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Dietary supplement

Sassafras Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Herbal Terra

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

Sassafras is a dietary supplement by Herbal Terra with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive complaints, cold and flu symptoms, joint and muscle aches.Based on those ingredients, 275 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Sassafras Leaf Extract, Dry. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Sassafras 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.

Herbal Terra Sassafras Liquid contains one active ingredient: sassafras leaf extract (dry form). The product also includes alcohol, water, and glycerin as inactive ingredients.

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 Sassafras product and its label doesn't state a use — see Sassafras'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 hold no effectiveness data for sassafras in our files. However, it's important to know that sassafras carries serious safety concerns — the FDA has banned it from food due to safrole, a compound linked to cancer and liver damage.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Sassafras

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.

Sassafras is rated as likely unsafe for use. The safrole it contains is carcinogenic and toxic to the liver.

Orally, sassafras can cause sweating and hot flashes; large amounts can cause hallucinations lasting several days, shakes, vomiting, dilated pupils, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and in severe cases, liver cancer and death. Topically, it may cause contact dermatitis.

You should avoid this product during pregnancy and while breastfeeding — safrole is toxic and may harm a developing baby, and safety data during breastfeeding is lacking.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Sassafras

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 — Sassafras.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 275 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.

If you do consider this product, check with your pharmacist before taking it with CNS depressants (sedatives, sleep aids, anti-anxiety drugs) — sassafras may add to their sedating effects (Moderate severity). Also check if you take CYP1A2 inducers like omeprazole (Prilosec) — lab research suggests these might increase safrole toxicity, though this hasn't been confirmed in humans (Moderate severity).

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 safety information is well characterized.

We can't recommend sassafras. The compound safrole in it is carcinogenic and linked to liver toxicity — the FDA banned it from food for this reason.

The risks of using this product in medicinal amounts far outweigh any potential benefits. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking it, especially if you take sedatives, sleep aids, or any other medications.

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 May 21, 2025.

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 Sassafras, straight from the product label.

Brand Herbal Terra
Barcode (UPC) 7238360577334
Net contents 2 Fluid Ounce(s); 60 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD May 21, 2025
DSLD ID 325366
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 Sassafras 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
7238360577334
IngredientAmount% DV
Sassafras Leaf Extract, Dry983 mg--

Other ingredients: Alcohol, Water, Glycerin

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

Organic alcohol

No artificial ingredients, color additives, fillers or binders.

Natural Gluten free

Formula

Sassafras albidum

Organic alcohol

FDA Statement of Identity

Herbal Supplement

Seals/Symbols

Made in USA

See for yourself

Sassafras by Herbal Terra label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Sassafras 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.

Sassafras Leaf Extract, Dry

Interacts with
275 drugs
983 mg per serving Form: Sassafras albidum leaf Extract, Dry

Sassafras is an aromatic North American tree whose root bark and oil were once popular in teas and as a flavoring, but it contains safrole, a compound...

Sassafras Leaf Extract, Dry monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Sassafras by Herbal Terra Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Sassafras?

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
275Drugs
275 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Sassafras 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.

Sassafras Leaf Extract, Dry2 drug types · 275 drugs

Cns Depressants

Theoretically, concomitant use of sassafras with drugs with sedative properties may cause additive sedative effects.

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

In vitro research suggests that cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) inducers might increase the cytotoxicity of safrole. So far, this interaction has not been reported in humans. Also, it is not known if CYP1A2 inducers increase the toxicity of sassafras. Inducers of CYP1A2 include omeprazole (Prilosec).

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Sassafras, 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

Sassafras by Herbal Terra: Common Questions

Does Sassafras by Herbal Terra interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Sassafras has a known interaction with 275 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Sassafras 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.
Is sassafras safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Sassafras is rated likely unsafe during pregnancy because safrole is toxic and may harm a developing baby. You should also avoid it while breastfeeding due to safrole's toxicity and lack of safety data. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're pregnant or nursing and considering any herbal product.
What are the side effects of sassafras?
Sassafras can cause sweating and hot flashes. In large amounts, it can cause hallucinations lasting several days, shakes, vomiting, dilated pupils, high blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat. The most serious concern is that safrole (a compound in sassafras) is carcinogenic — 5 mL of sassafras oil alone can cause severe toxicity including liver cancer and death.
Why did the FDA ban sassafras?
The FDA banned sassafras from food because it contains safrole, a compound linked to cancer and liver toxicity. Increased rates of esophageal cancer have been noted in areas where sassafras is consumed habitually.
What should I do before taking this product?
Check with your pharmacist or doctor first — especially if you take sedatives, sleep aids, heartburn medications, or any other prescription drugs. Because sassafras carries serious toxicity risks and no established benefits in our data, most pharmacists will recommend against it altogether.

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

Not sure if Sassafras 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.

Sassafras label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Sassafras'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.

Sassafras 9 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. The Review of Natural Products by Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Co., 1999.
  3. Leung AY, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
  4. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  5. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  6. Ueng, Y. F., Hsieh, C. H., Don, M. J., Chi, C. W., and Ho, L. K. Identification of the main human cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in safrole 1'-hydroxylation. Chem Res Toxicol 2004;17(8):1151-1156. PubMed
  7. Kapadia, G. J., Chung, E. B., Ghosh, B., Shukla, Y. N., Basak, S. P., Morton, J. F., and Pradhan, S. N. Carcinogenicity of some folk medicinal herbs in rats. J Natl.Cancer Inst. 1978;60(3):683-686.
  8. Segelman, A. B., Segelman, F. P., Karliner, J., and Sofia, R. D. Sassafras and herb tea. Potential health hazards. JAMA 8-2-1976;236(5):477. DOI
  9. Hu L, Wu F, He J, Zhong L, Song Y, Shao H. Cytotoxicity of safrole in HepaRG cells: studies on the role of CYP1A2-mediated ortho-quinone metabolic activation. Xenobiotica. 2019;49(12):1504-1515. PubMed

See these in context on the Sassafras 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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