Grief Relief Ingredients & Drug Interactions
What is this page for?
First and foremost: checking Grief Relief 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
Grief Relief is a dietary supplement by Flower Essence Services with 9 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for eczema and dry skin, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 678 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are lemon balm, Borage officinalis, Gentiana calycosa. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.
Check Your Meds Against Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services
Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.
AI summaries are generated from our interaction database for education only — always confirm with your pharmacist. How we use AI
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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services
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.
What’s inside
Low disclosure
Grief Relief contains 9 active ingredients drawn from flower and plant essences, including borage, gentian, amaranth, yarrow, lemon balm, and myrrh, along with three other botanicals we couldn't fully evaluate. The product also contains water and brandy as inactive ingredients.
Does it work?
Moderate evidence
The evidence for most of these ingredients is not well established in our data. Lemon balm is rated Possibly Effective for cold sores and for stress and mood support.
Borage shows Possibly Ineffective evidence for eczema. The other ingredients—gentian, amaranth, and yarrow—lack reliable evidence for the conditions they're traditionally used for, rated as Insufficient Reliable Evidence.
Myrrh is Likely Ineffective for schistosomiasis and Insufficient for most other uses.
How safe is it?
Well-documented data
Borage carries significant cautions: the plant parts in this product (leaf, flower, seed) can contain liver-toxic alkaloids (pyrrolizidine alkaloids), and safety data is limited. Borage is rated Likely Unsafe in pregnancy due to those alkaloids and potential uterine effects.
Common side effects from borage seed oil include belching, bloating, diarrhea, and soft stools. Lemon balm is generally well tolerated short-term but not well studied long-term; it should be avoided in pregnancy unless a doctor advises otherwise.
Yarrow is traditionally avoided in pregnancy due to potential uterine effects and is not well studied long-term; allergic skin reactions can occur. Myrrh is traditionally said to stimulate the uterus and should be avoided in pregnancy.
Gentian and amaranth have limited safety data at medicinal doses. Pregnancy and breastfeeding safety data is either absent or advises against use for most ingredients in this blend.
Meds to double-check
Moderate interaction found
Check your exact medications before using Grief Relief if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs, antipsychotics, blood pressure medications, diabetes drugs, lithium, or thyroid hormone replacement. These interactions are Moderate severity.
The product contains 674 interactions across its checked ingredients—run your medication list through the checker on this page.
The bottom line
Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.
If you take a blood thinner, diabetes medication, blood pressure drug, lithium, or thyroid hormone replacement, check your exact medications with the tool on this page before using this product. Talk with your pharmacist or doctor before use, especially if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or have liver concerns.
Lemon balm may help with cold sores or stress, but evidence for the other ingredients' uses is weak or lacking.
Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI
Assessment coverage: 6 of 9 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jan 24, 2014.
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
General information
Key facts about Grief Relief, straight from the product label.
| Brand | Flower Essence Services |
|---|---|
| Barcode (UPC) | 782932151035 |
| Net contents | 1 fl. Oz.; 30 mL |
| Market status | On market |
| Date entered into DSLD | Jan 24, 2014 |
| DSLD ID | 29864 |
| Product type | Botanical |
| Supplement form | Liquid |
| Dietary claims / uses | No Claim |
| Intended target group(s) | Adult (18 - 50 Years) |
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 Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.
Supplement Facts
| Ingredient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| infusions of flowers of | 0 NP | -- |
| Essential Oils | 0 NP | -- |
| Myosotis sylvatica | 0 NP | -- |
| Borage officinalis | 0 NP | -- |
| Gentiana calycosa | 0 NP | -- |
| Amaranthus caudatus | 0 NP | -- |
| Dicentra formosa | 0 NP | -- |
| Rosa california | 0 NP | -- |
| Achillea millefolium var. rubra | 0 NP | -- |
| lemon balm | 0 NP | -- |
| Myrrh | 0 NP | -- |
Other ingredients: Water, Brandy
Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.
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.
FDA Statement of Identity
herbal supplement
General Statements
Solace and Insight in times of sorrow and searching flower essence & essential oil
BEST BY 09/2022
Brand IP Statement(s)
Certified Biodynamic(R) by the Demeter Association, Inc.
Seals/Symbols
DEMETER(R)
FES Quintessentials(TM)
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions
Suggested use: Spray four times daily in mouth or around body. Shake well before use.
