CANCER: UNDERSTANDING SURGERY
Preparing For and Recovering From Surgery
For many people the prospect of undergoing surgery seems terrifying, to say the least. As much as we may detest this thought, sometimes surgery is the best available answer to improving our quality of life. Often there are other options so if you are planning to undertake surgery, try to seek second and third opinions first. Find out about effective alternative approaches to treating the problem. If you have decided that surgery is the most viable option for you, it is important to prepare your body for it to ensure a faster recovery, optimal healing and reduced side effects.
By taking nutritional supplements you will increase your body’s healing process and ensure less post-surgery discomfort and pain. Your general health following surgery depends largely on your general health before surgery. That is, the healthier and stronger you are before your surgery, the quicker and more successful your recovery will be after surgery. It is also important to go into surgery feeling as relaxed as possible, visualizing the most positive and beneficial outcome. The mind is one of the body’s most powerful tools in healing. Practice creative imagery before surgery and try to imagine a wonderful and successful result from surgery.
Surgical Techniques
Surgery can be a traumatic experience on the body and mind. New techniques can minimize the trauma caused from surgery. Laparoscopic surgery, or keyhole surgery, is less traumatic and ensures you a faster release from the hospital. You are also left with only a very small scar or wound. Likewise, instead of the common vertical cut that doctors regularly use in all types of operations, ask your doctor if it would be possible for him to cut horizontally, below your bikini line. In many cases this is entirely possible and leaves you with less psychological trauma later.
Herbal Remedies
Herbal remedies and herbal teas are highly recommended before and after surgery. Herbs enhance healing and stimulate the body’s natural defences, particularly immune system function. Try some of the following herbal teas to encourage more rapid healing:
• Ginseng improves recovery time after surgery. It also boosts energy levels and alleviates depression. Ginseng is used throughout China to decrease pain.
• Goldenseal is a natural antibiotic and helps to prevent infections. It also helps to stimulate a healthy appetite and can ease a nasty case of gastritis. Do not take for more than one week at a time as it may disturb normal intestinal flora.
• Milk thistle protects the liver from a toxic build-up of drugs, chemicals and anaesthetics used in surgery. Often following surgery it can take some time before the bowels function normally again. Milk thistle helps to relieve constipation caused from liver and gallbladder congestion.
• Pau d’arco is a natural antibacterial, detoxifying and immune-stimulating herb. It speeds up the healing process, cleanses the blood and aids in the prevention of Candida and thrush.
• Rosehip tea is a wonderful spring tonic that aids general debility and exhaustion. It is a good source of natural vitamin Ñ and enhances healing.
• Chamomile is a natural carminative and relaxes the body’s nervous system, easing the stress of surgery.
• Dandelion herbal tea aids good liver and kidney function, helps to eliminate excess fluids and cleanses the blood system.
*24/34/5*
