Abstract
SEVERAL RECENT surveys have shown that herbal medicines have become increasingly popular.1 It is therefore not surprising that a large proportion of surgical patients are using herbal medicines, often unknown to the treating health care team. A total of 755 US surgical patients completed a questionnaire on their use of herbal medicines. The results confirm a high level of herbal use: 43% took garlic; 32%, ginkgo biloba; 30%, St John's wort (SJW); 18%, mahuang; 12%, echinacea; and 10%, aloe.2 Another survey, conducted roughly 5 years ago, showed that 20% of transplant recipients were taking herbal medicines.3