Anesthetic considerations of the herbal, kava.

The herbal remedy, kava, is reviewed, with special focus on the anesthetic management of the perioperative patient. Consumption of kava has potential cardiovascular consequences that could manifest in the perioperative period. Kava may act through inhibition of sodium and calcium channels to cause direct decreases in systemic vascular resistance and blood pressure.

Impact of ginkgo biloba on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin.

Many medications are known to alter digoxin pharmacokinetics, including the herbal medication St. John's wort. An open-labeled, randomized, crossover trial was conducted in eight healthy human volunteers to determine if ginkgo biloba (GB) also alters the pharmacokinetics of digoxin.

A survey of herbal product use in a dialysis population in Northwest Ohio.

Objective: To identify herbal product use in a dialysis population.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional survey conducted at 2 freestanding dialysis centers in Northwest Ohio.

Patients: Two hundred and sixteen hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients who provided informed consent.