Before Surgery: Review Herbal Remedies

1/17/2008

I always ask the parents of a child scheduled for surgery about any herbal remedies the child may be taking. I don’t always remember to ask about herbal teas, herbal supplements, or any herb-laced foods or beverages, but should. While there are many benefits to using herbal remedies, many parents don’t realize that they can carry some dangers as well. In the case of surgery, there are two cautions about herbal remedies to keep in mind:

• Some herbs thin the blood and can increase bleeding during surgery and recovery. These remedies usually act by decreasing the stickiness of blood platelets (platelet aggregation). While children are rarely given an herb for this blood-thinning effect, it is nevertheless a byproduct of the remedy. Discontinue herbs that can promote bleeding such as feverfew, garlic, gingko, ginger, and ginseng at least one week before a planned surgery.
• Some herbs interfere with the expected actions of drugs used before, during, or after surgery or have undesirable effects on key systems of the body. For instance:
  
  • Echinacea may slow poor wound healing with long-term use.
  • Ephedra may cause high blood pressure and rapid heart rate.
  • Kava may interact with general anesthetics.
  • St. John’s Wort increases metabolism of certain drugs.
  • Discontinue the herbs above at least one week before planned surgery.

Always talk to your child’s (or your own) surgeon and anesthesiologist prior to surgery about herbal remedies, herbal teas, herbal supplements, or herb-laced foods you use that should be restricted. Communication is the key to a healthy surgical outcome when it comes to the use of herbal remedies.