A recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association warns that some botanical supplements can affect surgery and anesthesia.
All authorities suggest caution and open sharing of information between patient and physician.
This article gives patients a solid foundation for discussing herbs and surgery with their doctors. In a letter to the editor of the New England Journal of Medicine in July 2000, Dr. Scott Norton warns that the FDA is powerless to prevent such a happening. Stage Right . . . Advocates of supplement quality are applauding new developments in testing and standards programs. Again Ephedra is a major ingredient in many popular weight-loss herbal products.