Is oregano oil safe before surgery?

Cookmom,You should bring this to the attention of your surgeon, however taking any supplement for only 3 days is not likely to cause a problem.  Oil based supplements (vitamin E, Fish oil, Castor Oil, Cod liver oil, omega-3 fatty acids, primrose oil, flax seed oil, oregano oil, etc.) taken chronically can deplete the fat-soluble vitamin K that is in the diet, leading to depletion of protein clotting factors produced by the liver, which are dependent on vitamin K for proper synthesis.  An exception is the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS:  aspirin; ibuprofen; naproxen(Aleve)), which impair platelet clotting function, and must be entirely avoided for 7-10 days before any surgery where bleeding is a likely possibility.  Let your doctor know.  I hope that this helps.  Good luck with your procedure.     Best wishes,     Tom DeWire, MD, FACS     Richmond, VA