Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Bamboo Extract Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Swanson

Bamboo Extract label
See full label image
Capsule Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 23, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Bamboo Extract against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Bamboo Extract is a dietary supplement by Swanson with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for source of silica for hair, skin, and nails, bone and joint support, general nutrition (cooked shoots as food).Based on those ingredients, 5 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bamboo Leaf, Stem Extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

Jump to a section

Check Your Meds Against Bamboo Extract by Swanson

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Bamboo Extract by Swanson — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

Pharmacist-reviewed data Checks every ingredient Answer in seconds
Prefer a human? Send your question to our licensed pharmacists — free, answered by email within 24 hours.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Bamboo Extract by Swanson

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 16, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

This supplement contains one active ingredient: bamboo leaf and stem extract. The capsules also hold rice flour, hypromellose, and magnesium silicate as inactive ingredients—these are binders and fillers that help hold the capsule together.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

We hold no graded evidence for this product's ingredients for its stated purpose.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: nutrients for hair, skin and nails.
  • We looked for evidence on: Hair health, Skin health, Nail health.
  • Our graded evidence for these ingredients doesn't cover that particular purpose.

The evidence for bamboo extract and dental health—the main claim in our data—is insufficient. There isn't enough reliable research yet to say whether it actually works for that purpose.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Bamboo

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Properly cooked bamboo shoots are eaten widely in food, but the safety of concentrated bamboo supplements hasn't been well studied. Raw shoots can be toxic.

Bamboo shoots contain cyanide glycosides, but boiling, fermenting, or special drying methods eliminate the hydrogen cyanide they produce. There is not enough safety data to recommend bamboo supplements during pregnancy, so avoid concentrated forms if you're pregnant.

While breastfeeding, the safety is unknown—avoid concentrated extracts unless your doctor has cleared it with you. In rare cases, bamboo shoots have caused contact dermatitis on skin.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Bamboo

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Bamboo.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 5 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

If you take antithyroid drugs (medications for an overactive thyroid), check with your doctor or pharmacist before using this product—bamboo may increase the effects of your medication and raise the risk of thyroid problems. The supplement contains a Moderate-severity interaction with these drugs.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Bamboo extract may appeal to people interested in plant-based supplements, but it's important to know the evidence for its effectiveness isn't established yet. If you take antithyroid medication, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting it.

Pregnant or breastfeeding? Check with your doctor or pharmacist first—the safety data isn't there yet.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Feb 22, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Bamboo Extract, straight from the product label.

Brand Swanson
Barcode (UPC) 087614141909
Net contents 60 Veggie Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Feb 22, 2024
DSLD ID 308476
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Capsule
Dietary claims / uses Nutrient, All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years)
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Bamboo Extract by Swanson, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Capsule(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
087614141909
IngredientAmount% DV
Bamboo Leaf, Stem Extract300 mg--

Other ingredients: Rice Flour, Hypromellose, Magnesium Silicate

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formula

Provides key nutrients for hair, skin and nails

Standardized to 70% organic silica

Brand IP Statement(s)

Swanson Science-Backed Quality Since 1969

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: As a dietary supplement, take one veggie capsule per day with water.

Precautions

Warning: For adults only. Keep out of reach of children.

Consult your physician before using this or any product if you are pregnant or nursing, taking medication or have a medical condition.

Do not use if seal is broken.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Formulation

Hair, skin and nails support

Standardized to 70% organic silica

Supports collagen formation Thickens and strengthens hair and nails

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Bamboo Extract by Swanson label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Bamboo Extract label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Bamboo Extract by Swanson

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Capsule(s) Dosage formCapsule Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Bamboo Leaf, Stem Extract

Interacts with
5 drugs
300 mg per serving Form: Bamboo Leaf Extract, Bamboo Stem Extract

Bamboo is a giant grass whose shoots are eaten as food and whose leaves and silica-rich extracts are sold as supplements, often for hair, skin, nail,...

Bamboo Leaf, Stem Extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Rice Flour, Hypromellose, Magnesium Silicate. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Bamboo Extract by Swanson Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Bamboo Extract?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
5Drugs
5 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Bamboo Leaf, Stem Extract 5

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Bamboo Extract interact with 5 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Bamboo Extract interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Bamboo Leaf, Stem Extract

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Bamboo Extract with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Bamboo Leaf, Stem Extract1 drug type · 5 drugs

Antithyroid Drugs

Theoretically, long-term bamboo use might increase the effects and adverse effects of antithyroid drugs, possibly leading to hypothyroidism.
Animal research suggests that long-term consumption of bamboo shoot can decrease thyroid peroxidase activity, as well as levels of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). This effect has not yet been reported in humans.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Bamboo Leaf, Stem Extract full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Bamboo Extract, from the product label.

Swanson

See all Swanson products
Name
Swanson Health Products
City
Fargo
State
ND
ZipCode
58104
Phone Number
1-800-437-4148
Web Address
swanson.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Bamboo Extract by Swanson: Common Questions

Does Bamboo Extract by Swanson interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Bamboo Extract has a known interaction with 5 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Bamboo Extract contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is bamboo extract safe during pregnancy?
There isn't enough safety data on concentrated bamboo supplements in pregnancy, so they're not advised. If you're pregnant or planning to be, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether this product is right for you.
Can I take bamboo extract while breastfeeding?
Safety during breastfeeding isn't known. Avoid concentrated bamboo extracts unless your doctor has cleared it with you specifically.
Does this product actually work for dental health?
The evidence isn't strong enough to say. Studies don't provide reliable evidence that bamboo extract helps prevent cavities.
Are there any side effects I should know about?
Bamboo shoots naturally contain cyanide compounds, but proper cooking or drying removes the toxic hydrogen cyanide. In rare cases, bamboo has caused skin irritation (contact dermatitis). The supplement form hasn't been studied enough to know all possible side effects.
Why is raw bamboo dangerous if cooked bamboo is eaten safely?
Raw bamboo shoots contain cyanide glycosides that can be harmful. Boiling, fermenting, or special drying methods eliminate the toxic hydrogen cyanide the plant produces, making cooked bamboo safe to eat.

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

Not sure if Bamboo Extract is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Bamboo Extract label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Bamboo Extract’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Bamboo

Interacts with 5 drugs

Bamboo is a giant grass whose shoots are eaten as food and whose leaves and silica-rich extracts are sold as supplements, often for hair, skin, nail, and bone support. Solid human evidence f...

Read the full Bamboo monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Bamboo Extract's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 4 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Bamboo 4 references
  1. Chandra AK, Ghosh D, Mukhopadhyay S, et al. Effect of bamboo shoot, Bambusa arundinacea (Retz.) Willd. on thyroid status under conditions of varying iodine intake in rats. Indian J Exp Biol 2004;42(8):781-786.
  2. Kitajima T. Contact allergy caused by bamboo shoots. Contact Dermatitis 1986;15(2):100-102. PubMed
  3. Sang-A-Gad P, Guharat S, Wananukul W. A mass cyanide poisoning from pickling bamboo shoots. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2011 Nov;49(9):834-9. PubMed
  4. Satya S, Bal LM, Singhal P, Naik SN. Bamboo shoot processing: food quality and safety aspect (a review). Trends in Food Sci. Technol. 2010;21(4):181-9. DOI

See these in context on the Bamboo monograph →

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

Keep exploring
Supplement interaction checker › Check any supplement or product against your medications Drug–drug interactions › Check two or more of your medications against each other Browse medications A–Z › Every drug we've checked against herbs & supplements NDC & pricing lookup › Find a drug’s NDCs, packaging and costs Ask a pharmacist › Free, personal answer from our licensed team