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

Cascara Alcohol Free Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbal Terra

Cascara Alcohol Free label
See full label image
Liquid Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Cascara Alcohol Free 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

Cascara Alcohol Free is a dietary supplement by Herbal Terra with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for constipation, bowel cleansing before procedures, hemorrhoids.Based on those ingredients, 745 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Cascara Bark Extract, Dry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

Jump to a section

Check Your Meds Against Cascara Alcohol Free by Herbal Terra

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Cascara Alcohol Free by Herbal Terra — 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 Cascara Alcohol Free by Herbal Terra

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 11, 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 product contains one active ingredient: cascara bark extract. Cascara is a stimulant laxative — it works by irritating the colon to promote bowel movements.

The liquid also includes glycerin and water as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

Leans against
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
Leans against

The strongest graded evidence we hold for the stated purpose leans against a benefit.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: bowel regularity and digestive support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Constipation, Bowel preparation, Bowel cleansing, Digestive health.
  • The closest evidence on file: Cascara Sagrada is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Bowel preparation (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Cascara Sagrada is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Constipation.

The evidence for cascara's effectiveness is limited. For bowel preparation (such as before a procedure), it's rated possibly ineffective.

For general constipation, we don't have enough reliable evidence to rate whether it works. If you're considering it for either purpose, talk with your pharmacist or doctor about options with stronger evidence behind them.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Cascara Sagrada

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 short-term and as directed, cascara is generally well tolerated. The most common side effect is mild abdominal discomfort and cramps.

However, the safety data advises against using cascara during pregnancy, and active compounds may pass into breast milk, so it's best avoided while nursing. Long-term use carries real risks: it can cause low potassium, liver damage (rare but serious), and chronic changes like muscle wasting and protein loss in urine.

Fresh or improperly aged cascara bark can trigger severe vomiting.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Cascara Sagrada

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 — Cascara Sagrada.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; heart-rhythm medications.
  • For scale: 746 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 this product, check with your pharmacist if you take warfarin or another blood thinner (Moderate risk of bleeding), diuretics or corticosteroids (Moderate risk of low potassium), digoxin or other heart medications (Moderate risk of toxicity), other stimulant laxatives (Moderate risk of electrolyte losses), or any medications metabolized by your liver (Minor risk of reduced effectiveness).

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with graded evidence leaning against its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Cascara Alcohol Free is a short-term constipation remedy, but it's not your first choice — the evidence for it is weak, and long-term use brings genuine risks. If you take a blood thinner, diuretic, corticosteroid, heart medication like digoxin, or another stimulant laxative, check with your pharmacist before using this product.

It's off-limits in pregnancy and while nursing.

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 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 Cascara Alcohol Free, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbal Terra
Barcode (UPC) 7386004914912
Net contents 2 Fluid Ounce(s); 60 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 22, 2024
DSLD ID 324045
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Sugar 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 Cascara Alcohol Free by Herbal Terra, 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 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 mL
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
7386004914912
IngredientAmount% DV
Cascara Bark Extract, Dry1156 mg--

Other ingredients: Glycerin, 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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Shake well before use. Adults take up to 30 drops (1 mL, one full squeeze of the dropper bulb) in 3-4 fl. oz. of juice or water up to 4 times a day.

Precautions

We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking. May have contraindications and cause adverse reaction.

Consult a physician before giving to children under 18, before using during pregnancy, if nursing, or if you are on any medications.

Consult a physician before giving to children under 18, before using during pregnancy, if nursing, or if you are on any medications. Keep out of the reach of children!

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry, dark place.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

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

Formulation

cGMP Made in compliance with cGMP 21 CFR 111 in an FDA registered and inspected facility.

Sugar free

Expertly extracted 100% natural Premium product

No alcohol (ethyl), artificial ingredients, color additives, fillers or binders.

Natural Gluten free

Formula

Frangula purshiana

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Made in USA

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

See for yourself

Cascara Alcohol Free by Herbal Terra label

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

Cascara Alcohol Free 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 Cascara Alcohol Free by Herbal Terra

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

Serving size1 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Cascara Bark Extract, Dry

Interacts with
745 drugs
1156 mg per serving

Cascara sagrada is a stimulant laxative made from the aged bark of a Pacific Northwest tree, used mainly for short-term relief of constipation. Becaus...

Cascara Bark Extract, Dry monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Cascara Alcohol Free by Herbal Terra Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Cascara Alcohol Free?

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
745Drugs
122 Moderate 623 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Cascara Bark Extract, Dry 745

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Cascara Alcohol Free interact with 745 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Cascara Alcohol Free interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Cascara Bark Extract, Dry

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Cascara Alcohol Free 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.

