Vidya Reddy is the host of The Tea on Wellness Podcast and co-founder of Tea & Turmeric in Laguna Beach.
Last week, a woman came into the shop excited about using herbal teas to support her heart health. When Vidya asked if she was on any medications, she said she was on beta blockers and a few other prescriptions she couldn't remember by name. That conversation is why this episode exists.
Herbs can be supportive and effective, but they're not neutral. This episode breaks down where herbal tea and medication interactions actually come from, which common herbs deserve a second look, and how Vidya handles these conversations with customers at the shop every week.
What You Will Learn
- Why "natural" doesn't automatically mean safe.
- Why herb-drug interactions happen, and the role liver enzymes play.
- The real difference between a cup of tea and a concentrated supplement.
- Common herbal tea drug interactions, including St. John's Wort, Ginkgo biloba, Goldenseal, chamomile, ashwagandha, licorice root, and valerian.
- Why turmeric is one of the most overlooked interactions, and when it actually matters.
- How Tea & Turmeric handles medication safety with customers in-store.
- Herbal tea safety during pregnancy, and how the shop steers pregnant customers toward traditional loose leaf teas instead of wellness blends.
- Practical, doctor-backed guidance for using herbal tea safely alongside medication.
The Science Behind It
Herb-drug interactions come down to biology, not folklore. Your liver processes medications using specialized enzymes, and certain herbs can speed those enzymes up or slow them down. Speed them up, and a medication may clear your system before it has a chance to work. Slow them down, and it can build up to unintended levels.
There are nearly 1,500 documented herb-drug interactions, and most of the concern centers on concentrated supplements, not the occasional cup of tea. Dose, frequency, and form all change the picture. A cup of chamomile tea and a chamomile extract capsule are not delivering the same amount of active compound to your body, even though they come from the same plant.
This is also why turmeric gets misunderstood so often. Cooking with turmeric or sipping a turmeric tea is a different exposure than taking high-dose curcumin capsules daily, and most interaction concerns apply to the latter, not the former.
Featured Teas and Blends
Stress Less Organic Tea
Goodnight Organic Herbal Tea
Inflammation Fighter Organic Herbal Tea
Organic Therapeutic Turmeric Powder
Find all of these at teaandturmeric.com or visit us in Laguna Beach at 1175 South Coast Highway.
Stay Connected
Come visit us in Laguna Beach or explore our teas and spices anytime at teaandturmeric.com.
We share recipes, brewing tips, and behind-the-scenes moments on Instagram at @teanturmeric.
Got a question or a story about how tea is helping you? Email us at hello@teaandturmeric.com
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Chapters
0:00 — The Tea on Wellness, Show Intro
1:00 — A Customer's Wake-Up Call: Why This Episode Matters
2:02 — Herbal Tea and Medication Safety: What This Episode Covers
3:27 — Why "Natural" Doesn't Always Mean Safe
4:57 — Why Herb-Drug Interactions Happen
5:50 — Tea vs. Supplements: Why Dose and Form Matter
6:22 — Common Herbal Tea Drug Interactions (St. John's Wort, Ginkgo, Goldenseal, Chamomile, Turmeric & More)
10:38 — How Tea & Turmeric Handles Medication Safety In-Store
11:17 — Herbal Tea Safety During Pregnancy
12:39 — Practical Guidance for Using Herbal Tea Safely
13:43 — The Bottom Line on Herbal Tea Safety
14:26 — Show Outro
Transcript
Podcast: The Tea on Wellness
Episode 30: Herbal Tea and Medication Interactions: What You Need to Know
Host: Vidya, co-founder of Tea & Turmeric
Location: Laguna Beach
Herbal Tea & Medication Interactions: What You Need to Know
[1:00] A Customer's Wake-Up Call: Why This Episode Matters
[VIDYA]: Last week, a woman came into the shop really excited about using herbal teas to support her heart health.
I start asking my usual questions. "Are you on any medications?"
She says, "Oh yeah, I'm on beta blockers and a couple of other things I can't remember the names of."
And I had to stop her right there.
I said, "Okay. Before we even look at teas, you need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist."
And that moment is why I'm recording this episode.
Because herbs can be supportive. They can be effective. But they're not neutral. And when people don't understand that, that's where problems happen.
[2:02] Herbal Tea and Medication Safety: What This Episode Covers
[VIDYA]: Hey everyone, welcome back to The Tea on Wellness. I'm Vidya, and if you've ever been into our shop Tea & Turmeric here in Laguna Beach, you know these conversations about herbal tea and medication safety happen daily.
