Usnea Ingredients & Drug Interactions
by Herbs Etc.
What is this page for?
First and foremost: checking Usnea 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
Usnea is a dietary supplement by Herbs Etc. with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for sore throat, skin and wound care, respiratory infections.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 Usnea by Herbs Etc.
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
This product contains one active ingredient: usnea, a type of lichen. It's supplied as a liquid extract in grain alcohol and purified water.
Does it work?
Couldn't assess
The evidence for usnea isn't established in our data. We hold ratings of insufficient reliable evidence for cough, pain, wound healing, tinea pedis (a fungal foot infection), and obesity — meaning the research backing its use for those conditions isn't strong enough yet to make a clear call.
How safe is it?
Well-documented data
Here's where you need to pay attention: oral usnea carries a liver safety concern. The usnic acid it contains has been linked to liver damage, so this isn't a product to take long-term or without knowing your liver is healthy.
Topical usnea is generally well tolerated, but this is taken by mouth. This product is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding — there isn't enough safety data.
If you're in either of those situations, talk with your pharmacist or doctor before considering it.
Meds to double-check
No known interactions
No interactions are documented for the ingredient we could check. That doesn't mean none could occur — it means we don't have that data on file.
Check your exact medications with the tool on this page, and mention to your pharmacist that you're considering an oral usnea product.
The bottom line
Scorecard at a glanceFormula with limited ingredient disclosure with no assessable stated purpose. No medication interactions are currently documented, and safety information is well characterized.
Usnea is generally well tolerated when applied to skin, but this liquid form is meant to be taken internally, where the liver concern becomes real. If you're thinking about taking it for cough, pain, or wound healing, know that the evidence for those uses isn't solid yet.
Talk with your pharmacist before starting, especially if you have any liver issues or take other supplements.
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 Sep 25, 2015.
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 Usnea, straight from the product label.
| Brand | Herbs Etc. |
|---|---|
| Net contents | 8 fl. Oz.; 236 mL |
| Market status | On market |
| Date entered into DSLD | Sep 25, 2015 |
| DSLD ID | 50680 |
| 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 Usnea by Herbs Etc., sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.
Supplement Facts
| Ingredient | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Usnea | 0 NP | -- |
Other ingredients: 73% Grain Alcohol, purified Water
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.
General Statements
Herbal Single
Professional strength
Dried lichen extract
For dispensing purposes only
Formula
Usnea barbata
FDA Statement of Identity
Fast-Acting Dietary Supplement
General
99216
Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.
Usnea by Herbs Etc. 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 Usnea by Herbs Etc.
This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.
Serving size0 Not Present Dosage formLiquid Amounts shown are per serving.
Usnea
No knowninteractions
Usnea is a lichen used in traditional herbal medicine, mainly for sore throats, skin infections, and as a general antimicrobial. Laboratory studies su...
Usnea monograph & interactionsOther (inactive) ingredients: 73% Grain Alcohol, Purified Water. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.
Usnea by Herbs Etc. Drug Interactions
We don’t currently list any known drug interactions for the mapped ingredients in Usnea. 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 Usnea, from the product label.
Herbs Etc.
- Name
- Herbs, Etc.
- Street Address
- 1340 Rufina Circle
- City
- Santa Fe
- State
- NM
- ZipCode
- 87507
- Web Address
- www.herbsetc.com
Usnea by Herbs Etc.: Common Questions
Does Usnea by Herbs Etc. interact with any medications?
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Where does this information come from?
Is this safe to take by mouth?
Can I use this while pregnant or breastfeeding?
What does usnea actually treat?
Does this ingredient interact with my medications?
What are the side effects?
Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy
Not sure if Usnea 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 Usnea’s Ingredients
Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.
Sources & How We Checked
Usnea'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.
Usnea 10 references
- Favreau JT, Ryu Ml, Braunstein G, et al. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with the dietary supplement LipoKinetix. Ann Intern Med 2002;136:590-5. PubMed
- Ingolfsdottir K. Usnic acid. Phytochemistry 2002;61:729-36.
- Scirpa, P., Scambia, G., Masciullo, V., Battaglia, F., Foti, E., Lopez, R., Villa, P., Malecore, M., and Mancuso, S. [A zinc sulfate and usnic acid preparation used as post-surgical adjuvant therapy in genital lesions by Human Papillomavirus]. Minerva Gin
- Mitchell, J. C. Allergy to lichens. Allergic contact dermatitis from usnic acid produced by lichenized fungi. Arch Dermatol 1965;92(2):142-146.
- Durazo, F. A., Lassman, C., Han, S. H., Saab, S., Lee, N. P., Kawano, M., Saggi, B., Gordon, S., Farmer, D. G., Yersiz, H., Goldstein, R. L., Ghobrial, M., and Busuttil, R. W. Fulminant liver failure due to usnic acid for weight loss. Am.J Gastroenterol. PubMed
- Neff, G. W., Reddy, K. R., Durazo, F. A., Meyer, D., Marrero, R., and Kaplowitz, N. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with the use of weight loss diet supplements containing ma huang or usnic acid. J Hepatol. 2004;41(6):1062-1064. PubMed
- Hsu, L. M., Huang, Y. S., Chang, F. Y., and Lee, S. D. 'Fat burner' herb, usnic Acid, induced acute hepatitis in a family. J Gastroenterol.Hepatol. 2005;20(7):1138-1139. PubMed
- Arneborn, P., Jansson, A., and Bottiger, Y. [Acute hepatitis in a woman after intake of slimming pills bought via Internet]. Lakartidningen 7-11-2005;102(28-29):2071-2072.
- Sanchez, W., Maple, J. T., Burgart, L. J., and Kamath, P. S. Severe hepatotoxicity associated with use of a dietary supplement containing usnic acid. Mayo Clin Proc 2006;81(4):541-544. PubMed
- Rafanelli, S., Bacchilega, R., Stanganelli, I., and Rafanelli, A. Contact dermatitis from usnic acid in vaginal ovules. Contact Dermatitis 1995;33(4):271-272. PubMed
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