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

Chinese Goldthread Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbal Terra

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

Chinese Goldthread is a dietary supplement by Herbal Terra with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive upset and diarrhea, mouth sores and sore throat, inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 643 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are certified organic Chinese Goldthread (Coptis chinensis) dried root liquid extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Chinese Goldthread 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

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: certified organic Chinese Goldthread (Coptis chinensis) dried root as a liquid extract. Goldthread is a traditional plant used in herbal medicine; its main active compound is berberine, which is responsible for the interactions we monitor.

The liquid also contains menstruum, which is an inactive ingredient used to extract and preserve the herb.

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

This is a single-ingredient Goldthread product and its label doesn't state a use — see Goldthread's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

We don't hold effectiveness ratings for Chinese Goldthread in our data, so we can't tell you what clinical evidence supports its use. That doesn't mean it's ineffective — it means the evidence is not established in the monograph we have on file.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Goldthread

How safe is it?

Some data gaps
Safety Information · database check
Some gaps

Safety data exists for these ingredients, but with some important gaps.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 0 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.

Human safety data for goldthread are limited, and quality can vary between products, so we advise caution if you're thinking of taking it short-term. Berberine can harm a fetus, so goldthread should be avoided during pregnancy.

It can also pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant, so avoid it while breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Goldthread

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 — Goldthread.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: immunosuppressants / transplant drugs.
  • For scale: 644 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 Chinese Goldthread, check if you take cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) — berberine can raise its levels. You should also verify any medications metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP3A4, since berberine may inhibit it, though this hasn't been reported in humans yet.

Use the medication checker on this page to be sure.

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 some safety-information gaps remain.

Chinese Goldthread carries a documented moderate interaction risk with cyclosporine and preliminary concern about a large class of medications your liver processes. If you take either of those, check with your pharmacist before starting.

Pregnant or breastfeeding? This product is not advised.

For anyone else, clarify your exact medications first — that's the move.

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 Sep 25, 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 Chinese Goldthread, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbal Terra
Barcode (UPC) 7429523880884
Net contents 4 Fluid Ounce(s); 120 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 25, 2020
DSLD ID 234678
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Organic, 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 Chinese Goldthread 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
120
UPC/BARCODE
7429523880884
IngredientAmount% DV
certified organic Chinese Goldthread (Coptis chinensis) dried root liquid extract970 mg--

Other ingredients: Menstruum

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

Direction 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. We recommend to seek expert medical advice before taking this or any other herbal supplements.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

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

Formulation

Manufactured in the USA in an FDA registered facility

Alcohol free

Dried herb/menstruum ratio: 1:3 Expertly extracted Laboratory tested 330 mg/1 mL Premium product Alcohol-free liquid herbal extract

Non GMO

No artificial ingredients, GMO, gluten, color additives, fillers, preservatives or binders. Natural Gluten Free

Precautions

Caution May have contraindications.

Do not use if you are allergic to any ingredients.

Consult a physician before using during pregnancy, if nursing, or if you are on any medications.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry, dark place.

Formula

Coptis chinensis

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Made in USA Made in an FDA registered facility Natural Gluten Free

See for yourself

Chinese Goldthread by Herbal Terra label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Chinese Goldthread 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 container120 Amounts shown are per serving.

970 mg per serving

Goldthread is a traditional Chinese and East Asian herb whose root is rich in berberine, a compound being studied for blood sugar, cholesterol, and an...

Certified organic Chinese Goldthread (Coptis chinensis) dried root liquid extract monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Chinese Goldthread by Herbal Terra Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Chinese Goldthread?

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
643Drugs
643 Moderate

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Chinese Goldthread 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.

certified organic Chinese Goldthread (Coptis chinensis) dried root liquid extract2 drug types · 643 drugs

Cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune)

Berberine, a constituent of goldthread, can reduce metabolism of cyclosporine and increase serum levels. It might inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), which metabolizes cyclosporine.

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

There's very preliminary evidence that berberine, a constituent of goldthread, might inhibit cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzyme. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. However, watch for an increase in the levels of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 in patients taking goldthread. Some drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 include lovastatin (Mevacor), clarithromycin (Biaxin), indinavir (Crixivan), sildenafil (Viagra), triazolam (Halcion), and numerous others. Use goldthread cautiously or avoid in patients taking these drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Chinese Goldthread, from the product label.

Herbal Terra

See all Herbal Terra products
Name
Herbal Terra
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Chinese Goldthread by Herbal Terra: Common Questions

Does Chinese Goldthread by Herbal Terra interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Chinese Goldthread has a known interaction with 643 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Chinese Goldthread 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 Chinese Goldthread if I'm pregnant?
No. The safety data rate berberine-containing herbs as likely unsafe in pregnancy because they may harm the fetus. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're pregnant or trying to conceive.
Is it safe to take while breastfeeding?
No. Berberine passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant, so goldthread is rated likely unsafe during breastfeeding. Discuss this with your pharmacist or doctor if you're nursing.
Does this product have fillers or other inactive ingredients?
Yes — it contains menstruum, which is an inactive ingredient used to extract and preserve the herb in liquid form.
What does goldthread do in the body?
We don't hold effectiveness data on file for this product, so we can't tell you what clinical evidence supports its traditional uses. Your pharmacist may be able to discuss what it's been traditionally used for.
Are there any reported side effects?
We don't have adverse-effect data on file for goldthread. What we do know is that human safety data are limited overall, and product quality can vary between brands.

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

Not sure if Chinese Goldthread 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.

Chinese Goldthread label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Chinese Goldthread'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.

Goldthread 3 references
  1. Chan E. Displacement of bilirubin from albumin by berberine. Biol Neonate 1993;63:201-8. PubMed
  2. Wu X, Li Q, Xin H, Yu A, Zhong M. Effects of berberine on the blood concentration of cyclosporin A in renal transplanted recipients: clinical and pharmacokinetic study. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2005;61:567-72. PubMed
  3. Chuang CH, Doyle P, Wang JD, et al. Herbal medicines used during the first trimester and major congenital malformations: an analysis of data from a pregnancy cohort study. Drug Saf 2006;29:537-48. PubMed

See these in context on the Goldthread 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