Why must alfalfa use be discontinued prior to and following any surgical procedure?

Due to its potential effect on bleeding or clotting mechanisms.

Any planned surgical procedure requires meticulous management of the patient's blood clotting parameters to control intraoperative and postoperative bleeding risks. Alfalfa presents a complication in this regard due to factors related to its chemical composition, specifically its Vitamin K content and other inherent properties affecting hemostasis. Because Vitamin K promotes clotting, and general factors related to alfalfa may influence overall bleeding tendencies, consuming it near the time of surgery poses a risk of either excessive bleeding (if the effect promotes clotting too strongly) or unpredictable clotting dynamics. Therefore, to ensure optimal surgical safety and predictable bleeding control, discontinuing the use of alfalfa both before and immediately after any operation is a necessary precautionary measure.