Formulation
Certified organic by Stellar Certification Services, Inc.
General
120925
Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.
Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services label
The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.
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)The Ingredients in Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services
These are the 9 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.
Serving size4 Spray(s) Dosage formLiquid 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.
Infusions of flowers of
- › Myosotis sylvatica
- › Borage officinalis
- › Gentiana calycosa
- › Amaranthus caudatus
- › Dicentra formosa
- › Rosa california
- › Achillea millefolium var. rubra
Essential Oils
- › Lemon balm
- › Myrrh
Other (inactive) ingredients: Water, Brandy. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.
Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services Drug Interactions
HelloPharmacist Interaction Report
Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services contains several flower and plant extracts, a number of which interact with medications.
The most serious concern is borage, which carries Moderate severity interactions with blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs (like aspirin and clopidogrel) — it may increase bleeding risk. Borage also interacts with antipsychotic medications (phenothiazines) and certain liver enzyme inducers, both Moderate severity.
Read the full breakdown — every affected drug type, severity by severity
Lemon balm in this product has Moderate interactions with sedating medications and drugs like sleeping pills, as well as thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Gentian theoretically raises the risk of low blood pressure (hypotension) if taken with blood pressure medications.
Myrrh carries Moderate interactions with diabetes medications (raising the risk of low blood sugar) and warfarin, a blood thinner — warfarin's effectiveness may be reduced.
Yarrow interacts with lithium at Moderate severity, potentially raising lithium levels and side effects. We could not check Myosotis sylvatica, Dicentra formosa, and Rosa california because interaction data is not on file for them.
Altogether, these interactions span 674 individual medications. Use the medication checker below to verify your exact drugs before starting this product.
Check your own medications below · Editorial policy · How we use AI
Want to check YOUR meds against Grief 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 checkerIngredients driving the most interactions
Individual Drug Interactions
The ingredients in Grief Relief interact with 678 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.
5 of the 9 ingredients in Grief Relief interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. lemon balm Borage officinalis Gentiana calycosa Myrrh Achillea millefolium var. rubra
AbciximabReoPro
How Abciximab interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Borage OfficinalisAnticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Read the full Borage Officinalis + Abciximab interactionAbrocitinibCibinqo
How Abrocitinib interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Borage OfficinalisAnticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Read the full Borage Officinalis + Abrocitinib interactionAcarboseGlucobay, Prandase, Precose
How Acarbose interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
MyrrhAntidiabetes Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, myrrh might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
Read the full Myrrh + Acarbose interactionAcebutololRhotral, Sectral
How Acebutolol interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Gentiana CalycosaAntihypertensive Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, taking gentian with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.
Read the full Gentiana Calycosa + Acebutolol interactionAcenocoumarolSintrom
How Acenocoumarol interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Borage OfficinalisAnticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Read the full Borage Officinalis + Acenocoumarol interactionAcepromazineAtravet
How Acepromazine interacts with Grief Relief — through 2 ingredients. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acepromazine interactionBorage OfficinalisPhenothiazines Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, taking borage sed oil with phenothiazines might increase the risk of seizures.
