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Dietary supplement

Sweet Root Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Pure Herbs

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

Sweet Root is a dietary supplement by Pure Herbs with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for digestive upset and gas, loss of appetite, memory and focus (traditional).Based on those ingredients, 1,117 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Calamus Root Extract. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Sweet Root by Pure Herbs

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.

Sweet Root contains one active ingredient: calamus root extract. Calamus is a plant used traditionally for digestive and respiratory purposes, though current evidence doesn't reliably support those uses.

The product has no other inactive ingredients listed.

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 — see Calamus's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: relieve occasional gas and support immune system.
  • We looked for evidence on: Flatulence, Dyspepsia, Bloating, Gastrointestinal discomfort.
  • The closest evidence on file: Calamus is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Dyspepsia (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Calamus is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Flatulence.

The evidence for calamus root extract is insufficient to rate. We have no reliable data to support its use for bronchitis, asthma, cancer, or anorexia nervosa.

If you're considering this product for a specific health concern, there's not yet established evidence it will help.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Calamus

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.

Calamus carries serious safety concerns. Some calamus products contain beta-asarone, a compound the FDA banned from food because it may cause cancer, and calamus itself is considered likely unsafe for oral use — it may pose a cancer risk and cause toxic effects.

The most common side effects are nausea and vomiting; rarely, intestinal paralysis and rapid heartbeat have been reported. Calamus is not safe in pregnancy or while nursing because it may affect the uterus and contains potentially toxic compounds.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Calamus

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 — Calamus.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 1,118 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 Sweet Root, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take CNS depressants (sleeping pills, sedatives, anti-anxiety drugs), blood pressure medications, drugs broken down by CYP2D6 or CYP3A4 liver enzymes, anticholinergic or cholinergic drugs, MAOIs (certain antidepressants), or H2-blockers for acid reflux — calamus has documented Moderate interactions with all of these.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Given the safety profile — possible cancer risk, known toxic compounds, and lack of proven benefit — calamus is not a product we'd typically recommend. If you're still considering it, do not take it while pregnant or breastfeeding, and talk with your doctor or pharmacist first, especially if you take blood pressure medications, sedatives, or any prescription drugs metabolized by your liver.

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 Dec 13, 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

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Sweet Root, straight from the product label.

Brand Pure Herbs
Net contents 1 Fluid Ounce(s); 30 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Dec 13, 2022
DSLD ID 278851
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Women (not pregnant or lactating)
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 Sweet Root by Pure Herbs, 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:
2 mL
Maximum serving Sizes:
2 mL
Servings per container
15
IngredientAmount% DV
Calamus Root Extract1952 mg--

Other ingredients: None

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

Directions: For adults, mix 2 mL (abt. 1/2 tsp) of extract in 2 fl. oz (60 mL) water one time daily preferably with a meal.

Shake well before use

Formulation

Helps to relieve occasional gas and to support a healthy immune system.

FDA Disclaimer Statement

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

Precautions

Warning: Not intended for use by pregnant or nursing women. If you have a medical condition or are taking medication, consult your doctor prior to use.

Discontinue use and consult with your doctor if any adverse reactions occur.

Keep out of reach of children

Brand IP Statement(s)

Pure Herbs, Ltd. Natural Herbal Extracts

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

General Statements

"No expense has been spared to provide the finest nature has to offer."

See for yourself

Sweet Root by Pure Herbs label

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

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Sweet Root by Pure Herbs

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size2 mL Dosage formLiquid Servings per container15 Amounts shown are per serving.

Calamus Root Extract

Interacts with
1,117 drugs
1952 mg per serving

Calamus is a swamp plant with a long history in Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, mostly for digestive and nervous-system complaints. Howeve...

Calamus Root Extract monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: None. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Sweet Root by Pure Herbs Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Sweet Root?

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
1,117Drugs
1,098 Moderate 19 Minor

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Sweet Root 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.

Calamus Root Extract10 drug types · 1,117 drugs

Anticholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, concurrent use of anticholinergic drugs and calamus might decrease the effectiveness of the anticholinergic drug.
In vitro evidence shows that calamus can inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE).

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antihypertensive Drugs

Theoretically, taking calamus with other antihypertensive medications might increase the risk of hypotension.
Animal research shows that calamus decreases the rate and strength of the heartbeat, which might lower blood pressure. use with caution.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cholinergic Drugs

Theoretically, concurrent use of cholinergic drugs and calamus might have an additive effect and increase the risk of cholinergic effects.
In vitro evidence shows that calamus can inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE).

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cns Depressants

Theoretically, concurrent use of CNS depressants and calamus might have an additive effect and increase the risk of sedative effects.
Animal research shows that calamus is a CNS depressant and increases gamma-aminobutyric acid levels.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 2D6 (Cyp2D6) Substrates

Theoretically, taking calamus with drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 might increase drug levels and potentially increase the risk of adverse effects.
In vitro research shows that calamus extract inhibits CYP2D6 enzyme.

