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Dietary supplement

Boldo Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Hawaii Pharm

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

Boldo is a dietary supplement by Hawaii Pharm with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for indigestion and bloating, mild constipation, liver and gallbladder support.Based on those ingredients, 482 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are wildcrafted Boldo extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Boldo by Hawaii Pharm

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.

This product contains one active ingredient: wildcrafted boldo extract. Boldo leaf has been used traditionally for gallbladder and digestive complaints, though the evidence supporting these uses is not yet established in our data.

The extract is suspended in vegetable palm glycerin, pharmaceutical-grade alcohol, and purified water as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

Not established
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 established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Boldo's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Digestive and liver support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Gallbladder disease, Indigestion, Bloating, Constipation.
  • The closest evidence on file: Boldo is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Gallbladder disease (Natural Medicines).

The evidence supporting boldo for benign prostatic hyperplasia, gallbladder disease, kidney stones, and joint pain is currently insufficient to rate. We don't have reliable data yet on whether it works for these purposes.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Boldo

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.

When used in food amounts, boldo is generally well tolerated. However, in medicinal doses it can cause real harm.

The most common side effects are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The serious risk is hepatotoxicity — liver injury — because boldo leaf contains ascaridole, a liver toxin.

Cases of elevated liver enzymes and jaundice have been documented. Boldo is considered unsafe in pregnancy because it may stimulate the uterus.

There isn't enough safety information to recommend it while breastfeeding either.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Boldo

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 — Boldo.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; immunosuppressants / transplant drugs; lithium.
  • For scale: 483 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 you take boldo, check whether you're on any hepatotoxic drugs (medications that can stress your liver), blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs like warfarin, lithium, or tacrolimus. All of these have documented Moderate-severity interactions with boldo.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Boldo carries significant risks, especially to your liver, and shouldn't be started without talking to your pharmacist or doctor first — particularly if you take blood thinners, have liver disease, take lithium or tacrolimus, or are pregnant or breastfeeding. If you're considering it, check your medications against our tool below.

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 Nov 21, 2020.

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 Boldo, straight from the product label.

Brand Hawaii Pharm
Barcode (UPC) 650905482632
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 21, 2020
DSLD ID 237347
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free
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 Boldo by Hawaii Pharm, 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:
0.7 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
120
UPC/BARCODE
650905482632
IngredientAmount% DV
wildcrafted Boldo extract970 mg--

Other ingredients: Vegetable Palm Glycerin, pharmaceutical grade Alcohol, artesian Hawaiian purified 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.
General Statements

Hawaii Pharm Herbal Extract Highest quality since 2008

Made with Aloha!

Formulation

Contains no GMO, gluten, artificial colors, heavy metals, preservatives, pesticides, fertilizers.

Super concentrated liquid herbal extract. Dry herb/menstruum ratio: 1:3.

Manufactured in an FDA registered facility.

Non GMO Gluten free

Made in USA, Hawaii

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions for use: Shake well before using. Take about 20-30 drops (0.7-1 ml, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) to 2-4 oz of juice or water up to 4 times per day.

Precautions

Warning: Keep out of the reach of children.

May have contraindications. We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult a physician before using during pregnancy, if nursing or taking any medications.

Do not use if seal is broken or missing.

Storage

Store in a cool dry place.

Formula

(Peumus boldus)

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Dietary Supplement

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.

Seals/Symbols

FDA Registered Facility Made in United States of America USA

See for yourself

Boldo by Hawaii Pharm label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Boldo by Hawaii Pharm

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

Serving size0.7 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

Wildcrafted Boldo extract

Interacts with
482 drugs
970 mg per serving

Boldo is a South American shrub whose leaves are traditionally used for digestive and gallbladder complaints, but good human evidence is very limited....

Wildcrafted Boldo extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Vegetable Palm Glycerin, Pharmaceutical grade Alcohol, Artesian Hawaiian purified Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Boldo by Hawaii Pharm Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Boldo?

