Why do I need to stop doing Herbalife two weeks before surgery?

Question

I was informed by my coordinator to stop Herbalife before my sx date. I asked her the reasoning and she was unable to provide the information. It is an all natural supplement so I'm confused. Help?

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

I am not going to be critical of some of the ingredients in some of Herbalife products, but it would be wise for you to do some research on this multi-level marketing company and its products before you claim "all  natural" somehow makes it safe. Google Herbalife; look up Herbalife on Wikipedia, and understand that supplements of any kind have the POTENTIAL to interact with anesthesia drugs used during your surgery. Just because your surgeon's coordinator was unable to specifically identify a concern with a specific product or company's "all natural supplement" does not mean that her advice was wrong. In fact, most office coordinators have been wisely told to advise all patients to avoid not only aspirin, ibuprofen, and other blood-thinning medications, but also such things as "natural herbal supplements" that might contain such things as willow bark (salicylates--blood thinners), or a host of other potential "natural" substances that can interact and interfere with your blood clotting, your heart rhythm, or your liver's ability to break down medications properly. Another "natural" source of salicylates is oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate), which can cause severe salicylate
 toxicity. One teaspoon of 98% methyl salicylate contains 7000 mg of 
salicylate, the equivalent of nearly 90 baby aspirins and more than 4 
times the potentially toxic dose for a 22 lb. child. But it only takes ONE baby aspirin dose to cause bleeding problems in a normal-sized adult. None of which you want during surgery.I want you to understand that I'm not saying Herbalife products contain salicylates; I'm just using this as a common example. Herbalife products have been implicated in multiple medical studies that show hepatic (liver) toxicity issues. Other "natural" or herbal remedies or dietary supplements can also contain many things that are not even listed in the ingredients label--some of them both hidden and harmful.Just to be sure you understand that "all natural" in no way ensures safety or appropriateness, arsenic and cyanide are "natural substances," and the naturally-growing plants foxglove (digitalis) and nightshade or belladonna (atropine) are the "natural" sources for these cardiac drugs. None of which would be good as a "surprise" for a patient undergoing surgery. Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

Supplements may have products in them that can thin the blood.  There may be other products that may not be monitored by the FDA as well and can interfere with anesthesia and complicate surgery.

Mel T. Ortega, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Absolutely, and share the info with your surgeon. All medications (pharmaceutical and homeopathic) have side effects....such an herbal tonic may have active ingredients that may interfere with blood clotting, healing, anesthesia, etc.

Why do I need to stop doing Herbalife two weeks before surgery?

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Why do I need to stop doing Herbalife two weeks before surgery?

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