- Aloe Vera caps
- Bilberry
- Black cohosh rhizome
- Cayenne
- Chondroitin
- Dong quai
- Echinacea
- Ephedra
- Feverfew
- Fish Oil Tablets
- 5 PC-SPEC
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Gingko Biloba
- Ginseng
- Glucosamine
- Goldenseal
- Hawthorne
- Horse chestnut bark
- Kava
- Licorice root
- Ma huang (ephedra)
- Meadowsweet flower
- Melatonin
- Milk Thistle
- Poplar bark (buds)
- Saw Palmetto
- St. John’s Wart
- Sweet birch bark
- Sweet clover plant
- Sweet vernal grass leaves
- Sweet-scented bedstraw plant
- Tonka bean seads
- Valerian
- Vanilla leaf leaves
- Willow bark
- Wintergreen leaves
- Woodruff plant
- Vitamin E
- Yohimbe
The following list of herbal medications can make you sensitive to the sun and should be avoided ideally one month prior and one month after surgery or procedure.
- Agrimony
- Angelica root & fruit
- Bergamont peel
- Bitter orange peel
- Buttercup plant
- Celery
- Cow parsnip
- Fennel
- Fig
- Goosefoot
- Khella fruit
- Lemon peel
- Lomatium root
- Lovage root
- Parsley
- Psoralea seeds
- Queen Anne’s lace
- Rue leave
- St. John’s wart
- Yarrow Plant
24% of American patients use herbal supplements and medicines. Unfortunately, these medications are
unregulated by the FDA. While these medications may seem safer than traditional medications, there are can have a serious impact on your surgery. These medications can have effects with physiology of other medications. Not all herbal medications are safe. While some may benefit wound healing, many may make it worse. Much of the data on herbal medications is difficult to gather due to the differences in processing and standards and lack of controlled studies. Some of the data gathered is based on ancedeotal evidence.
Further information about herbal supplements to avoid prior to aesthetic surgery:
Echinacea (echinacea augustfolia)
Used to prevent infections, arthritis, ulcers and chronic wounds
Medication can cause tachyphlaxis
Effects wound healing
Inhibits metabolism by liver–> makes it more likely to be sedated more easily
Avoid 2 weeks prior to procedure
Gingko biloba
Treats peripheral and cerebral circulatory disturbances including memory impairment
Inhibits platlets which can increase risk of bleeding
Should be discontinued at least 2 days prior to procedure
Ginseng (panax ginseng)
Protects body from stress and restore homeostasis.
Effects fasting because it lowers blood sugars, may lower sugars too much
Also inhibits platlets, a factor in bleeding
Need at least one week prior to surgery
Chondroitin and Glucosamine
Treats osteoarthritis
Chondrotin is similar in composition to a blood thinner and may overly thin the blood
Glucosamine can lower blood sugar levels so that patients who fast for surgery may have artifically low levels
Avoid at least 2 weeks prior
Ephedra
Promotes weight loss, increase energy, treat respiratory conditions such as asthma
Can increase blood pressure and heart rate
Discontinue at least 24 hours prior
Goldenseal (hydrastasis canadenis)
Mild laxative and anti-inflammatory, also used to treat infection
Inhibits metabolism leading to over sedation and potential toxicity
Discontinue at least 2 weeks prior to surgery
Milk thistle (Silyburn marianum)
Protects liver, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties
May effect wound healing
Discontinue at least 2 weeks prior
Kava (Piper methysticum rhizoma)
Used for sedative and anxiolytic properties
May overly sedate patient
Discontinue at least 24 hours prior
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens or Sabal serrulata)
Mild to moderate benign prostatic hyperplasia
May increase bleeding
Discontinue 2 weeks prior
St. John’s Wort (Hypercum perforatum)
Treats depression and anxiety
May cause excess sedation
Discontinue at least 5 days prior
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Relaxant and anxiolytic
May cause excess sedation
Discontinue one week prior
Ginger (Zingiber offincale)
Digestive aid, stimulant and antiemetic
Can cause excessive bleeding
Discontinue at least 2 weeks prior
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (Fish oil)
Help with reducing cardiovascular disease and host of other benefits
May cause excessive bleeding
Discontinue at least 2 weeks prior
Vitamin E
Antioxidant and helps slow atherosclerosis
Effects bleeding and wound healing
Discontinue at least 2 weeks prior
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Aid in atherosclerosis and hyercholesterolemia, antioxidant, diuretic
Excessive bleeding
Discontinue at least one week prior