People come in asking for herbs for sleep, digestion, anxiety, inflammation, hormones, heart health, you name it. And I love that people are curious about plant medicine. I really do.
But curiosity without education can get people into trouble. So today we're talking about herbal safety, herbal tea drug interactions, and how to approach herbs with respect instead of assumptions.
Quick and clear disclaimer before we go further. I'm not a doctor. I'm not a pharmacist. I'm not diagnosing or treating anything. This episode is purely educational. If you're on medications, pregnant, breastfeeding, or managing a medical condition, this is a conversation you need to have with your healthcare provider.
[3:27] Why "Natural" Doesn't Always Mean Safe
[VIDYA]: Here's a pattern I see all the time, especially here in Orange County.
Someone says, "I want something natural for my blood pressure," or "I want something natural for anxiety."
And when I ask if they're on medications, they say, "Yes, but that's why I want herbs. They're safe, right?."
But the fact is that natural doesn't necessarily mean gentle. It doesn't mean inactive. And it definitely doesn't mean incapable of interacting.
Plants are powerful, very powerful. That's why they've been used for thousands of years. That's why modern medicine has pulled compounds directly from them.
So the real conversation isn't "are herbs good or bad." It's "are herbs being used thoughtfully, with the full picture in mind."
Please note that responsible herbalists don't pretend herbs are harmless. Well-respected herbal educators consistently say the same things: herbs can be effective, herbs can be supportive, and herbs require responsibility, especially when medications are involved. That's pro-herb. That's pro-safety.
[4:57] Why Herb-Drug Interactions Happen
[VIDYA]: So here's what's actually happening when herbs and medications don't play well together.
Most of these herbal tea drug interactions come down to liver enzymes. These enzymes help your body process medications. Some herbs speed them up. Others slow them down.
Speed them up, and medications may not work as intended. Slow them down, and medications can build up in the body.
There are nearly 1,500 documented herb-drug interactions. And many people don't tell their doctors what they're taking.
That silence is where risk lives when it comes to medication safety.
[5:50] Tea vs. Supplements: Why Dose and Form Matter
[VIDYA]: Let me clarify something important right away.
A cup of tea is not the same as a concentrated extract or capsules taken daily.
Dose matters. Frequency matters. Form matters.
Most interaction issues show up with supplements, not culinary use or the occasional cup of tea. But people often blur that line, and that's where confusion starts.
[6:22] Common Herbal Tea Drug Interactions (St. John's Wort, Ginkgo, Goldenseal, Chamomile, Turmeric & More)
[VIDYA]: I'm going to mention a few common herbs people ask about… not to scare you, just to show you some common patterns.
St. John's Wort
Let's first start with St. John's Wort. It's often used for mood support. Research shows it can reduce the effectiveness of birth control and interact with antidepressants, blood thinners, heart medications, immunosuppressants, and cancer treatments.
Ginko Biloba
Ginkgo biloba. Popular for memory and circulation. Studies suggest it can increase bleeding risk when combined with blood thinners or even aspirin.
Goldenseal
Goldenseal. Research shows it can alter how the body processes metformin, which may affect blood sugar control.
Chamomile
Even chamomile. Gentle, familiar chamomile. There are documented case reports of interactions with blood thinners and medications metabolized by the liver. Stack that with other sedating substances and the effect can compound.
Turmeric
And I want to pause on turmeric for a moment, because this is one people overlook constantly. Turmeric feels safe because it's a kitchen spice. It's cultural. And, it's everywhere. And most of the time, using turmeric in food or enjoying a cup of turmeric tea is completely fine.
Where turmeric deserves a little more attention is when it's taken in concentrated supplement form, especially on a regular basis. At higher doses, the curcumin, which is the active component in turmeric, can interact with certain medications, including blood thinners and diabetes medications, and healthcare providers may be cautious for people with gallbladder issues.
Turmeric is also often contra-indicated right before and after surgery because it can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising and can interact with blood-thinning medications.
This doesn't mean turmeric is dangerous. It just means dose, form, and context matter. Cooking with turmeric or sipping a turmeric tea is very different from taking high-dose capsules every day for a prolonged period of time.
There are a few other common herbs worth mentioning, and they follow this same pattern. Ashwagandha, often used for stress and sleep, can influence thyroid hormones and stack with sedating medications. Licorice root, which shows up in many digestive and throat blends, can raise blood pressure in higher amounts when used long-term. Valerian root, another calming herb, can compound sedation when combined with sleep medications, antidepressants, or alcohol.
None of this means these herbs are bad. It means they're active. And anytime something is active, it deserves context and caution.
