Herbal Supplements can Impact Surgery

July 11 -- Using herbal supplements before surgery won't help the healing, in fact a new report says it could hinder it.

In a report in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers warn that commonly used herbal medications may cause serious problems in patients who have ingested them just before surgery.

Popular supplements used by millions of Americans — such as echinacea, ginseng and kava — could have a negative effect when mixed with other drugs. Some may even make it more difficult for incisions to heal.

University of Chicago researchers developed a list of recommendations on when to stop taking such products before an operation.

They say they're not looking to scare people out of supplement use. They just want patients to realize the importance of communicating their herbal supplement intake with their doctors. Some people are worried about telling their doctors that they use supplements because they think a medical doctor might not approve of non-prescribed remedies.

ABCNEWS' Dr. Nancy Snyderman suggests patients undergoing surgery should go one step further when it comes to informing their doctors.

"Bring the bottles of any medication, pharmaceutical and herbal, to the hospital with you. The bottles can provide necessary information to your doctors," Snyderman said.

The doctors' recommendations, published in JAMA and listed below, refer to eight commonly used products: echinacea, ephedra, garlic, gingko biloba, ginseng, kava, St. John's wort and valerian.