Herb & supplement monograph

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

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Myrtle 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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Reviewed by licensed pharmacists Sourced from Natural Medicines

On this page

Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Myrtle

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

We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for Myrtle. 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 Myrtle combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Monograph

Myrtle: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

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

The bottom line

Myrtle (Myrtus communis) is a Mediterranean shrub used traditionally for respiratory, digestive, and skin complaints. Modern research is mostly limited to laboratory and small studies, so its benefits in people are not well proven. Use cautiously, follow product labels, and talk to your pharmacist or doctor first—especially since the essential oil should never be swallowed.

Scientific name: Myrtus communis
Family: Myrtaceae
Part used: Leaves, berries, flowers, and essential oil
Common forms: Tea, capsules, extracts, essential oil, topical preparations

People commonly use it for

Coughs and respiratory congestion
Digestive upset
Antimicrobial and wound care
Skin conditions
Urinary complaints

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

Safety at a glance

OverallUse caution

Likely safe in small amounts as food or tea, but concentrated extracts and oils need caution.

PregnancyLikely Unsafe

When used orally; avoid using.

Read the full pregnancy detail

BreastfeedingLikely Unsafe

When used orally; 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

Myrtle is an evergreen shrub with the botanical name Myrtus communis. It grows wild across the Mediterranean region and parts of the Middle East and is also planted as an ornamental garden plant. People have used its fragrant leaves, dark berries, and flowers for hundreds of years.

The plant has a long history in traditional medicine. The leaves and berries are used to make teas, extracts, and capsules, while the leaves and twigs are steam-distilled to make an aromatic essential oil. In some regions the berries are also used to flavor foods and liqueurs.

Today myrtle is marketed as a dietary supplement and aromatherapy product, often promoted for breathing problems, digestion, and skin care.

How it works

Myrtle contains several natural compounds that researchers think may be responsible for its effects. These include essential oil components such as 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), myrtenol, and alpha-pinene, along with tannins and flavonoids like myricetin.

In laboratory tests, these compounds have shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and germ-fighting activity. Cineole, for example, is also found in eucalyptus and is studied for its effect on mucus and airways.

It is important to understand that most of this evidence comes from test-tube and animal research. Showing that a compound works in a lab does not mean it will work the same way—or be safe—in the human body.

Effectiveness

Does Myrtle work?

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

Evidence overview · 12 uses evaluated

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

Also studied for 12 conditions — evidence insufficient to rate

Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate Acne