Major interaction on record — check this product against your medications before combining. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Blue Flag Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbalist & Alchemist

Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Major
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Major

Blue Flag is a dietary supplement by Herbalist & Alchemist with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for skin conditions like acne and eczema, constipation and digestive complaints, liver and gallbladder support (traditional).Based on those ingredients, 78 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated major. The ingredients most likely to interact are fresh Blue Flag rhizome extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Blue Flag by Herbalist & Alchemist

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

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.

Blue Flag by Herbalist & Alchemist contains one active ingredient: fresh blue flag rhizome extract. Blue flag is a traditional herb with a long history in herbal medicine.

The product also contains ethyl alcohol and distilled water as inactive ingredients.

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: promotes bowel and lymphatic function.
  • We looked for evidence on: lymphatic drainage, bowel regularity, digestive function, lymph support.
  • Our graded evidence for these ingredients doesn't cover that particular purpose.

We don't have effectiveness ratings on file for blue flag in our data, so the evidence for its benefits isn't established in the information we hold.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Blue Flag

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.

Blue flag can cause nausea, vomiting, and irritation of the mouth and throat, especially when fresh. The volatile oils in it can also irritate mucous membranes, potentially causing eye inflammation, throat irritation, headache, and tearing.

The safety data advises against use during pregnancy because of potential toxicity and lack of safety data. It is likely unsafe while breastfeeding due to insufficient safety information—talk with your doctor or pharmacist before using it if you're nursing.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Blue Flag

Meds to double-check

Major interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Major identified

At least one ingredient has a documented Major-severity interaction. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Blue Flag.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Major.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; heart-rhythm medications.
  • For scale: 78 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.

Before taking blue flag, check with your pharmacist if you take digoxin (Lanoxin) for your heart—that's a Major interaction. Also double-check if you're on warfarin (Coumadin) or other blood thinners, or on potassium-depleting diuretics (water pills).

Altogether, these interactions span 78 individual medications.

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. Major medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Blue flag is a herbal extract with a long traditional use, but it's not for everyone. If you take digoxin, warfarin, or potassium-depleting diuretics, you need to check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting it.

Pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid it. Given the interaction profile, it's worth a conversation before you buy.

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 Mar 23, 2018.

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 Blue Flag, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbalist & Alchemist
Barcode (UPC) 667056103392
Net contents 2 fl. Oz.; 60 mL
Market status Off market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 23, 2018
DSLD ID 83284
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Kosher
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 Blue Flag by Herbalist & Alchemist, 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:
1.5 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
0.25 mL
Servings per container
240
UPC/BARCODE
667056103392
IngredientAmount% DV
fresh Blue Flag rhizome extract0.25 mL--

Other ingredients: Ethyl Alcohol, distilled Water

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

Iris versicolor

OK

General Statements

Promotes bowel and lymphatic function

Botanical preparation ratio 1:2

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: 3-5 drops (0.15-0.25 mL) in juice or water. Take 2 times per day. Shake well before using.

Precautions

Contraindications: Do not use during pregnancy or lactation unless otherwise directed by a qualified expert.

Do not exceed recommended dose. Excessive use may cause nausea or vomiting. Use under the supervision of a qualified expert.

Keep out of children's reach

FDA Disclaimer Statement

This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

General

NO. BFG-2 1732WE

Seals/Symbols

OK

See for yourself

Blue Flag by Herbalist & Alchemist label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Blue Flag by Herbalist & Alchemist

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

Serving size1.5 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container240 Amounts shown are per serving.

Fresh Blue Flag rhizome extract

Interacts with
78 drugs
0.25 mL per serving

Blue Flag is a flowering plant whose root has been used in traditional and herbal medicine for skin and digestive complaints, but there is very little...

Fresh Blue Flag rhizome extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Ethyl Alcohol, Distilled Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Blue Flag by Herbalist & Alchemist Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Blue Flag?

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
78Drugs
1 Major 77 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Blue Flag 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.

fresh Blue Flag rhizome extract3 drug types · 78 drugs

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Theoretically, overuse or abuse of this product increases the risk of adverse effects from cardiac glycoside drugs.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Diuretic Drugs

Overuse of blue flag might compound diuretic-induced potassium loss. There is some concern that people taking blue flag along with potassium depleting diuretics might have an increased risk for hypokalemia. Initiation of potassium supplementation or an increase in potassium supplement dose may be necessary for some patients. Some diuretics that can deplete potassium include chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Hydrodiuril, Microzide), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Blue flag has stimulant laxative effects. In some people blue flag can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin, increase international normalized ratio (INR), and increase the risk of bleeding. Advise patients who take warfarin not to take excessive amounts of blue flag.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Blue Flag, from the product label.

Herbalist & Alchemist

See all Herbalist & Alchemist products
Name
Herbalist & Alchemist, Inc.
City
Washington
State
NJ
ZipCode
07882
Phone Number
800-611-8235
Web Address
www.herbalist-alchemist.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Blue Flag by Herbalist & Alchemist: Common Questions

Does Blue Flag by Herbalist & Alchemist interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Blue Flag has a known interaction with 78 medications, including 1 rated major. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Blue Flag 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.
What is blue flag used for?
Blue flag is a traditional herbal ingredient with a long history in herbal medicine. We don't have effectiveness information on file for specific uses, so talk with your herbalist or pharmacist about what it's meant to do for you.
Can I take blue flag if I'm pregnant?
No. The safety data advises against it during pregnancy because of potential toxicity and lack of safety data. Talk with your doctor before using any herbal products while pregnant.
Is it safe to breastfeed while taking blue flag?
The safety data shows blue flag is likely unsafe while breastfeeding due to insufficient safety information. Don't use it while nursing without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first.
What side effects might I experience?
Blue flag can cause nausea, vomiting, and irritation of your mouth and throat. The volatile oils in it may also irritate your mucous membranes, causing eye inflammation, throat irritation, headache, and tearing. These effects are more likely with the fresh root.
Why is blue flag dangerous with digoxin or warfarin?
Digoxin is a heart drug where overuse of blue flag can theoretically increase the risk of serious side effects. With warfarin, blue flag's laxative effect can cause diarrhea, which increases how much warfarin your body absorbs and raises your bleeding risk. Either way, you need to talk with your pharmacist first.
What's in this product besides blue flag?
The product contains ethyl alcohol and distilled water as inactive ingredients to preserve and deliver the extract.

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

Not sure if Blue Flag is safe with your meds?

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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.

Blue Flag label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Blue Flag'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 3 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.

Blue Flag 3 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  3. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.

See these in context on the Blue Flag 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

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