Are Homeopathic and Chinese Medicine remedies safe when having surgery?

Many of our patients use some form of complimentary medicine to enhance their surgery experience. Some patients use homeopathic medicines like Arnica Montana or Traditional Chinese Medicine to reduce inflammation after surgery. While the western medicine literature do not offer a lot of evidence that these complimentary medicines work, in our experience of over 3000 hernia patients, there is a benefit to our patients. Acupuncture can be used to reduce pain after hernia surgery, or for chronic pain. Some Chinese Herbs can improve the immune system and general inflammation. Our friends at Dao Labs have been creating over the counter products that can be of benefit.