Do hibiscus flowers, or Red Zinger tea, interfere with anesthesia?

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

I’m having a “female troubles” (TMI, don’t ask) procedure done Tuesday, Same-Day Surgery, with MAC anesthesia (sedation)…

http://www.emedicine.com/plastic/topic112.htm

…and the Pre-Op nurse person who filled out my paperwork and did the orientation thing asked me whether I smoked, drank alcohol, or drank what she called “herb teas”. I, assuming she meant serious nutraceuticals like St. John’s wort and goldenseal, said, “No”, but then I added, “…except for Red Zinger,” laughing, because Red Zinger is hardly a “nutraceutical”.

She looked concerned and asked, “What’s Red Zinger?” And I was, like, “Um…” (She’s never heard of Red Zinger?) I tried to describe it, “It’s just kind of fruit-flavored…” but she said gravely, “Well, you’d better not drink any more until after your surgery, because you never know.”

So I came home and Googled “hibiscus flowers” which seems to be the active ingredient in all four of the Celestial Seasoning-type herb/spice teas I’ve got here, and I don’t see anything that would indicate it can interfere with anesthesia.

I did find this, which indicates it has phenolic compounds that are similar to what’s found in grapes, and seems to me that if I wasn’t supposed to ingest said phenolic compounds, she’d have told me to knock off the grapes till after Tuesday, too.

http://ift.confex.com/ift/2001/techprogram/paper_7927.htm

. Hibiscus flowers are used mai[n]ly for beverages and much of the grape subproducts from wine manufacture find little use…

So did I miss a memo? I thought Red Zinger was just a “beverage”, but does it count as a “nutraceutical”?

BTW, she didn’t mention anything about not drinking regular Lipton’s tea, or coffee, either.

[Derleth]

She doesn’t know, and doesn’t want you to take the chance. That’s all.

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Well, yeah, I understand that she’s erring on the side of caution, I just wanted to know if anybody out there had heard anything.

And, does Red Zinger “count” as a nutraceutical? I always thought of it as just a sort of quaint hippie tea. I always flash back to my 60s bellbottoms when I make some.

Sheesh, my grandma used to drink it, and she wouldn’t have gone within a mile of it if she’d thought it contained “druuuuuugs”.

[andy_fl]

The only thing I know about hibiscus is that its sort of pH indicator. If a Hibiscus flower is put into a strong alkaline solution (Sodium Hydroxide e.g.) it turns completely blue. A nice way to decorate your house or surprise friends

I know, it does’nt help much here but thought I’d say it anyways.

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Um, I think those are hydrangeas, and they have to be planted in the ground. Acid soil makes blue flowers on the shrub, alkaline soil makes pink flowers.

http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/1996/120996.html

But thanks anyway.

[Squink]

Never heard anything about Hibiscus having pharmacological properties. It’s not widely regarded as a “serious” nutraceutical. You’ve also got licorice root in red zinger (Ingredients: Hibiscus, rosehips, lemon grass, licorice root, natural flavors, and citric acid) but if it were me, I wouldn’t sweat it.

[andy_fl]

*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose *
**Um, I think those are hydrangeas, and they have to be planted in the ground. **

I was talking about plucking out and then dipping the flowers of hibiscus in a solution of sodium hydroxide. And i’ve done it seen for myself that it changes color from red to blue. Donno what color change will be there for other colors of hibiscus.

[Squink]

Many of plants and blossoms contain anthocyanins, pigments that change color depending on the pH. links

[Fear_Itself]

Hibiscus :

Drug interactions

As with other concentrated sources of soluble fibre, Hibiscus flower and calyx mucilage can interfere with the absorption of other medicines within the gut if they are taken at the same time. As such, take prescription medications at an alternate time to consuming Hibiscus flower and calyx tea.

Rosehips

Drug Interactions:

None known

Licorice Root

Drug Interactions:

Licorice root tea may interfere with existing hypoglycemia therapy and hormonal therapy. Potassium loss may be increased when licorice root is taken with other drugs, and in that case the sensitivity to digitalis glycosides increases. In persons with impaired cardiac or renal function, a physician should be consulted prior to use of licorice and in these cases, deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) preparations are recommended together with a potassium-rich diet with e.g. bananas and dried apricots. Long-term use of licorice should be strictly avoided. The drugs, spironolactone or amiloride, should not be taken simultaneously with licorice root.

Lemongrass

Drug Interactions:

None known.

Looks like Licorice Root might be the culprit.

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Golly, that never even occurred to me. I saw it on the ingredients and assumed it was just, like, natural licorice flavoring or something.

Thanks.

huh

[mipsman]

I know a couple of desert tortoises that will eat every hibiscus flower put in front of them so I suppose there must be something addictive in the flowers.