Herbs Powder 3.7 oz. · 105 Gram(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Golden Milk by Gaia Herbs Powder 3.7 oz. · 105 Gram(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Golden Milk by Gaia Herbs Powder 4.3 oz. · 123 Gram(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Golden Milk by Gaia Herbs Powder 4.3 Ounce(s) · 123 Gram(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Golden Milk by Gaia Herbs Powder 4.3 Ounce(s) · 123 Gram(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Laxative by Perfect 7 Tablet Or Pill 200 Tablet(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions Men's Nutra Packs by Nature's Plus Unknown 30 Individual Pack(s) Off market View ingredients & interactions
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Date Palm: Common Questions

What is Date Palm used for, and does it work?
People use Date Palm for a range of reasons, but according to the Natural Medicines database the current clinical evidence is insufficient to confirm it works for the specific conditions it has been studied for. See the graded list on this page, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor before relying on it for any condition.
Does Date Palm interact with prescription medications?
We do not currently list any known drug interactions for Date Palm. This does not guarantee that none exist, so always confirm with your pharmacist before combining it with your medications.
How are Date Palm interactions rated?
Each interaction is graded major, moderate, or minor based on how clinically significant it is and the strength of the evidence behind it. Major interactions are the most serious and are best avoided, or used only under close professional supervision.
Is it safe to take Date Palm with my medications?
It depends on the specific medication. Some combinations are fine, while others call for monitoring, timing changes, or should be avoided. Check your exact drug above and confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or changing anything.
Where does this Date Palm interaction information come from?
Our interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database — an evidence-graded reference for vitamins, herbs, and supplements — and is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists, who may add clinical context.
What is Date Palm used for?
Dates are mostly eaten as a nutritious, naturally sweet food. Traditionally, they have also been used to support digestion, energy, and (in late pregnancy) easier labor, though strong medical evidence is limited.
Are dates good for you?
Yes, dates are a healthy food rich in fiber, potassium, and antioxidants. Because they are high in natural sugar and calories, it is best to enjoy them in moderation, especially if you have diabetes.
Can eating dates help with labor?
Some small studies suggest eating dates in late pregnancy might be linked to easier labor, but the evidence is not conclusive. Always talk to your doctor or midwife before changing your diet for this reason.
Can people with diabetes eat dates?
Dates are high in natural sugar, so people with diabetes should eat them in small portions and monitor their blood sugar. A dietitian or pharmacist can help you fit them into your meal plan.

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

Have a question about Date Palm?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist