Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 3 of 5 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

David Winston's Tension Relief Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbalist & Alchemist

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

David Winston's Tension Relief is a dietary supplement by Herbalist & Alchemist with 5 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for lowering cholesterol, heart and digestive health, soothing itchy or irritated skin.Based on those ingredients, 1,106 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Bacopa herb extract, Motherwort flowering tops extract, Oat milky seed extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of David Winston's Tension Relief 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

Low disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Low

Most active ingredients don't disclose an individual amount — you can't tell how much of each you're getting.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 0 of its 5 active ingredients.
  • “Proprietary Blend” is a proprietary blend — the label gives one combined amount (4 mL) without saying how much of each component you get.

This liquid herbal blend contains five active ingredients. Oat milky seed extract provides the whole grain oat plant in concentrated form.

Motherwort flowering tops extract is made from the flowering portions of the motherwort plant. Bacopa herb extract is derived from bacopa, a tropical plant used in traditional herbal practice.

Blue vervain flowering tops extract and polygala root extract round out the blend. The product also contains distilled water and ethyl alcohol 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.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: supports a calm mind.
  • We looked for evidence on: Anxiety, Insomnia, Stress, Nervous tension, Restlessness.
  • The closest evidence on file: Motherwort is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Anxiety (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Motherwort is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Insomnia.
  • Also on file: Bacopa is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Insomnia.

The evidence we hold on effectiveness is mixed. Oat extract is likely effective for helping manage cholesterol levels (dyslipidemia) and supporting heart health (coronary heart disease).

For motherwort, the data shows it is possibly effective for bleeding; the evidence for its use with anxiety, amenorrhea, and other conditions is insufficient to rate. Bacopa's effectiveness for cognitive function, attention, sexual dysfunction, and other uses has insufficient reliable evidence in our data.

Blue vervain flowering tops and polygala root do not have effectiveness ratings on file.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Oats Motherwort Bacopa

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 3 of the 3 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 3 of 3.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 3 of 3.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Oat extract is generally well tolerated as a food; the most common side effects are bloating, flatulence, abdominal distension, and unpleasant taste — these usually fade with continued use and can be minimized by starting with a low dose and building up slowly. Motherwort appears generally well tolerated short-term, though human safety data are limited; oral side effects include diarrhea and stomach irritation.

Bacopa is generally well tolerated in studies, though long-term safety data are limited; the most common side effects include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, and nausea, with rates of gastrointestinal side effects ranging from 12% to 30%. During pregnancy, oat as a food is generally considered safe, but concentrated oat supplements are less studied.

Motherwort is traditionally thought to stimulate the uterus and should be avoided in pregnancy. Bacopa does not have enough safety information and is best avoided in pregnancy and while breastfeeding.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about this product if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Oats Motherwort Bacopa

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?
  • 3 of the 3 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Motherwort, Bacopa, Oats.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 1,107 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.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding this product if you take insulin or other diabetes medications (moderate risk of low blood sugar), CNS depressants like sedatives or tranquilizers (moderate risk of increased drowsiness), drugs metabolized by liver pathways CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, or CYP3A4 (moderate risk of increased drug levels), anticholinergic or cholinergic drugs (moderate risk of interference), cevimeline/Evoxac (moderate risk — one documented case of serious side effects), or thyroid hormone (minor risk of additive effects).

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

This blend may be worth discussing with your doctor or pharmacist if you're interested in herbal support for tension, especially if you're drawn to oats for heart health — though the evidence for some ingredients is limited. Be cautious if you take insulin, blood sugar medications, sleep aids or sedatives, thyroid hormone, or medications that rely on liver enzymes to be cleared from your body.

Check your specific medications with the tool on this page before you start, and talk it over with your own doctor or pharmacist.

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

Assessment coverage: 3 of 5 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Nov 21, 2019.

