Doctors are telling patients to stop taking all supplements before surgery of any kind. The reason for this is the potential for problems. Herbal products can affect both anesthesia and any drugs used for the operation.

There's still so much we don't know about this problem. There are no official guidelines on the use of herbal medications before surgery. The American Society of Anesthesiologists suggests stopping all herbs two weeks before any operation.

Make sure your doctor knows what you are taking in advance of the scheduled operation. Follow his or her guidelines closely to prevent any problems.