Under the knife - Part 2

Diving right into our list of supplements and how they may increase or decrease your surgical risks, let's start with:

1) Bilberry: Although inferior to the Elderberry or chokeberry/black currant combos used in my Boost products, bilberry is a popular and oft used addition to eye health supplements.

As a berry derived substance it can make blood clotting cells called platelets not work as well as they should and lead to excess bleeding. This is one you'll want to check for and stop three weeks before surgery and not restart until at least one week after.

2) Garlic: Garlic is one of the many ingredients in Super Omega 3 that boosts the anti-inflammatory and anti-cholesterol activity of that supplement.

Garlic has blood thinning effects and may increase the activity or other blood thinners including Coumadin and traditional arthritis medicines (NSAIDS), many of which are now available over the counter. Example: Ibuprofen

3) St. John's Wort: St. John's Wort surprises me because it is still over the counter. There are some very serious side effects possible including severe skin rashes and sun sensitivity.

It has similarities with a class of drugs we call MAO inhibitors. These drugs interfere with almost everything else to the point where people who take them have to be on a restricted diet.

Like them, St John's Wort has so many potential drug interactions it should be stopped well in advance of anything but the most minor surgery.

4) Ginger: Ginger is another herb used in Super Omega 3 to augment the power of fish oil. While ginger can also help with post op nausea and vomiting in our experience, it can prolong bleeding at least in theory and should be on your list of "Don't takes" before surgery.

Ephedra (and Bitter Orange): Ephedra is back on the market at least for the moment, until someone else O.D.'s on it and has a problem.

Bitter Orange is its replacement and behaves much the same.

The average person probably shouldn't be taking either of these even if they are not having surgery but I would stay far away if you are.

Both herbals (and synthetics) can cause increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and irregular heart beats.

All of this will lead to a very unhappy anesthesiologist and a very unhappy surgeon not to mention the risk to the patient.

I will end today's little lesson with a limerick from our resident idiot savant, poet, LBZ (Lazlo B. Zilly) who has decided he also has a musical side.


The Ephedra Unskinny Bop (sung to the tune of Unskinny Bop by Poison -- how ironic!)

What makes you so jumpy
Why can't you sit still
Seems to me you been poppin'
That ephedra diet pill

(Second verse and chorus)

Ephedras's back oh woe is me
My hands get cold and it makes me pee
And yet again they say its safe
Just be sure only to take

The exact amount and not a morsel more
Or you might wind up
In a cold steel drawer

For fast heart beats and hypertension
Strokes and heart attacks not to mention
People can't resist the temptation
A quick answer for an obese nation

Craving the kick and pounds to lose
May have you walkin' in dead man's shoes
Unless your use is real responsible
Quick buck artists who are reprehensible
Tell you you'll be thin as a ‘pencible’

So if you are going under the knife
Stop ephedra and save your life

(repeat chorus and verses as needed)

LBZ

Have a great day,

Doc