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 David Winston's Tension Relief, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbalist & Alchemist
Barcode (UPC) 667056135072
Net contents 2 fl. Oz.; 60 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Nov 21, 2019
DSLD ID 209650
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 David Winston's Tension Relief 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:
3 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
4 mL
Servings per container
15
UPC/BARCODE
667056135072
IngredientAmount% DV
Proprietary Blend4 mL--
Oat milky seed extract0 NP--
Motherwort flowering tops extract0 NP--
Bacopa herb extract0 NP--
Blue Vervain flowering tops extract0 NP--
Polygala root extract0 NP--

Other ingredients: distilled Water, Ethyl Alcohol

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

Supports a calm mind

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested use: 60-80 drops (3-4 mL) in juice or water. Take 3-4 times per day. Shake well before using.

Precautions

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

FDA Disclaimer Statement

Keep out of children's reach

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

Seals/Symbols

OK

Formula

OK

See for yourself

David Winston's Tension Relief by Herbalist & Alchemist label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in David Winston's Tension Relief by Herbalist & Alchemist

These are the 5 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size3 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container15 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Proprietary Blend

4 mL per serving

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

Interaction report

David Winston's Tension Relief by Herbalist & Alchemist Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against David Winston's Tension Relief?

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
1,106Drugs
1,093 Moderate 13 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in David Winston's Tension Relief with known interactions, here are the types of medications they can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Bacopa herb extract8 drug types · 930 drugs

Anticholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, concurrent use might decrease the effectiveness of both agents.
Bacopa seems to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels, which could counteract the effects of anticholinergic drugs. Similarly, anticholinergic drugs might counteract the cholinergic effects of bacopa.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cevimeline (Evoxac)

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the effects and adverse effects of cevimeline.
In one case, a 58-year-old female taking cevimeline long-term for Sjogren syndrome experienced hyperhidrosis, malaise, nausea, and tachycardia shortly after taking a single dose of bacopa. Symptoms resolved after two days. Cevimeline is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 and CYP3A4, and researchers theorize that bacopa may have inhibited these isoenzymes. However, it is unclear if bacopa causes clinically significant inhibition of either CYP2D6 or CYP3A4.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, concurrent use of bacopa with other cholinergic drugs might have additive effects.
Bacopa seems to inhibit acetylcholinesterase and might increase acetylcholine levels. Theoretically, this could result in additive cholinergic effects when used with cholinergic drugs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 1A2 (Cyp1A2) Substrates

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP1A2 substrates.
Research on the effects of bacopa extracts on CYP1A2 enzymes is conflicting. Some in vitro evidence shows that bacopa extract can moderately and non-competitively inhibit CYP1A2, while other in vitro evidence suggests that any effect is unlikely to be clinically significant.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2C19 (Cyp2C19) Substrates

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP2C19 substrates.
In vitro evidence suggests that bacopa extract can moderately and non-competitively inhibit CYP2C19 enzymes. It is not known whether this is clinically significant.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2C9 (Cyp2C9) Substrates

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP2C9 substrates.
Research on the effect of bacopa extracts on CYP2C9 enzymes is conflicting. Some in vitro evidence suggests that bacopa extract can moderately and non-competitively inhibit CYP2C9, while other in vitro evidence suggests that any effect is unlikely to be clinically significant.

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

Theoretically, bacopa might increase the levels and adverse effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
Research on the effects of bacopa extracts on CYP3A4 enzymes is conflicting. Some in vitro evidence suggests that bacopa extract can moderately and competitively inhibit CYP3A4, while other in vitro evidence suggests that any effect is unlikely to be clinically significant.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Thyroid Hormone

Theoretically, bacopa might have additive effects when used with thyroid hormone.
Animal research suggests that bacopa increases thyroxine (T4) levels in mice by about 40%.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Motherwort flowering tops extract1 drug type · 248 drugs

Cns Depressants

Theoretically, taking motherwort concomitantly with other CNS depressants may increase the risk of sedation.
Motherwort has been reported to cause CNS depression and sedation.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D

