These excellent supplements need to be sidelined before surgery

Urgent: The most dangerous supplements if you’re going “under the knife”

Last week, I told you supplements can be real lifesavers when you’re hospitalized. They can get you home sooner and help you recover faster. THAT’S how powerful they are. (Pay no attention to the Big Pharma naysayers behind the curtain.)

But there’s a catch. And it’s an important one.

The power of supplements needs to be recognized in the days leading up to surgery. In fact, it might be the only time I’ll ever make this suggestion: Give up your supplements.

The side of caution

You’ll find plenty of variation in guidelines for discontinuing supplements before surgery. A lot of doctors err on the side of caution. Others say it’s not a big deal unless you’re using high doses of supplements to begin with.

In either case, your surgery will probably go more smoothly if you stop taking these supplements at least a week or two before…

1. Fish oil

2. Flax & flax oil

3. Omega-3

4. Vitamin E

5. Nattokinase

6. Glucosamine

7. Chondroitin

8. Krill oil

9. Astaxanthin

10. Vitamin C

11. Most herbal supplements

The first eight items are on the list for the same reason: They all thin the blood. So even if you’re not taking high doses, you might be taking three or more of these at once, which could add up to bleeding problems.

Most recommendations include astaxanthin. I believe that’s because it’s a natural part of krill oil. But this powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory is one that you’ll definitely want to power up on again after surgery. It’s a remarkable nutrient and really does work wonders.

The same can be said of vitamin C. It’s not a blood thinner, but if you take more than a couple of grams per day (which is not out of the ordinary), it can interfere with anesthesia. And you definitely don’t want that! So taper off on C the week before surgery.

The last item on the list — herbal supplements — covers a lot of ground. Most recommendations suggest you stop taking all herbs a couple of weeks before surgery. That’s because a lot of them aren’t fully understood by mainstream doctors. So if you’re under the care of a licensed herbalist, check with him before making any changes in your daily routine.

And here’s a quick guide on how a few widely used herbs could affect surgery…

* Bleeding effects: gingko biloba, garlic, ginseng, dong quai, feverfew

* Drug interactions: echinacea, goldenseal, licorice, St. John’s wort, kava, valerian root

* Cardiovascular effects: ephedra, garlic

* Anesthetic effects: valerian root, St. John’s wort, kava

* Photosensitivity effects: St. John’s wort, dong quai

* Hypoglycemia risk: ginseng

But as soon as you’re stitched up, you’ll want to start taking supplements again. And these are the most important ones to add back in right away.

Sources:
“Perioperative Risks and Benefits of Herbal Supplements in Aesthetic Surgery” Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Vol. 29, No. 2, March/April 2009