Coltsfoot Flower Bud — Safety & Interactions

Kuan Dong Hua · Flos Farfarae

Contraindications

  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Chronic liver disease or use of hepatotoxic medications
  • Use of uncertified coltsfoot products with unknown pyrrolizidine alkaloid content
  • Long-term unsupervised use

Cautions

  • Coltsfoot products may contain hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids, so authenticated low-PA or PA-free sourcing is essential.
  • Traditional versatility in cough treatment should not be mistaken for modern safety in casual self-prescribing.
  • MSK page not found - drug interaction data not available from Memorial Sloan Kettering integrative medicine database

Drug Interactions

Drug Class / Substrate Mechanism Severity Source
Hepatotoxic medications - theoretical additive liver injury risk
Other pyrrolizidine-alkaloid-containing herbs or supplements - additive toxic exposure risk

Pregnancy

Not recommended during pregnancy. Consult a qualified practitioner before any use.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using herbal medicines, especially if you take prescription medications.