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

Theoretically, taking calamus with drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 might increase drug levels and potentially increase the risk of adverse effects.
In vitro research shows that calamus extract inhibits CYP3A4 enzyme.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (Maois)

Theoretically, calamus might potentiate the effects and adverse effects of MAOIs.
Some reports suggest that calamus increases the effects of MAOIs.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Antacids

Theoretically, taking calamus might reduce the effectiveness of antacids.
Some research suggests that calamus lowers gastric pH.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
H2-Blockers

Theoretically, taking calamus might reduce the effectiveness of H2-blockers.
Some research suggests that calamus lowers gastric pH.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Proton Pump Inhibitors (Ppis)

Theoretically, taking calamus might reduce the effectiveness of PPIs.
Some research suggests that calamus lowers gastric pH.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Sweet Root, from the product label.

Pure Herbs

See all Pure Herbs products
Name
Pure Herbs, Ltd.
City
Sterling Heights
State
MI
Phone Number
(800) 860-4372
Web Address
www.pureherbs.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Sweet Root by Pure Herbs: Common Questions

Does Sweet Root by Pure Herbs interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Sweet Root has a known interaction with 1,117 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Sweet Root 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 Sweet Root if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Calamus is rated likely unsafe in pregnancy and while nursing because it may affect the uterus and contains potentially toxic compounds. Do not use this product if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
What are the side effects of calamus?
The most common are nausea and vomiting. Rarely, intestinal paralysis and rapid heartbeat have been reported. More seriously, calamus may increase cancer risk, especially if it contains beta-asarone.
Does calamus actually work for the conditions it's marketed for?
We have insufficient evidence to rate calamus for bronchitis, asthma, anorexia nervosa, or cancer. Current data doesn't reliably support its use for those purposes.
Why is beta-asarone a concern?
Beta-asarone is a compound found in some calamus products that the FDA banned from food because it may cause cancer. Some calamus supplements still contain it, which increases the cancer risk.
Can I take Sweet Root with my blood pressure medication?
Calamus may lower blood pressure further on top of your medication, raising the risk of blood pressure dropping too much. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before combining them.

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.

Sweet Root label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Sweet Root'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 13 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.

Calamus 13 references
  1. Newall CA, Anderson LA, Philpson JD. Herbal Medicine: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals. London, UK: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
  2. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publications, 1998.
  3. Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. Sandy, OR: Eclectic Medical Publ, 1997.
  4. Shoba, F. G. and Thomas, M. Study of antidiarrhoeal activity of four medicinal plants in castor-oil induced diarrhoea. J Ethnopharmacol 2001;76(1):73-76. PubMed
  5. Koo, B. S., Park, K. S., Ha, J. H., Park, J. H., Lim, J. C., and Lee, D. U. Inhibitory effects of the fragrance inhalation of essential oil from Acorus gramineus on central nervous system. Biol Pharm.Bull. 2003;26(7):978-982. PubMed
  6. Oh, M. H., Houghton, P. J., Whang, W. K., and Cho, J. H. Screening of Korean herbal medicines used to improve cognitive function for anti-cholinesterase activity. Phytomedicine 2004;11(6):544-548. PubMed
  7. Panchal, G. M., Venkatakrishna-Bhatt, H., Doctor, R. B., and Vajpayee, S. Pharmacology of Acorus calamus L. Indian J Exp.Biol 1989;27(6):561-567.
  8. Vargas, C. P., Wolf, L. R., Gamm, S. R., and Koontz, K. Getting to the root (Acorus calamus) of the problem. J Toxicol Clin Toxicol 1998;36(3):259-260.
  9. Pandit S, Mukherjee PK, Ponnusankar S, Venkatesh M, Srikanth N. Metabolism mediated interaction of a-asarone and Acorus calamus with CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. Fitoterapia 2011;82(3):369-74.
  10. Sharma V, Singh I, Chaudhary P. Acorus calamus (The Healing Plant): a review on its medicinal potential, micropropagation and conservation. Nat Prod Res. 2014;28(18):1454-66.
  11. Björnstad K, Helander A, Hultén P, Beck O. Bioanalytical investigation of asarone in connection with Acorus calamus oil intoxications. J Anal Toxicol 2009;33(9):604-9. PubMed
  12. Federal Register. Volume 33, Page 6967. U.S. Government Publishing Office. http://api.fdsys.gov/link?collection=fr&volume=33&page=6967. Accessed May 23, 2018.
  13. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21. Part 189 - Substances Prohibited From Use in Human Food. Available at: https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=259fa8a1284cad42676075c8425c7333&mc=true&node=pt21.3.189&rgn=div5.

See these in context on the Calamus 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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