Rupturewort Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More
What is this page for?
First and foremost: how Rupturewort interacts with medications. The heart of this page is the interaction list — every drug Rupturewort is known to interact with, and how serious each one is.
But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Rupturewort 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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Add one medicationRupturewort Drug Interactions: The Bottom Line
From the HelloPharmacist Editorial Team · Updated July 2026Based on the available evidence, the overall risk of a clinically significant Rupturewort drug interaction appears low for most people. Only a single interaction has been identified, it is rated moderate rather than major, and no other medications are known to be affected.
The one interaction worth knowing about involves lithium, a mood-stabilizing medicine with a narrow safety margin where even small changes in blood levels can matter. Animal research suggests rupturewort may act as a diuretic, changing how the body handles salt and water. Because lithium leaves the body along with sodium, this effect could in theory cause lithium levels to rise. Anyone taking lithium should treat this combination with caution.
This concern comes from animal research and reasoning about how the herb might work, not from documented problems in people taking both together. A very short interaction list like this one also means rupturewort has not been linked to problems with common medicine groups such as blood thinners, blood pressure drugs, or diabetes treatments, though it has not been studied as thoroughly as many herbs.
Based on HelloPharmacist’s Rupturewort interaction data and reviewed under our editorial standards.
Drugs that interact with Rupturewort
1 medication has a known interaction with Rupturewort, graded by severity. Select any drug for the full evidence-based detail.
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AI summaries are generated from our Rupturewort interaction data for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI
No drugs match “”.
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 Rupturewort combination — clinical detail, likelihood, evidence level, and citations.
- Content is reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.
The kinds of drugs Rupturewort affects
Every type of medication (drug category) Rupturewort is known to interact with. Open any category for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.
Lithium
Theoretically, rupturewort might increase the levels and clinical effects of lithium.
Animal research shows that rupturewort may have diuretic effects, increasing the excretion of sodium, potassium, and chloride. Theoretically, due to these effects, rupturewort might reduce excretion and increase levels of lithium.
Rupturewort: Uses, Safety & Side Effects
Rupturewort is a traditional European herb mainly used as a mild diuretic and for urinary complaints. Solid human research is very limited, so its true benefits and long-term safety are not well established. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before using it, and avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Scientific name
- Herniaria glabra
- Family
- Caryophyllaceae
- Part used
- Aerial parts (the above-ground flowering herb)
- Common forms
- Tea, dried herb, tincture, capsules
- Urinary tract complaints
- Mild fluid retention (as a diuretic)
- Kidney and bladder support
- Wound healing and inflammation (topical, traditional)
- Spasms or cramping (traditional)
Popular and traditional uses — not proof it works. See “Uses & effectiveness” below for the evidence.
Limited safety data exist, so use carefully and under professional guidance.
Insufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Read the full pregnancy detailInsufficient reliable information available; avoid using.
Read the full breastfeeding detailPregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center). Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.
Overview
Rupturewort (Herniaria glabra) is a low-growing herb in the carnation family. It spreads close to the ground and produces tiny greenish flowers. It grows in sandy, dry soils across Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa.
The name "rupturewort" comes from its old folk use for hernias ("ruptures"). Today, people mostly know it as a traditional remedy taken as a tea or tincture for urinary and kidney complaints. The dried above-ground parts of the plant are the parts usually used.
It is considered a folk or traditional medicine rather than a mainstream supplement, and you are most likely to find it in herbal blends marketed for urinary or "water balance" support.
Uses & effectiveness
Rupturewort has been used in traditional European herbal medicine, but high-quality human studies are lacking for nearly all of its uses. Most claims rest on tradition, laboratory tests, or a small number of older animal studies.
People commonly use it for:
- Urinary tract complaints — used traditionally to help "flush" the urinary system; human evidence is weak.
- Mild fluid retention — used as a gentle diuretic, but this effect has not been well proven in people.
- Kidney and bladder support — traditional use only, without strong clinical backing.
- Inflammation and wound healing — based mostly on tradition and limited lab work.
In short, there is not enough reliable evidence to say that rupturewort works for any specific health condition. It should not replace proven treatments, especially for urinary or kidney problems that need medical care.
How it works
Rupturewort contains plant compounds such as saponins, flavonoids, and coumarins. Saponins are thought to contribute to its supposed diuretic and mild irritant effects on the urinary tract, while flavonoids may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.
These ideas come mostly from laboratory and animal research, not from well-controlled human trials. Because of this, we cannot be sure how—or whether—these compounds produce meaningful effects in people at the amounts found in teas or supplements.
Safety & precautions
There is limited modern safety data on rupturewort, so caution is wise. The saponins it contains can irritate tissues, and high or prolonged use may not be safe.
People who should be especially careful or avoid it include:
- Anyone with kidney disease or reduced kidney function.
- People taking diuretics or who are prone to dehydration.
- Those with known plant allergies.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding people — because safety is unknown and its traditional diuretic use raises concern, it is best avoided.
Always tell your pharmacist or doctor about any herb you are taking, especially if you have a medical condition or take prescription medicines.
Side effects
Because rupturewort has not been studied carefully in people, its full side-effect profile is unclear. Based on its saponin content, possible effects include stomach upset, nausea, or digestive irritation, especially at higher doses.
Allergic reactions are possible with any plant product. Stop use and seek medical care if you notice rash, swelling, or trouble breathing. If you have any unusual or lasting symptoms, stop using it and check with a healthcare professional.
Dosing
There is no well-established or standardized dose for rupturewort. Traditional use involves brewing the dried herb as a tea, but reliable dosing guidance from clinical research does not exist.
If you choose to use a product, follow the directions on the label and do not exceed them. Because strength varies between products and safety data are limited, it is best to check with a pharmacist or doctor first and use it only for short periods.
Rupturewort & Pregnancy
Rupturewort & Breastfeeding
© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center
Pregnancy & lactation ratings: Natural Medicines, Therapeutic Research Center
References & further reading
The 1 references that drive our Rupturewort 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.
- Hakim EM, Sivak KV, Kaukhova IE. Evaluation of the diuretic effect of crude ethanol and saponin-rich extracts of Herniaria glabra L. in rats. J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Jun 12;273:113942. PubMed
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
Brands that make products with Rupturewort
7 brands in our database make a supplement containing Rupturewort.
Supplement products with Rupturewort
19 products in our database contain Rupturewort. Open any to see its full ingredient list and every drug interaction we check.
Rupturewort: Common Questions
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Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Products that contain Rupturewort
A rotating sample of real supplements in our database that list Rupturewort — open any to see its full ingredients and every drug interaction we check.
- Rupturewort (Hawkweed) Powder by TerraVita Premium Collection
- Rupturewort by Herbal Terra
- Rupturewort by TerraVita
- Rupturewort by Hawaii Pharm
- Rupturewort by Herbal Terra
- Rupturewort by Herbal Terra
- Bucco by Nestmann
- Rupturewort by Pure Herbs
- Rupturewort Chocolate Flavor by TerraVita
- Rupturewort Vanilla Flavor by TerraVita
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