Oat milky seed extract2 drug types · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, oats may have additive effects with antidiabetic agents and might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Consuming oats can decrease blood glucose in patients with diabetes. In those who require insulin, taking oats 100 grams daily for 2 days reduces the insulin dose required to achieve metabolic control.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Insulin

Concomitant use of oats and insulin might increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
In patients with insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes, taking oats 100 grams daily for 2 days reduces the insulin dose required to achieve metabolic control.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for David Winston's Tension Relief, 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

David Winston's Tension Relief by Herbalist & Alchemist: Common Questions

Does David Winston's Tension Relief by Herbalist & Alchemist interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, David Winston's Tension Relief has a known interaction with 1,106 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
David Winston's Tension Relief contains 5 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is 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 oat extract safe for people with diabetes?
Oat can lower blood sugar and may reduce the insulin dose required for metabolic control. If you take insulin or diabetes medications, talk with your doctor before using this product — you may need a dose adjustment.
Can I take this if I'm on a sleep aid or tranquilizer?
Motherwort in this blend causes sedation and could add to the drowsiness from sleep aids or other CNS depressants. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
What are the most common side effects?
Oat can cause bloating, flatulence, and abdominal distension, which usually fade with continued use if you start low and build up slowly. Bacopa may cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, dry mouth, headache, and nausea in 12% to 30% of users. Motherwort can cause diarrhea and stomach irritation.
Is this safe during pregnancy?
Motherwort should be avoided in pregnancy because it is traditionally thought to stimulate the uterus. Bacopa does not have enough safety information for pregnancy either, so it's best avoided. Oat as a food is generally considered safe, but concentrated oat supplements are less studied — talk with your doctor about what's right for you.
Will this lower my cholesterol?
Oat extract is likely effective for cholesterol management (dyslipidemia) and supporting heart health. The evidence for the other ingredients in this blend is insufficient or not established.
What are the inactive ingredients?
This liquid contains distilled water and ethyl alcohol as inactive ingredients.

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.

David Winston's Tension Relief label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

David Winston's Tension Relief'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 31 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.

Oats 13 references
  1. Cooper SG, Tracey EJ. Small-bowel obstruction caused by oat-bran bezoar. N Engl J Med 1989;320:1148-9. DOI
  2. Pick ME, Hawrysh ZJ, Gee MI, et al. Oat bran concentrate bread products improve long-term control of diabetes: a pilot study. J Am Diet Assoc 1996;96:1254-61. PubMed
  3. Braaten JT, Scott FW, Wood PJ, et al. High beta-glucan oat bran and oat gum reduce postprandial blood glucose and insulin in subjects with and without type 2 diabetes. Diabet Med 1994;11:312-8.
  4. Rosario PG, Gerst PH, Prakash K, Albu E. Dentureless distention: oat bran bezoars cause obstruction. J Am Geriatr Soc 1990;38:608. PubMed
  5. Food and Drug Administration. Food labeling: health claims: oats and coronary heart disease. Fed Regist 1996;61:296-313.
  6. Foulke J. FDA Allows Whole Oat Foods To Make Health Claim on Reducing the Risk of Heart Disease. FDA Talk Paper. 1997. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/ANSWERS/ANS00782.html.
  7. Chandalia M, Garg A, Lutjohann D, et al. Beneficial effects of high dietary fiber intake in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. N Engl J Med 2000;342:1392-8. PubMed
  8. Lembo A, Camilleri M. Chronic constipation. N Engl J Med 2003;349:1360-8. . PubMed
  9. De Paz Arranz S, Perez Montero A, Remon LZ, Molero MI. Allergic contact urticaria to oatmeal. Allergy 2002;57:1215. . PubMed
  10. Delgado G, Kleber ME, Krämer BK, et al. Dietary intervention with oatmeal in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus - A crossover study. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 2019;127(9):623-629. PubMed
  11. Sobhan M, Hojati M, Vafaie SY, Ahmadimoghaddam D, Mohammadi Y, Mehrpooya M. The efficacy of colloidal oatmeal cream 1% as add-on therapy in the management of chronic irritant hand eczema: A double-blind study. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:241-25
  12. Hou Q, Li Y, Li L, Cheng G, Sun X, Li S, Tian H. The metabolic effects of oats intake in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrients. 2015;7(12):10369-87. PubMed
  13. González-Afonso M, Cañas JA, Sastre B, et al. A Case of Anaphylaxis After Ingestion of Oats: Research Into New Allergens. J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2022;32(6):506-508. PubMed

