Star Anise Ingredients & Drug Interactions
by doTERRA
What is this page for?
First and foremost: checking Star Anise 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
Star Anise is a dietary supplement by doTERRA with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive upset and gas, cough and respiratory complaints, antimicrobial.We don’t currently list a known drug interaction for its mapped ingredients — but that doesn’t guarantee none exist, so always confirm with your pharmacist.
HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Star Anise by doTERRA
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
Full disclosure
doTERRA Star Anise is a single-ingredient liquid product. Star anise is a spice derived from the fruit of an anise tree, commonly used in cooking and traditional preparations.
This product delivers it in concentrated form rather than as the small amounts you'd sprinkle into food.
Does it work?
Couldn't assess
We hold no effectiveness ratings for star anise in our data, so we can't tell you what evidence supports its use or how strong that evidence is. If you're considering this product for a specific health goal, your pharmacist or doctor can help you figure out whether research backs that use.
How safe is it?
Well-documented data
Star anise in the small amounts used in cooking is generally well tolerated. However, concentrated supplements and medicinal amounts raise safety concerns — the evidence just isn't there to support their use.
Star anise tea has been linked to serious neurological effects including seizures, rapid eye movements, jitteriness, and vomiting, though it's unclear whether contamination with a toxic look-alike species (Japanese star anise) played a role. Topically, the anethole compound in star anise can trigger skin irritation including redness, scaling, and blistering.
Pregnancy and lactation safety data is mixed — some sources rate it likely safe, others possibly unsafe — so talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you're pregnant or nursing.
Meds to double-check
No known interactions
No interactions are documented in our data for the ingredient we could check. That doesn't mean none exist — it means we haven't found evidence of them.
Still, run your exact medications through the checker on this page or ask your pharmacist before you start.
The bottom line
Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. No medication interactions are currently documented, and safety information is well characterized.
Star anise from food is safe in everyday amounts. But this is a concentrated liquid product, and safety data for medicinal use is thin.
Contamination risk and reports of serious effects tied to star anise tea are worth taking seriously. Chat with your pharmacist about whether this product fits your needs and is right for you.
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 Jun 16, 2022.
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 Star Anise, straight from the product 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 Star Anise by doTERRA, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.
Supplement Facts
| Ingredient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Star Anise | 60 mg | -- |
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.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions
For aromatic and topical use. Diffuse aromatically or, to apply topically, dilute with a carrier oil to minimize skin sensitivity.
For internal use dilute one drop in 4 fl. oz. of liquid.
Precautions
Caution: Possible skin sensitivity.
Keep out of reach of children.
If pregnant or under a doctor's care, consult your physician.
Avoid contact with eyes, inner ears, and sensitive areas.
Formula
Illicium verum
FDA Statement of Identity
Essential Oil Supplement
Formulation
CPTG Certified Pure Tested Grade
General Statements
Peel back for more information.
Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.
Star Anise by doTERRA 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 Star Anise by doTERRA
This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.
Serving size1 Drop(s) Dosage formLiquid Servings per container85 Amounts shown are per serving.
Star Anise
No knowninteractions
Star anise (Illicium verum) is a star-shaped spice widely used in cooking and traditional medicine, mostly for digestive and respiratory complaints. H...
Star Anise monograph & interactionsStar Anise by doTERRA Drug Interactions
We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for the mapped ingredients in Star Anise. This doesn’t guarantee none exist — always confirm with your pharmacist before combining a supplement with your medications.
Brand information
Manufacturer and brand details for Star Anise, from the product label.
doTERRA
See all doTERRA products- Name
- doTERRA Intl, LLC
- Street Address
- 389 South 1300 West
- City
- Pleasant Grove
- State
- UT
- ZipCode
- 84062
Star Anise by doTERRA: Common Questions
Does Star Anise by doTERRA interact with any medications?
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Where does this information come from?
Is star anise safe to take while I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
What's the difference between this product and star anise I use in cooking?
Can star anise cause skin problems?
I've heard star anise tea can cause seizures. Is that true?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Not sure if Star Anise 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 Star Anise’s Ingredients
Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.
Sources & How We Checked
Star Anise'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 10 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.
Star Anise 10 references
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 182 -- Substances Generally Recognized As Safe. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?CFRPart=182
- Anon. FDA issue advisory on star anise "teas." FDA News P03-67; September 10, 2003.
- Ize-Ludlow D, Ragone S, Bernstein JN, et al. Chemical composition of Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) and neurotoxicity in infants. JAMA 2004;291:562-3. PubMed
- Ize-Ludlow D, Ragone S, Bruck IS, et al. Neurotoxicities in infants seen with the consumption of star anise tea. Pediatrics 2004;114:e653-6. PubMed
- Franks A. Contact allergy to anethole in toothpaste associated with loss of taste. Contact Dermatitis 1998;38:354-5. PubMed
- Rudzki E, Grzywa Z. Sensitizing and irritating properties of star anise oil. Contact Dermatitis 1976;2:305-8. PubMed
- Garzo, Fernandez C., Gomez, Pintado P., Barrasa, Blanco A., Martinez, Arrieta R., Ramirez, Fernandez R., and Ramon, Rosa F. [Cases of neurological symptoms associated with star anise consumption used as a carminative]. An.Esp.Pediatr. 2002;57(4):290-294.
- Minodier, P., Pommier, P., Moulene, E., Retornaz, K., Prost, N., and Deharo, L. [Star anise poisoning in infants]. Arch Pediatr. 2003;10(7):619-621.
- Casanova Cuenca M, Calzado Agrasot MÁ, Mir Pegueroles C, Esteban Cantó V. New cases of star anise poisoning: Are we providing enough information? Neurologia. 2019;34(3):211-213. DOI
- Donner J, Ruest S. Neonate with seizures after consuming star anise tea. R I Med J. 2021 Oct 1;104(8):8-10.
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