Safety
Hawaiian Harmony Side Effects: Interactions, Label Warnings and When to Call a Doctor
No side-effect data exists for Hawaiian Harmony itself, because it has never been tested in a trial. The biggest known risk is low blood sugar if you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, since chromium may add to their effect. The blend also lists caffeine sources, a licorice compound and L-tryptophan, and the liquid contains xylitol, which is dangerous for dogs.
The short version
What are the known side effects of Hawaiian Harmony?
There is no list of side effects for Hawaiian Harmony, because no one has tested the product in people and published the results. What we can do is look at each flagged ingredient and at the label's own warnings.
The dose is small. The whole 21-ingredient blend weighs 15.47 mg a day, and chromium is 7 mcg. Small amounts lower the odds of trouble, but they do not remove the need to check with a doctor, especially for people on medicine.
Hawaiian Harmony is a dietary supplement, not a drug. If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, ask your doctor first: chromium, gymnema and ginseng may add to their effect on blood sugar. It also contains guarana and green tea (caffeine), a licorice compound and grapefruit seed, and xylitol, which is dangerous for dogs. See side effects and interactions.
Every ingredient and its place on the label is on the ingredients page.
Biggest risk
Can Hawaiian Harmony cause low blood sugar with diabetes medicines?
It might, for people who take insulin or other diabetes medicines. The NIH says chromium could raise the risk of low blood sugar when combined with them (ODS, Chromium).
Do not start Hawaiian Harmony on your own if you take insulin or blood sugar pills. Never stop or change a prescribed medicine because of a supplement. Keep checking your blood sugar exactly as your care team told you.
For many people with diabetes, low blood sugar means a reading below 70 mg/dL (NIDDK, Low blood glucose). Know the common signs:
- Shaking, sweating or sudden hunger
- Feeling tired, dizzy or confused
- A fast heartbeat
- Headache or blurred vision
If these happen, follow the low blood sugar plan your care team gave you, then call your doctor. Our post on supplements and diabetes medicines covers the questions to ask.
Ingredient by ingredient
Which Hawaiian Harmony ingredients carry safety notes?
Eight items on the label have safety notes in government sources. None of their single amounts are printed except chromium.
| Ingredient | Label amount | Safety note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 7 mcg | May raise low blood sugar risk with diabetes medicines | (ODS, Chromium) |
| Gymnema leaf | Not published | A possible rare cause of liver injury | (LiverTox, Gymnema) |
| Asian ginseng root | Not published | May affect blood clotting and blood sugar | (NCCIH, Asian ginseng) |
| Guarana and green tea | Not published | Caffeine sources; green tea extract linked to rare liver injury | (NCCIH, Green tea) |
| Licorice compound | Not published | Glycyrrhizin can affect heart rhythm in large or long-term amounts | (NCCIH, Licorice root) |
| Grapefruit seed | Not published | Grapefruit juice interacts with some drugs; seed not studied in that source | (FDA, Grapefruit and drugs) |
| L-tryptophan | Not published | Worth a pharmacist check if you take antidepressants | General caution |
| Xylitol | Other ingredient | Dangerous for dogs | (FDA, Xylitol and dogs) |
Caffeine
How much caffeine is in Hawaiian Harmony?
The label does not say. Guarana seed and green tea leaf both contain caffeine (NCCIH, Green tea), but their amounts are not printed.
The ceiling is still clear. Even if the whole blend were caffeine, which it is not, it would weigh 15.47 mg. The FDA says 400 mg a day is not generally linked to harmful effects in healthy adults (FDA, Caffeine).
So for most people the caffeine here is small next to a morning coffee. Still, a few groups should think about it:
- People told to avoid caffeine for heart rhythm problems
- People who sleep badly after any caffeine
- People who already drink a lot of coffee, tea or energy drinks
Two label items
Should you worry about the licorice compound and grapefruit seed in Hawaiian Harmony?
Worry is too strong, but both deserve a quick check if you have heart disease or take regular medicines. Neither amount is printed.
Monoammonium glycyrrhizinate
This is a salt of glycyrrhizin, the active part of licorice root. In large or long-term amounts, glycyrrhizin can cause an irregular heartbeat. Even small amounts may matter for people with high blood pressure, heart disease or kidney disease (NCCIH, Licorice root). The amount here is at most a share of 15.47 mg.
Not the same as the juice
Grapefruit juice raises blood levels of some statins, blood pressure drugs and others (FDA, Grapefruit and drugs). That FDA warning covers the juice and fruit, not grapefruit seed. We found no data on the seed at this dose, so a pharmacist check is the sensible step if you take those drugs.
Liver
Is the green tea in Hawaiian Harmony a liver risk?
The risk is mainly linked to high-dose green tea extract pills, not to small amounts. The NIH says liver injury, though uncommon, has been reported mostly with extracts in tablets or capsules (NCCIH, Green tea).
