HERBAL PILL RISK DURING SURGERY
From: KathFindlay (klfindlay@adhesions.org.uk)
Sat Jul 14 14:38:38 2001
HERBAL PILL RISK DURING SURGERY
Up to one in three patients undergoing surgery could be risking their
health by taking herbal supplements, according to a new study.
Scientists at the University of Chicago found that taking so-called
‘natural’ remedies can have potentially serious consequences. They
found that garlic, gingko and ginseng increase the risk of
haemorrhage, echinacea can interfere with wound healing, ephedra can
adversely affect the heartbeat, ginseng lowers blood sugar, kava and
valerian potentiate the effects of anaesthetics, and St John’s wort
can reduce the effect of traditional drugs by increasing the rate at
which the body eliminates them.
Writing in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the team
suggests that little information is available to patients about the
dangers of herbal medication, yet the eight remedies they studied
accounted for more than half of all single herb preparations sold in
the US. Doctors should also take an interest – report author Dr
Jonathan Moss said: ‘Physicians should be familiar with all
medications – conventional or herbal – their patients are taking.’
(The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Independent)
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/news/index.asp?y=2001&m=7&d=11#id56197
FAIRER AND FASTER NHS SETTLEMENTS
Compensation claims against the NHS for negligence could become
easier and quicker to settle under proposals announced yesterday, by
the Health Secretary, Alan Milburn.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/news/index.asp?y=2001&m=7&d=11#id56198
LONG-LASTING MALE CONTRACEPTIVE: British scientists are developing a
hormone injection that could block sperm production for up to three
years.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/news/index.asp?y=2001&m=7&d=11#id56195
EXPECTATION AFFECTS ACUPUNCTURE’S EFFECTIVENESS: Acupuncture is five
times more likely to work if you believe it will, according to new
research.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/news/index.asp?y=2001&m=7&d=11#id56194
POST-NATAL PATCHES: Hormonal skin patches to counteract the ‘baby
blues’ suffered by new mothers have been developed, the annual meeting
of the Royal College of Psychiatrists heard yesterday.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/news/index.asp?y=2001&m=7&d=11#id56201
In Friendship
Katherine Findlay
United Kingdom Adhesion Society
mailto:kath.findlay@adhesions.org.uk
http://www.adhesions.org.uk