Herb & supplement monograph

Water Germander Drug Interactions, Uses, Safety & More

Medically reviewed by ·Updated June 2026
What is this page for?

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

But these pages have grown well beyond that into a full monograph — what Water Germander 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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Interaction report

Drugs that interact with Water Germander

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

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

Water Germander: Uses, Safety & Side Effects

Medically reviewed by · Reviewed June 2026 ·
The bottom line

Water germander (often sold as the related plant wall germander, Teucrium chamaedrys) is a Mediterranean herb traditionally used for digestion and other ailments. Its oral use has been clearly linked to serious liver damage, including hepatitis and even death, so it is considered likely unsafe to take by mouth. We recommend avoiding it and talking to your pharmacist or doctor about safer options.

Scientific name
Teucrium chamaedrys
Family
Lamiaceae
Part used
Aerial parts (leaves, flowering tops)
Common forms
Tea, capsules, tinctures, liquid extracts
People commonly use it for
  • Digestive upset
  • Weight loss aids
  • Fever
  • Oral hygiene and mouthwash
  • Gout

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

Safety at a glance
OverallBest avoided

Oral use has been linked to serious, sometimes fatal liver damage.

PregnancyBest avoided

Not safe; avoid because of liver toxicity risk and lack of safety data.

BreastfeedingBest avoided

Not safe; avoid due to toxicity concerns and lack of data.

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

Jump to a section

Overview

Water germander, often referring to Teucrium chamaedrys (also called wall germander), is a small flowering shrub in the mint family. It grows naturally in the Mediterranean region and parts of Europe and Asia, often in dry, rocky areas.

For centuries, people have used germander in folk medicine. It was taken as a tea or extract for digestion, fever, gout, and weight loss, and it was sometimes used in mouthwashes. Despite this long history, modern reports of harm have raised serious safety concerns about taking it by mouth.

Uses & effectiveness

People have traditionally used germander for stomach and digestive problems, fever, gout, and to help with weight loss. It was also used in oral rinses and as a so-called "tonic."

There is no strong, reliable scientific evidence that germander effectively treats any health condition. Most claims come from traditional use rather than good-quality human studies. Because the herb has caused serious harm, the risks clearly outweigh any unproven benefits.

How it works

Germander contains plant compounds called diterpenoids (such as teucrin A), along with flavonoids and tannins. Laboratory studies suggest some of these compounds may have mild antioxidant or antimicrobial activity.

Importantly, researchers believe the diterpenoid compounds can be turned into toxic substances in the liver. These toxic byproducts are thought to damage liver cells, which helps explain the reports of liver injury. Much of this understanding comes from laboratory and animal research rather than large human studies.

Safety & precautions

Taking germander by mouth is considered likely unsafe. It has been linked to liver inflammation (hepatitis), liver failure, and deaths. Because of these reports, some countries have banned or restricted its sale.

People with any history of liver disease should especially avoid it, but liver injury has occurred even in people without prior liver problems. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use germander because of the toxicity risk and the lack of safety data. We strongly recommend avoiding this herb and speaking with your pharmacist or doctor about safer alternatives.

Side effects

The most serious concern is liver damage. Warning signs may include yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, unusual tiredness, nausea, loss of appetite, and pain in the upper right belly.

Liver injury from germander can be severe and, in some cases, fatal. If you have taken germander and notice any of these symptoms, stop using it and seek medical care right away.

Dosing

There is no established safe dose for water germander, and because of its link to serious liver harm, we do not recommend taking it at all.

If you are considering any product that contains germander, talk with a pharmacist or doctor first. Always read product labels carefully, since germander is sometimes hidden in herbal blends or weight-loss products.

References & further reading

The 2 sources that drive our Water Germander monograph — publicly available pages from reputable medical and government organizations. Every link was verified to work before publishing.

  1. LiverTox: Germander — NIH / NCBI Bookshelf Source
  2. Herbs at a Glance — NIH NCCIH Source
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.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Water Germander: Common Questions

Does Water Germander interact with prescription medications?
We do not currently list any known drug interactions for Water Germander. This does not guarantee that none exist, so always confirm with your pharmacist before combining it with your medications.
How are Water Germander 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 Water Germander 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 Water Germander 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 Water Germander used for?
Traditionally it was used for digestive upset, fever, gout, weight loss, and oral hygiene. However, there is no solid scientific proof that it works for any of these uses.
Is Water Germander safe to take?
No. Taking it by mouth has been linked to serious liver damage, including hepatitis and death, so it is considered likely unsafe. We recommend avoiding it.
Can I use Water Germander while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. It should be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding because of its toxicity risk and the lack of safety information.
What are the warning signs of harm from germander?
Watch for jaundice (yellow skin or eyes), dark urine, unusual tiredness, nausea, and upper-right belly pain. Stop using it and seek medical care if these occur.

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

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