See these in context on the Oats monograph →

Motherwort 6 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.
  4. Wojtyniak K, Szymanski M, Matlawska I. Leonurus cardiaca L. (motherwort): a review of its phytochemistry and pharmacology. Phytother Res 2013;27(8):1115-20.
  5. Xia WT, Zhou H, Wang Y, et al. Motherwort injection in preventing post-abortion hemorrhage after induced abortion: A multi-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial. Explore (NY). 2019. pii: S1550-8307(19)30447-1. PubMed
  6. Cao Shan DOSOGC, Zhang W, Zhao Z, et al. Post-marketing safety surveillance and reevaluation of Motherwort injection: A clinical study of 10 094 cases. J Tradit Chin Med. 2018 Aug;38(4):625-635. DOI

See these in context on the Motherwort monograph →

Bacopa 12 references
  1. Stough C, Lloyd J, Clarke J, et al. The chronic effects of an extract of Bacopa monniera (Brahmi) on cognitive function in healthy human subjects. Psychopharmacology 2001;156:481-4..
  2. Yadav SK, Jain AK, Tripathi SN, Gupta JP. Irritable bowel syndrome: therapeutic evaluation of indigenous drugs. Indian J Med Res 1989;90:496-503..
  3. Morgan A, Stevens J. Does Bacopa monnieri improve memory performance in older persons? Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. J Altern Complement Med 2010;16:753-9.
  4. Kar, A., Panda, S., and Bharti, S. Relative efficacy of three medicinal plant extracts in the alteration of thyroid hormone concentrations in male mice. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;81(2):281-285. PubMed
  5. Mukherjee, G. D. and Dey, C. D. Clinical trial on Brahmi. I. J.Exp.Med.Sci. 1966;10(1):5-11.
  6. Kar A, Pandit S, Mukherjee K, Bahadur S, Mukherjee PK. Safety assessment of selected medicinal food plants used in Ayurveda through CYP450 enzyme inhibition study. J Sci Food Agric 2017;97(1):333-40. doi: 10.1002/jsfa.7739. PubMed
  7. Kongkeaw C, Dilokthornsakul P, Thanarangsarit P, et al. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cognitive effects of Bacopa monnieri extract. J Ethnopharmacol 2014;151(1):528-35. PubMed
  8. Ramasamy S, Kiew LV, Chung LY. Inhibition of human cytochrome P450 enzymes by Bacopa monnieri standardized extract and constituents. Molecules 2014;19(2):2588-601. PubMed
  9. Prabhakar S, Vishnu VY, Modi M, et al. Efficacy of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) and donepezil in Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: a randomized double-blind parallel phase 2b study. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2020;23(6):767-73. PubMed
  10. Acquarulo B, Tandon P, Macica CM. Suspected cholinergic toxicity due to cevimeline hydrochloride and Bacopa monnieri interaction: a case report. J Med Case Rep 2022;16(1):253. PubMed
  11. Keegan AP, Stough C, Paris D, et al. Bacopa monnieri supplementation has no effect on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels but beneficially modulates nuclear factor kappa B and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein levels in healthy elderl
  12. Yaworski AM, Blyumin M, Chang T, Mammen AL, Greene M. Necrotizing myopathy with elevated anti-HMGCR antibodies following exposure to the supplement Bacopa. Muscle Nerve 2023;67(2):E1-E3.

See these in context on the Bacopa 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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