Many people supplement their diets or vitamin regimens with herbal products such as Ginseng, St. John's wort or Goldenseal. Some of these herbal products have side effects that can affect your anesthesia or surgery.  Therefore, it is very important that you notify your anesthesiologist not only of your prescription medications, but also of any herbal medications you are taking.  Your anesthesiologist may recommend that you stop taking your herbal medications two to three weeks prior to surgery.  Below is a list of some herbal products and their known side effects.  This list is provided by the American Society of Anesthesiologists. 

Echinacea - May cause inflammation of the liver if used with certain other medications such as anabolic steroids, methotrexate or others.

Ephedra (also called Ma-Huang) - May interact with certain antidepressant medications or certain high-blood pressure medicines to cause dangerous elevations in blood pressure or heart rate.  Could cause death in certain individuals.

Feverfew - May increase bleeding, especially in patients already taking certain anticlotting medications.

Garlic - May increase bleeding, especially in patients already taking certain anticlotting medications. May decrease effectiveness of certain AIDS-fighting drugs, e.g., saquinavir.

Ginger - May increase bleeding, especially in patients already taking certain anticlotting medications

Ginkgo (also called Ginkgo Biloba) - May increase bleeding, especially in patients already taking certain anticlotting medications

Ginseng - May increase bleeding, especially in patients already taking certain anticlotting medications.  May see increased heart rate or high blood pressure.  May cause bleeding in women after menopause.

Goldenseal - May worsen swelling and/or high blood pressure.

Kava-Kava - May increase the effects of certain antiseizure medications and/or prolong the effects of certain anesthetics.  May cause serious liver injury.  May worsen the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.  Can enhance the effects of alcohol.  May increase the risk of suicide for people with certain types of depressions.

Licorice - Certain licorice compounds may cause high blood pressure, swelling, or electrolyte imbalances.

Saw Palmetto - May see effects with other hormone therapies. 

St. John's Wort - May decrease effectiveness of all currently marked HIV protease inhibitors and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (powerful AIDS-fighting drugs).  May possibly prolong effects of anesthesia (not proven).  May unknowingly decrease levels of digoxin, a powerful heart medicine. 
 
Valerian - May increase the effects of certain antiseizure medications or prolong the effects of certain anesthetic agents.

Vitamin E - May increase bleeding, especially in patients already taking certain anticlotting medications.  May affect thyroid gland functions in otherwise healthy individuals.  In doses higher than 400 IU per day, may cause problems with increased blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure.

^{Information on this page provided with the assistance of the
American Society of Anesthesiologists}