Read the full Borage Officinalis + Acepromazine interactionAcetaminophen, AspirinGemnisyn
How Acetaminophen, Aspirin interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Borage OfficinalisAnticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Read the full Borage Officinalis + Acetaminophen, Aspirin interactionAcetaminophen, Aspirin, CaffeineExcedrin, Excedrin Extra Strength, Excedrin Migraine
How Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Borage OfficinalisAnticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Read the full Borage Officinalis + Acetaminophen, Aspirin, Caffeine interactionAcetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine, CodeineEsgic with Codeine, Fioricet w/ Codeine
How Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine, Codeine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Caffeine, Codeine interactionAcetaminophen, Butalbital, CodeineBancap w/ Codeine
How Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine interactionAcetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine PhosphatePhrenilin #3
How Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine Phosphate interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Butalbital, Codeine Phosphate interactionAcetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, PhenylephrineHycomine Compound
How Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Chlorpheniramine, Hydrocodone, Phenylephrine interactionAcetaminophen, Caffeine, CodeineGesic C15, Gesic C30, Gesic C8, Lenoltec 1, Lenoltec 2, Lenoltec 3 +1 more
How Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine interactionAcetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine, SalicylamideCodalan No.1, Codalan No.2, Codalan No.3
How Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine, Salicylamide interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Codeine, Salicylamide interactionAcetaminophen, Caffeine, DihydrocodeineDHC Plus, Panlor DC, Panlor SS
How Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Dihydrocodeine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Caffeine, Dihydrocodeine interactionAcetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Codeine, PhenylephrineColrex
How Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Codeine, Phenylephrine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Codeine, Phenylephrine interactionAcetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine, OpiumHista-Derfule
How Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine, Opium interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Chlorpheniramine, Phenylpropanolamine, Opium interactionAcetaminophen, Chlorzoxazone, CodeineAcetazone Forte C8, Parafon Forte C8
How Acetaminophen, Chlorzoxazone, Codeine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Chlorzoxazone, Codeine interactionAcetaminophen, CodeineTylenol No.3, Tylenol w/ Codeine
How Acetaminophen, Codeine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Codeine interactionAcetaminophen, Codeine, DoxylamineMersyndol
How Acetaminophen, Codeine, Doxylamine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Codeine, Doxylamine interactionAcetaminophen, Codeine, MethocarbamolAcetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol, Robaxacet 8
How Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Codeine, Methocarbamol interactionAcetaminophen, Dichloralantipyrine, IsomethepteneAmidrine, Midchlor, Migquin, Migratine
How Acetaminophen, Dichloralantipyrine, Isometheptene interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Dichloralantipyrine, Isometheptene interactionAcetaminophen, Dichloralphenazone, IsomethepteneMidrin
How Acetaminophen, Dichloralphenazone, Isometheptene interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Dichloralphenazone, Isometheptene interactionAcetaminophen, Dichlorophenazone, IsometheptaneIsocom
How Acetaminophen, Dichlorophenazone, Isometheptane interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Dichlorophenazone, Isometheptane interactionAcetaminophen, DiphenhydramineTylenol PM, Tylenol PM Ex Strength
How Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine interactionAcetaminophen, Diphenhydramine, PseudoephedrineChildren's Tylenol Allergy, Cold Control, Contac Night Allergy Relief
How Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Diphenhydramine, Pseudoephedrine interactionAcetaminophen, HydrocodoneAnexsia, Anodynos DHC, Azdone, Co-Gesic, Doucet, Lorcet +9 more
How Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Hydrocodone interactionAcetaminophen, IbuprofenCombogesic
How Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Borage OfficinalisAnticoagulant/antiplatelet Drugs Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
Read the full Borage Officinalis + Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen interactionAcetaminophen, MeperidineDemerol APAP
How Acetaminophen, Meperidine interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Meperidine interactionAcetaminophen, OxycodonePercocet, Roxicet, Tylox, Xartemis XR
How Acetaminophen, Oxycodone interacts with Grief Relief — through 1 ingredient. Tap an ingredient for the detail:
Lemon BalmCns Depressants Moderate
Interaction Summary
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Read the full Lemon Balm + Acetaminophen, Oxycodone interactionEach ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects
For each ingredient in Grief 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.
lemon balm
Cns Depressants
Theoretically, concomitant use of lemon balm might have additive effects with CNS depressant drugs.
Lemon balm seems to have CNS depressant activity in animals and in humans.
Thyroid Hormone
Theoretically, lemon balm might interfere with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
In vitro, constituents of lemon balm extract bind to thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), preventing TSH receptor-binding and leading to the inhibition of TSH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity. In animals, lemon balm extract has been shown to decrease levels of circulating TSH and inhibit thyroid secretion.
Borage officinalis
Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs
Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In healthy individuals, borage seed oil supplementation does not seem to affect platelet aggregation. However, gamma-linolenic acid, a constituent of borage seed oil, seems to decrease platelet aggregation by 45% and increase the risk of bleeding by 40% in animal and clinical research.
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Inducers
Theoretically, taking borage with drugs that induce CYP3A4 might increase levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) toxic metabolites.
Although borage seed oil contains little to no PAs, some borage plant parts, such as the leaf, flower, and seed, can contain hepatotoxic PAs. Hepatotoxic PAs are substrates of CYP3A4, which converts these chemicals into toxic metabolites. Tell patients to avoid borage preparations that are not certified and labeled as hepatotoxic PA-free.
Phenothiazines
Theoretically, taking borage sed oil with phenothiazines might increase the risk of seizures.