Cascara Bark Extract, Dry6 drug types · 745 drugs

Corticosteroids

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might increase the risk of hypokalemia when taken with corticosteroids.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects, and long-term use has been associated with hypokalemia.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might cause hypokalemia, potentially increasing the risk of digoxin toxicity.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects, and long-term use has been associated with hypokalemia.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Diuretic Drugs

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might increase the risk of hypokalemia when taken with diuretic drugs.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects, and long-term use has been associated with hypokalemia.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Stimulant Laxatives

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might have additive adverse effects when taken with stimulant laxatives.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects and might compound fluid and electrolyte losses when taken with stimulant laxatives.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Warfarin (Coumadin)

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with warfarin.
Cascara sagrada has stimulant laxative effects. In some people, cascara sagrada can cause diarrhea. Diarrhea can increase the effects of warfarin, increase international normalized ratio (INR), and increase the risk of bleeding.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, cascara sagrada might decrease the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research suggests that cascara sagrada can induce CYP3A4 enzymes, albeit to a much lower degree than rifampin, a known CYP3A4 inducer.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cascara Bark Extract, Dry full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Cascara Alcohol Free, from the product label.

Herbal Terra

See all Herbal Terra products
Name
Herbal Terra LLC
Phone Number
+18083857868
Web Address
herbalterra.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Cascara Alcohol Free by Herbal Terra: Common Questions

Does Cascara Alcohol Free by Herbal Terra interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Cascara Alcohol Free has a known interaction with 745 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Cascara Alcohol Free 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.
How does cascara work?
Cascara is a stimulant laxative — it irritates the colon wall to trigger a bowel movement. It's meant for short-term use only, not as a regular daily aid.
Does cascara really treat constipation?
The evidence isn't strong enough to say it works reliably for constipation. For bowel preparation before a procedure, it's actually rated possibly ineffective. Talk to your pharmacist about other options with better evidence.
What are the main side effects?
Short-term, you might get mild abdominal cramping or discomfort. Long-term use is riskier: it can cause low potassium levels, liver damage (rarely), protein in your urine, and muscle wasting. Fresh cascara bark can cause severe vomiting.
Can I use cascara if I'm pregnant or nursing?
No — the safety data advises against it during pregnancy. While nursing, active compounds may pass into breast milk, so it's best avoided then too. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about safer alternatives.
Is this safe to use long-term?
No. Cascara carries real risks with long-term use, including low potassium, liver damage, and chronic kidney or urinary changes. It's designed for short-term constipation relief only.
Why does this product say 'alcohol free'?
Cascara extracts are often sold as alcoholic tinctures because alcohol helps preserve and extract the active compounds. This version uses glycerin and water instead, making it alcohol-free — useful if you need to avoid alcohol for medical or personal reasons.

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

Not sure if Cascara Alcohol Free 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.

Cascara Alcohol Free label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Cascara Alcohol Free’s Ingredients

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

Herb & supplement monograph

Cascara Sagrada

Interacts with 745 drugs

Cascara sagrada is a stimulant laxative made from the aged bark of a Pacific Northwest tree, used mainly for short-term relief of constipation. Because it can cause cramping, dehydration, an...

Read the full Cascara Sagrada monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Cascara Alcohol Free'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 9 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.

Cascara Sagrada 9 references
  1. Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Trans. S. Klein. Boston, MA: American Botanical Council, 1998.
  2. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  3. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  4. Covington TR, et al. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 11th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association, 1996.
  5. Nusko G, Schneider B, Schneider I, et al. Anthranoid laxative use is not a risk factor for colorectal neoplasia: results of a prospective case control study. Gut 2000;46:651-5. PubMed
  6. Nadir A, Reddy D, Van Thiel DH. Cascara-sagrada induced intrahepatic cholestasis causing portal hypertension: case report and review of herbal hepatotoxicity. Am J Gastroenterol 2000;95:3634-7. PubMed
  7. Nakasone ES, Tokeshi J. A serendipitous find: a case of cholangiocarcinoma identified incidentally after acute liver injury due to cascara sagrada ingestion. Hawaii J Med Public Health 2015;74(6):200-2.
  8. Cirillo C, Capasso R. Constipation and botanical medicines: an overview. Phytother Res 2015;29(10):1488-93. PubMed
  9. Mazzari ALDA, Lacerda MG, Milton FA, et al. In vitro effects of European and Latin-American medicinal plants in CYP3A4 gene expression, glutathione levels, and P-glycoprotein activity. Front Pharmacol 2022;13:826395. PubMed

See these in context on the Cascara Sagrada 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