Hawaiian Harmony uses green tea leaf extract as one of 21 items in a 15.47 mg blend. The amount is tiny next to those pill doses. Gymnema, also in the blend, is listed as a possible rare cause of liver injury (LiverTox, Gymnema).
Stop the drops and call your doctor if you notice any of these:
- Yellow skin or yellow whites of the eyes
- Dark urine or pale stools
- Pain in the upper right belly
- Unusual tiredness with nausea
L-tryptophan
Does the L-tryptophan in Hawaiian Harmony matter?
It matters mostly if you take an antidepressant or another medicine that acts on serotonin. The body uses L-tryptophan to make serotonin.
The amount is not printed and is at most a share of 15.47 mg. Ask your pharmacist before combining it with those medicines.
Label warnings
Who does the Hawaiian Harmony label warn against using it?
The label rules out three groups: people under 18, pregnant women and nursing women. It also tells anyone with a medical condition to consult a physician first.
"Do not exceed recommended dose. Not for use by individuals under the age of 18, or by pregnant or nursing women. Individuals with a known medical condition should consult a physician before using this or any dietary supplement." "KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. DO NOT USE IF SAFETY SEAL IS DAMAGED OR MISSING."
"Do not exceed recommended dose" means one dropperful a day, as the directions say. More does not make it work faster, and no one has tested larger amounts.
The full label wording is on the Supplement Facts page.
Home safety
Is Hawaiian Harmony dangerous for dogs or children?
The xylitol in it is dangerous for dogs, and the label says to keep it out of reach of children. Treat the bottle like any medicine in the house.
In dogs, xylitol can cause a fast and dangerous drop in blood sugar, sometimes within 10 to 60 minutes (FDA, Xylitol and dogs). A chewed dropper bottle is enough to worry about.
- Store it in a closed cupboard, not on a low shelf or nightstand.
- Do not leave the dropper out after use.
- If a dog gets into it, call your vet or an emergency animal clinic right away.
- If a child swallows some, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222.
Get help
When should you call a doctor about Hawaiian Harmony?
Call right away if you have signs of low blood sugar, a racing or irregular heartbeat, or signs of liver trouble. Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain, fainting or swelling of the face or throat.
| What you notice | What to do |
|---|---|
| Shaky, sweaty, confused, or a low reading | Follow your low blood sugar plan, then call your doctor |
| Racing or uneven heartbeat | Stop the drops and call your doctor the same day |
| Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine | Stop the drops and call your doctor |
| Unusual bruising or bleeding | Call your doctor, especially if you take a blood thinner |
| Trouble breathing, chest pain, face swelling | Call 911 |
| Mild upset stomach or poor sleep | Stop and see if it passes; tell your doctor at your next visit |
To report a problem with a supplement, you can also tell the FDA through its safety reporting portal. For refunds, use the contact page on the official sales site. The who it's for page sums up who should skip the product.
FAQ
Hawaiian Harmony safety: common questions
Does Hawaiian Harmony have side effects?
No side-effect data has been published for the product. Watch for the signs listed above and tell your doctor about anything new.
Can I take Hawaiian Harmony with metformin or insulin?
Only if your doctor says so. Chromium may add to the effect of diabetes medicines on blood sugar.
Will the caffeine keep me awake?
The amount is not printed, but the whole blend is only 15.47 mg. People who are very sensitive to caffeine may still want to take it early.
Is it safe during pregnancy?
No. The label says it is not for use by pregnant or nursing women.
Is xylitol bad for people?
Xylitol in small amounts is a common sweetener for people. The problem is dogs, for whom it can be dangerous.
Can I take it with blood pressure medicine?
Ask your doctor or pharmacist first. The blend has a licorice compound and grapefruit seed, and neither amount is printed.
What should I do if I took too much by mistake?
Call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 for advice. If you take diabetes medicine, check your blood sugar the way your care team taught you and call your doctor.
Keep reading
More about Hawaiian Harmony
How to use
The label directions word for word, measuring one dropperful, storage, and the doctor check for people on diabetes medicine.
Read more
Who it's for
Who the label says it is for, who should skip it, and the questions to ask yourself before you order.
Read more
Supplements and diabetes medicines
Why chromium, gymnema and ginseng matter with diabetes medicines, plus a 7-step checklist for your doctor.
Read moreU.S. stocking partner for Hawaiian Harmony
Ready to try Hawaiian Harmony with the 180-day guarantee?
Order through the stocking partner's page so your order ID is on file with the refund desk. The 6-bottle pack is $49 a bottle and lasts the full 180-day window at 1 dropperful a day.
On diabetes medicine? Ask your doctor before you start. Order questions go through the contact page on the official sales site. 180-day money-back guarantee, return shipping paid by the buyer.
