There is an ever increasing amount of confusing information on the Internet. No matter what you read, it is best to discuss what you have read with your own physician before trying something on your own.
There are many vitamins, minerals, and herbal supplements that are taken in order to alleviate any number of ailments. It is very important that you tell your physician about any and all of these supplements whether or not they are "natural." Many of these supplements have significant interactions with medications, may increase your likelihood of bleeding, and can seriously affect your outcome.
The science or research behind some of these suggested interactions are anecdotal and others are well documented. In general, it is difficult to study these supplements, because their market is not as well regulated as the prescription drug market. In other words, buying one type of Vitamin E may not be the same as buying another Vitamin E.
Here is a list of some reactions/interactions:
- Vitamin A - will actually help healing if you're on steroids
- Vitamin C - important in the formation of collagen, i.e. healing tissues
- Vitamin E - increased risk of bleeding
- Dong Quai - may increase risk of bleeding
- Feverfew - may increase risk of bleeding
- Fish oil - increased risk of bleeding
- Garlic - may increase risk of bleeding
- Ginkgo - may affect your blood pressure
- St. John's Wort - interacts with many medications
As you can see, there are many different reactions to many different herbal or natural supplements. Once again, tell your physician about all of your medications and supplements prior to any surgery and prior to changing any of them.