Borage seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). There is concern that taking supplements containing GLA might cause seizures, or lower the seizure threshold, when taken with phenothiazines. This is based on limited data from two reports published in the 1980s. In one report, three patients with schizophrenia who had received phenothiazines developed EEG changes suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy after starting treatment with evening primrose, another source of GLA. However, none experienced an actual seizure. In the other report, two patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on phenothiazines developed seizures when evening primrose 4 grams daily was added. One of these patients had a prior history of seizures. It is unclear whether evening primrose had any additive epileptogenic effects with the phenothiazines, but there is no evidence that taking GLA-containing supplements alone can cause seizures.
Gentiana calycosa
Antihypertensive Drugs
Theoretically, taking gentian with antihypertensive drugs might increase the risk of hypotension.
In vitro research shows that gentian can cause vasodilation and lower blood pressure.
Myrrh
Antidiabetes Drugs
Theoretically, myrrh might increase the risk of hypoglycemia when taken with antidiabetes drugs.
In vitro and animal research suggests that myrrh has hypoglycemic effects.
Warfarin (Coumadin)
Theoretically, myrrh might decrease the effectiveness of warfarin.
In one case, a patient who was previously stable on warfarin had a significant decline in international normalized ratio (INR) following consumption of an aqueous extract of myrrh.
Achillea millefolium var. rubra
Lithium
Theoretically, taking yarrow with lithium might increase the levels and adverse effects of lithium.
Animal research shows that yarrow has diuretic activity. Theoretically, due to these potential diuretic effects, yarrow might reduce excretion and increase levels of lithium. The dose of lithium might need to be decreased.
Brand information
Manufacturer and brand details for Grief Relief, from the product label.
Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services: Common Questions
Does Grief Relief by Flower Essence Services interact with any medications?
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Where does this information come from?
Can I use Grief Relief if I take warfarin?
Is this safe to use while pregnant?
What is lemon balm supposed to do?
Can I use this if I take blood pressure medication?
Does Grief Relief have any fillers?
Can I breastfeed while using this?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Not sure if Grief Relief is safe with your meds?
Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.
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.
The Full Monographs Behind Grief Relief’s Ingredients
Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.
Borage
Interacts with 226 drugsBorage is a Mediterranean herb whose seed oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid studied mostly for skin conditions and arthritis with mixed results. The plant's le...
Read the full Borage monograph → Herb & supplement monographGentian
Interacts with 172 drugsGentian is a very bitter root traditionally used to stimulate appetite and ease mild digestive complaints, often as part of "bitters" before meals. The evidence is mostly traditional and pre...
Read the full Gentian monograph → Herb & supplement monographAmaranth
Amaranth is a nutritious plant whose seeds are used as a gluten-free pseudocereal and whose leaves are eaten as a vegetable. It is generally considered safe as a food, but evidence for its m...
Read the full Amaranth monograph → Herb & supplement monographYarrow
Interacts with 1 drugYarrow is a traditional herb long used for wounds, digestive complaints, and colds, but high-quality human studies are very limited, so its benefits are not well proven. It is generally used...
Read the full Yarrow monograph → Herb & supplement monographLemon Balm
Interacts with 264 drugsLemon balm is a gentle, lemon-scented mint-family herb traditionally used to ease stress, support sleep, and calm digestion, and topically for cold sores. Early studies are promising but gen...
Read the full Lemon Balm monograph → Herb & supplement monographMyrrh
Interacts with 88 drugsMyrrh is a fragrant gum resin from Commiphora trees that has long been used in mouthwashes, throat remedies, and skin care. Modern evidence for most of its uses is limited and comes mostly f...
Read the full Myrrh monograph →Sources & How We Checked
Grief 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.
- NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD) — The official product label on file for this supplement.
- Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — Evidence-graded clinical reference behind the ingredient interaction data.
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 50 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.
Borage 11 references
- Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O. Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty A PubMed
- WHO working group. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Environmental Health Criteria, 80. WHO: Geneva, 1988.
- Fan YY, Chapkin RS. Importance of dietary gamma-linolenic acid in human health and nutrition. J Nutr 1998;128:1411-4.
- Takwale A, Tan E, Agarwal S, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of borage oil in adults and children with atopic eczema: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group trial. BMJ 2003;327:1385. PubMed
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