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
482Drugs
482 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Boldo 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.

wildcrafted Boldo extract5 drug types · 482 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, taking boldo with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs might increase the risk of bleeding.
Animal and in vitro research shows that boldine, a constituent of boldo, has antiplatelet activity. In one case report, an adult taking a combination of boldo and fenugreek with warfarin experienced an increase in international normalized ratio (INR); however, it is unclear if this effect was due to boldo, fenugreek, the combination, or another factor.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Hepatotoxic Drugs

Theoretically, taking boldo with hepatotoxic drugs might increase the risk of hepatic injury and disease.
Boldo leaf contains ascaridole, a known liver toxin. Many cases of hepatotoxicity, including elevated liver transaminase levels and jaundice, have been reported in patients taking boldo.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Lithium

Theoretically, taking boldo with lithium might increase the levels and clinical effects of lithium.
Boldo is believed to have diuretic effects. Theoretically, these diuretic effects might reduce the excretion of lithium. The dose of lithium might need to be decreased.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Tacrolimus (Prograf)

Taking boldo with tacrolimus may decrease the levels and clinical effects of tacrolimus, potentially increasing the risk of transplant rejection.
In one case report, a patient with a long-term history of stable tacrolimus levels developed subtherapeutic levels after taking boldo 300 mg twice daily orally for several weeks. Tacrolimus levels returned to normal after discontinuing boldo. However, the mechanism of this interaction is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

A combination of boldo and fenugreek was thought to be associated with an increased international normalized ratio (INR) in a female on warfarin. It is not clear if boldo, fenugreek, or the combination played a role in this interaction. Therefore, boldo may have additive effects with warfarin.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Boldo, from the product label.

Hawaii Pharm

See all Hawaii Pharm products
Name
Hawaii Pharm LLC
City
Honolulu
State
HI
ZipCode
96815
Web Address
www.hawaiipharm.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Boldo by Hawaii Pharm: Common Questions

Does Boldo by Hawaii Pharm interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Boldo has a known interaction with 482 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Boldo 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.
Can I take boldo if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Boldo is considered unsafe in pregnancy because it may stimulate the uterus. There also isn't enough safety data to recommend it while breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before considering boldo if you're pregnant, planning pregnancy, or nursing.
What are the side effects I might notice?
The most common ones are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The bigger concern is liver damage — boldo contains ascaridole, a known liver toxin. Cases of elevated liver enzymes and jaundice have been reported in people taking it, which is why it's best used short-term in low doses, if at all.
Does boldo actually work for what it's supposed to do?
The evidence isn't established yet. Boldo is traditionally used for gallbladder and digestive issues, but we don't have reliable data showing it works for those purposes, or for benign prostate enlargement, kidney stones, or joint pain.
What's in this liquid besides the boldo extract?
The extract is mixed with vegetable palm glycerin, pharmaceutical-grade alcohol, and purified water. Those are inactive ingredients — they help deliver the boldo but aren't the active part.
Is boldo safe to use with my other medications?
That depends on what you take. Boldo has documented interactions with blood thinners, liver-stressing drugs, lithium, and tacrolimus, among others affecting 466 medications total. Use the medication checker on this page to look up your exact prescriptions before starting.

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

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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.

Boldo label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Boldo'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 10 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.

Boldo 10 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. Lambert J, Cormier J. Potential interaction between warfarin and boldo-fenugreek. Pharmacotherapy 2001;21:509-12. PubMed
  3. Piscaglia F, Leoni S, Venturi A, et al. Caution in the use of boldo in herbal laxatives: a case of hepatotoxicity. Scand J Gastroenterol 2005;40:236-9. PubMed
  4. Agarwal SC, Crook JR, Pepper CB. Herbal remedies -- how safe are they? A case report of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation induced by herbal medication used for obesity. Int J Cardiol 2006;106:260-1. PubMed
  5. Teng, C. M., Hsueh, C. M., Chang, Y. L., Ko, F. N., Lee, S. S., and Liu, K. C. Antiplatelet effects of some aporphine and phenanthrene alkaloids in rabbits and man. J Pharm Pharmacol 1997;49(7):706-711. PubMed
  6. Carbajal R, Yisfalem A, Pradhan N, et al. Case report: Boldo (Peumus boldus) and tacrolimus interaction in a renal transplant patient. Transplant Proc 2014;46(7):2400-2. PubMed
  7. Almeida ER, Melo AM, Xavier H. Toxicological evaluation of the hydro-alcohol extract of the dry leaves of Peumus boldus and boldine in rats. Phytother Res 2000;14(2):99-102. DOI
  8. Ribeiro RJ, Silvestre C, Duarte C. Hidden risks of alternative medicines: a case of boldo-induced hepatotoxicity. J Diet Suppl 2017;14(2):186-90. PubMed
  9. Oliveira Sá A, Pimentel T, Oliveira N. Boldo-Induced Hepatotoxicity: A Case of Unexplained Jaundice. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med 2020;7(12):002116. PubMed
  10. Valdes R, Feuereisen A, Bellinghausen M. Allergic Contact Dermatitis to Boldo. Dermatitis 2021;32(2):e31-e32. PubMed

See these in context on the Boldo 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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