How to Naturally Prepare Your Body for Surgery and Improve Recovery

There is a natural way to support your healing process before and after surgery. You can lessen your discomfort and post operative recovery. I have counseled many patients prior to having surgery for various health issues. It is not enough just to have your pre-operative health exam and have a doctor check your meds, it is important that we run through your diet and make recommendations to add or eliminate vitamins, nutrients or herbal protocols to optimize your recovery process.

Foods and Supplements to Avoid 2 Weeks Prior To Surgery:
Garlic - Garlic is a natural blood thinner. Garlic in excessive amount should be avoided so that your blood is in its proper clotting and circulation ratio so that you will not be vulnerable to excess bleeding or clotting. If you have been susceptible to easy bruising, hematomas or you bleeding is more than excessive if you have a small cut. I would recommend discussing this concern with your doctor and asking for a blood test called a PTINR to check to make sure your blood is properly flowing ( not to thick to clot and not too thin to bleed excessively). If your PTINR is out of normal recommended range precautions will need to be taken before, during and after your surgery to properly address this issue.

Foods High In Potassium: For those undergoing heart procedures, one day procedures for cardiovascular or cardiology issues, or those who have diagnosis of Hypertension or any heart related conditions. Foods that are high in potassium can create a pain in your chest that is often mistaken for Angina. If you are a tomato, orange, banana or potato lover, and you consume these foods in excessive quantity, I recommend having your potassium levels checked two weeks prior to surgery. If your potassium is too high it can create a risk. You may have to reduce your intake of these foods until after recovery.
Stay Away From Caffeine:
Caffeine increases circulation. You do not want to hyper stimulate your body prior to surgery. I always get so upset when I read on medical literature that a person can come fasting on a liquids diet and they list plain coffee as a food choice.
The following can also interfere with medications administered during and after your surgery and can cause reactions. You can consult with your doctor about avoiding the following:
Vitamin E supplements, Milk, Dairy Products, Iron Supplements (when antibiotics are being administered, Oranges, Pineapple, Grapefruit (can inhibit uptake of many drugs).

Recommendations Prior to Surgery:

My simple natural health rule is that two weeks prior to surgery is an optimal time to prepare your body for the procedure and Two weeks after your surgery is crucial to use natural modalities to help with speeding up healing and recovery.

I recommend drinking "Georges Always Active Aloe Vera Liquid" prior to surgery. This will help clear morbid matter from the body and accelerate healing of tissues. I like this brand because it is distilled to taste just like drinking water for proper hydration and absorption. No bitter taste and the format of this liquid is designed for rapid absorption.
http://www.georgesaloe.com/

Herbs can be safely used in some cases prior to surgery. I would only recommend using any herbal therapy for no more than 7 days. Do not use any herbal therapy the week prior to or the week of your surgery. Wait until you have been checked out of the hospital and allow two days rest before using herbal protocols for recovery after surgery.

Milk Thistle can be taken to detox the liver from drugs and chemicals used during surgical procedures.

Pau d' Arco Cleanses the blood and hold natural antibacterial properties.

Add fiber to your diet. Increase your natural fiber intake with a clear fiber supplement like Benefiber to keep your intestinal tract functioning well to add bulk to morbid matter to be easily cleared out of your system.

For Emotional Trauma or Hematomas or Bruising related to post surgery. I recommend rubbing a homeopathic cream called "Traumeel" on your pulse points and over any bruising or swelling that is not an open wound. This will reduce stress and help with the healing process.
I prefer the original basic formula. http://www.traumeelusa.com/

Making the decision to have surgery can be difficult enough. Remember to be proactive about your health, your diet, your intake and you can be a full participant in your recovery before and after surgery.