Healthy Healing

I recently wrote about ways to help heal skin injuries from the inside out. (See Daily Health News, December 16, 2004). In my conversation with Dr. Alicia Capsey, a naturopathic physician in Oak Harbor, Washington, the subject of surgical wounds arose. Dr. Capsey had some specific suggestions for faster and better healing after surgery.

Two Weeks Before Surgery

Avoid all blood thinners, including aspirin, garlic, ginseng (in excess) and large doses of vitamin E. Taking 100 international units (IU) to 200 IU of vitamin E or one capsule of ginseng is okay. Typically, physicians will advise stopping or cutting back on blood-thinning medications, such as warfarin (Coumadin), before surgery.

If you are not already taking a good-quality multivitamin, start taking one now. That will provide the basic building blocks for healthy skin production and wound healing. Check to make sure that the following supplements, in these dosages -- or close to these dosages -- are included in your multivitamin (they probably are). If not, you will need to purchase additional supplements.

Vitamin A: 20,000 IU a day. However, Dr. Capsey warns that pregnant women should not take more than 10,000 IU, because the higher dosages can cause birth defects.

Zinc: 30 mg to 50 mg a day, but take with food to avoid upset stomach.

Vitamin E: 400 IU a day.

Copper: 2 mg to 3 mg a day.

Vitamin C with citrus flavonoids: 1 to 2 grams daily (to bowel tolerance) with 25 mg to 50 mg of citrus flavonoids.

Alternatively, take an antioxidant blend that includes vitamins A, C, E, selenium and zinc as your presurgery protocol to reduce inflammation. Example: Carlson's Plus Zinc, two soft gels per day.

Two Days Before Surgery

Start taking bromelain. This enzyme helps reduce inflammation. Pineapples are an excellent source of bromelain as a regular part of good nutrition, but for serious wound healing from surgery, you will need to take very high doses, so a bromelain supplement is the way to go. Take three capsules of 250 mg, three times a day in between meals. Note: Be sure to stop the day before surgery, as bromelain can interfere with fibrin deposition, which is necessary to form clotting around the surgical site -- and avoid for three days after surgery.

The Night Before Surgery

The night before surgery, Dr. Capsey recommends two homeopathic treatments to minimize bruising and bleeding. Start five days before surgery and alternate one night of arnica with one night of phosphorus. Both treatments come as tiny pellets that you swallow. Follow directions on the packages for dosing.

Arnica: Take the homeopathic treatment arnica to minimize bruising.

Phosphorus: To minimize bleeding, Dr. Capsey recommends phosphorus, especially if you tend to be a heavy bleeder.

After Surgery

After surgery, take arnica and phosphorus again, using the same dosing schedule as above, until bleeding and bruising are improved.

To help alleviate pain in the incision itself, take bellis perennis, another homeopathic remedy. The Boiron company is a good source for bellis perennis.

Also continue your multivitamin or antioxidant formula for a week or two following surgery, though ideally, these should become a part of your daily health-care routine.

Note: Review homeopathic dosing and protocol for both pre- and post- surgery with a professional specifically trained in it. You can find someone in your area at www.homeopathic.org. Also, be sure to discuss Dr. Capsey's recommendations with your surgeon before embarking on them so that he/she is aware of them.

Sources...

Alicia Capsey, ND, a naturopathic physician who practices with her husband, Dr. Thomas Rogers, ND, at Whidbey Island Naturopathic, with offices in Oak Harbor, Washington and Greenbank, Washington.