The short answer
Possibly. In one reported case, a person with atrial fibrillation on warfarin had a raised INR while taking fenugreek (methi) together with boldo, another herb. A raised INR means blood takes longer to clot, which raises the risk of bleeding. The INR settled within a week of stopping both herbs and rose again when they were restarted.
Because two herbs were taken together, the case cannot show that methi alone was the cause. Memorial Sloan Kettering's herb guide still lists fenugreek as possibly strengthening warfarin. If you take warfarin, tell your prescribing doctor before you start methi as a remedy, and ask whether your INR should be checked more often.
Warfarin is sold in India as Warf. Acitrom (acenocoumarol) is a different blood thinner.
At a glance
| What was seen | How it may work | Direction | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raised INR with methi plus boldo; it fell on stopping and rose on restarting[1][2] | Not established | Stronger warfarin effect; methi alone not shown to be the cause | Case report |
No listing is not a clearance. A missing interaction here never means a combination is safe.
The evidence, study by study
Case report, 2001 Case report
A patient with atrial fibrillation, on warfarin, had a raised INR while taking two herbal products, boldo and fenugreek. The INR returned to normal within a week of stopping them and rose again a few days after both were restarted, which makes a link more likely. The published summary does not give INR values, herb amounts or how long they were taken, and no harm was reported at telephone follow-up.[1]
What your doctor may watch for
- INR, especially when you start or stop any herbal product. The warfarin label says it has a narrow therapeutic range.[3]
- Any unusual bleeding or bruising.[3]
What to tell your prescribing doctor
You can read this out, or show them this page:
“I take warfarin, and I am taking, or planning to take, methi (seeds, soaked water, powder or capsules, and how much). There is a reported case of a raised INR with warfarin and methi taken with another herb. Should my INR be checked more often?”
Withheld until review
Questions people ask
Did the person in the case bleed?
The report describes a raised INR, not bleeding, and no harm was reported at follow-up. A high INR is still a warning sign, because it raises the risk of bleeding.[1]
Does this apply to Acitrom (acenocoumarol)?
The case involved warfarin. Acenocoumarol is a different blood thinner, and this case tells us nothing about it, so ask your prescribing doctor.[1]
Is methi in food different from methi as a remedy?
The report concerns herbal products, and its summary does not say how much was taken. Nobody has measured the effect of methi as used in everyday cooking on INR.[1]
Related
Fenugreek (methi) with metformin or insulin
Methi lowered blood sugar further when added to diabetes medicines in two trials. How often that causes low sugar was not measured well.
InteractionGinger (adrak) and warfarin
Two women on blood thinners had a high INR after ginger supplements, and ginger users on warfarin reported more bleeding. One small study found no change.
InteractionGarlic and blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel)
Health agencies warn garlic supplements may raise bleeding risk. Two small studies on warfarin found no effect, but they cannot rule out rarer bleeding.
InteractionTurmeric and blood thinners
Two reports describe a raised INR after turmeric in people on warfarin-type blood thinners. Blood thinners leave little margin.
Sources
- Lambert JP, Cormier J. Potential interaction between warfarin and boldo-fenugreek. Pharmacotherapy. 2001;21(4):509-512. PMID 11310527.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. About Herbs: Fenugreek, herb-drug interactions.
- Warfarin sodium tablets, US prescribing information, sections 2.4 and 7.5 (DailyMed).
Awaiting review by The Good Vaidya Medical Board. Prepared from the sources below and checked against each one.
Published 4 November 2026 · Last updated 4 November 2026
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