Echinacea & Surgery: What You Need to Know
Quick Summary: Research shows many people take echinacea before surgery, but it could cause problems with anesthesia. Doctors recommend stopping echinacea a couple of weeks before an operation.
Why Echinacea Before Surgery Matters
Echinacea is a popular herbal supplement, often taken to boost the immune system. However, this research highlights a potential problem: taking echinacea before surgery. It can interact with the medicines used during surgery, potentially leading to complications.
What The Research Found
The study looked at the use of herbal supplements before surgery. It found:
- Echinacea is one of the most common herbal supplements used by people before surgery.
- Many people don't tell their doctors they're taking herbal supplements.
- Herbal supplements, including echinacea, can interact with anesthesia and other medications used during surgery. This could affect things like blood clotting, heart function, and how your body processes the anesthesia.
Study Details
- Who was studied: The research looked at existing data and guidelines, not a specific group of people taking echinacea. It referenced a survey of U.S. adults.
- How long: The research reviewed existing information, so there wasn't a specific study duration.
- What they took: The study didn't focus on specific dosages of echinacea.
What This Means For You
- Talk to your doctor: Always tell your doctor about all the supplements and medications you take, especially before surgery.
- Stop echinacea before surgery: The American Society of Anesthesiologists recommends stopping echinacea and other herbal supplements 1-2 weeks before any planned surgery. This gives your body time to clear the supplement and reduces the risk of complications.
- Be informed: Understand that even natural supplements can have effects on your body and interact with medications.
Study Limitations
- The study didn't directly study people taking echinacea before surgery. It looked at existing information and guidelines.
- The research didn't focus specifically on echinacea's effects, but rather on the general risks of herbal supplements.
- The data used was from 2012, so it might not reflect current supplement use.
Technical Analysis Details
Key Findings
The study identifies echinacea as one of the most commonly used herbal medications among preoperative patients in the U.S., alongside garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, and St. John’s wort. It reports that 50–70% of surgical patients fail to disclose herbal supplement use to physicians, and many continue use preoperatively despite guidelines. While the research does not quantify echinacea-specific interactions, it emphasizes that herbal medications may disrupt coagulation, cardiovascular stability, central nervous system function, and anesthetic metabolism during surgery. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) recommend discontinuation of echinacea and similar herbs 1–2 weeks before elective surgery to mitigate risks.
Study Design
This observational study, published in 2024 in PubMed, synthesizes existing data on herbal supplement use in the perioperative period. It references 2012 National Health Interview Survey statistics (n=34,525 adults) showing 18% prevalence of non-vitamin, non-mineral natural product use, with regional variations (higher rates in Western states). The methodology focuses on literature review and clinical guidelines rather than primary data collection. Sample demographics include U.S. adults, though specific details about surgical populations or echinacea users are not provided.
Dosage & Administration
The study does not report specific dosages or administration protocols for echinacea. It broadly categorizes echinacea as an herbal supplement commonly used preoperatively without standardized regulation or oversight under the DSHEA framework.
Results & Efficacy
The study does not assess echinacea’s efficacy or measure direct clinical outcomes related to its use. Instead, it highlights potential risks inferred from known pharmacological properties of echinacea, such as possible effects on platelet function or hepatic enzymes (CYP450 pathways), which could interact with anesthetics. No statistical significance (p-values, confidence intervals) is provided for echinacea-specific interactions.
Limitations
The study lacks primary data on echinacea’s perioperative effects, relying instead on aggregated surveys and mechanistic hypotheses. It does not isolate echinacea’s impact from other herbs, limiting actionable conclusions. Additionally, the 2012 data may not reflect current usage patterns. No details on study duration, sample size for surgical cohorts, or direct measurements of adverse events are included. Future research should focus on echinacea-specific pharmacokinetic interactions and prospective clinical outcomes.
Clinical Relevance
Supplement users should be aware that echinacea, though widely available, carries potential perioperative risks, including bleeding or altered drug metabolism. Clinicians are advised to proactively screen patients about herbal use, as non-disclosure is common. The study underscores the importance of discontinuing echinacea 1–2 weeks before surgery, as recommended by ASA/AANA, to minimize interactions. Patients should prioritize transparency with healthcare providers to ensure safe perioperative management.
Original Study Reference
Use of herbal medication in the perioperative period: Potential adverse drug interactions.
Source: PubMed
Published: 2024
📄 Read Full Study (PMID: 38613937)