Most herb-drug interaction concerns come from concentrated supplements, not necessarily tea. That's why traditional herbal systems and well-designed blends tend to be gentler than single-herb megadosing. Here at Tea & Turmeric in Laguna Beach, our blends are formulated at traditional, food-level doses. If someone is on medication, pregnant, or managing a health condition, we always recommend checking with a healthcare provider before regular use.
[10:38] How Tea & Turmeric Handles Medication Safety In-Store
[VIDYA]: At Tea & Turmeric here in Laguna Beach, we're very clear about boundaries.
We ask: Are you on medications? Do you have diagnosed conditions? Are you pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding?
If the answer is yes, we pause and suggest a discussion with your health care provider before using any of our wellness products.
I'd rather someone leave without tea than leave unsafe. That's non-negotiable for me.
[11:17] Herbal Tea Safety During Pregnancy
[VIDYA]: Pregnancy deserves extra care when it comes to wellness tea safety.
Research on herbal safety during pregnancy is inconsistent to say the least and ever evolving. Many herbs simply haven't been studied enough.
Your OB-GYN knows your history and current research. Some allow certain teas in moderation. Others recommend avoiding herbs altogether.
That guidance needs to come from your care team.
When we get asked about teas for pregnancy, we steer people away from our wellness teas and toward our traditional loose leaf teas blended for flavor rather than function. Traditional loose leaf teas are blended for enjoyment rather than function and don't contain functional botanicals like our wellness teas.
Provided that your health care provider has okay'ed caffeine during your pregnancy, you can choose from our huge selection of black, green, or herbal teas in our traditional loose leaf tea section.
[12:39] Practical Guidance for Using Herbal Tea Safely
[VIDYA]: Here's what responsible healthcare guidance generally agrees on when it comes to medication safety and herbal tea:
If you're on prescription medications, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using herbs regularly.
Understand that supplements are far more potent than teas.
Be cautious with herbs known for higher interaction risk.
Keep a list of everything you take and share it with your providers.
And if something feels off, speak up.
People on medications with narrow therapeutic ranges, like blood thinners, heart medications, or immunosuppressants, need extra caution around herbal tea drug interactions. Children, older adults, and people with liver or kidney conditions process herbs differently. And always disclose supplements before surgery.
[13:43] The Bottom Line on Herbal Tea Safety
[VIDYA]: Here's the bottom line.
Herbs are powerful. That's why they can help. And that's why they deserve respect.
Wellness isn't about replacing medicine. It's about informed choices and honest conversations.
That customer did the right thing. She paused, checked with her pharmacist, and made informed decisions.
That's the kind of wellness culture we're building here in Laguna Beach. One rooted in education, medication safety, and trust.
[14:26] Show Outro
[VIDYA]: If this episode helped you, share it with someone who loves herbs. And if you're local to Orange County, come visit us at Tea & Turmeric. We're located at 1175 South Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, California. You can find us online at teaandturmeric.com, and follow us on Instagram @teanturmeric. We're here to support your wellness journey the right way.
Educational only. Not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider.
Thanks for listening to The Tea on Wellness. Stay informed, stay grounded, and I'll see you next time.
About the Host
Vidya is the host of The Tea on Wellness Podcast, ranked in the top 25% of new podcasts globally. She is co-founder and owner of Tea & Turmeric, a tea and spice shop in Laguna Beach, Orange County, California. Raised in Eastern Canada in an Indian family rooted in Ayurveda, she grew up drinking masala chai daily in her Amma Amma's kitchen long before sourcing loose-leaf herbs for her own shop. Today, Vidya formulates functional herbal teas and spice blends and speaks with customers every day about stress, sleep, digestion, and nervous system support. She shares Ayurvedic tea traditions, adaptogens, and practical wellness rituals bi-weekly on The Tea on Wellness Podcast.
Resources & Links
Shop the Episode:
Stress Less Organic Tea
Goodnight Organic Herbal Tea
Inflammation Fighter Organic Herbal Tea
Organic Therapeutic Turmeric Powder
Visit Us:
Tea & Turmeric, 1175 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, California
Shop Online: teaandturmeric.com
Instagram: @teanturmeric
Email: hello@teaandturmeric.com
Medical Disclaimer
This episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist before using herbs if you take prescription medications, have a medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are preparing for surgery.
Episode Length: 15:28
Category: Wellness, Health, Herbal Safety, Medication Interactions, Herbal Tea, Turmeric, Chamomile, Pregnancy Safety, Orange County
Publish Date: August 22, 2026
Location: Laguna Beach, Orange County, California
