Have you ever heard of this? My aunt had hip surgery and then developed a weeping, oozing wound. The doctor said it was from taking ginkgo biloba.
There have been a few cases of persistent bleeding after surgery caused by herbal self-medication. Usually the patient forgets to tell the doctor that he or she is taking a supplement such as St. John’s wort, ginseng, or ginkgo biloba.
Gingko biloba has an anticoagulant property much like aspirin. This means it prevents the blood from forming clots. That’s important for patients at risk for heart attack or stroke, but it’s a risk factor for anyone who’s just had surgery or who has a bleeding disorder.
The most recent report of gingko biloba causing oozing from a wound after surgery comes from Wales. A 77-year old woman had a hip replacement without problems. Afterwards, the wound site drained blood and a clear fluid for three weeks. When it was finally discovered she was taking gingko biloba and she stopped taking it, the problem cleared up within 10 days.
Visit The Zehr Center online for more information on total hip replacement surgery.
For more information on this subject, call The Zehr Center for Orthopaedics at 239-596-0100 or visit www.zehrcenter.com.The information contained herein is compiled from a variety of sources. It may not be complete or timely. It does not cover all diseases, physical conditions, ailments or treatments. The information should NOT be used in place of visit with your healthcare provider, nor should you disregard the advice of your health care provider because of any information you read in this topic.
