Using Holistic Practices For Natural Surgery Recovery

In holistic medicine, the entire person is treated. This takes into account mental and social factors, vs. just the physical symptoms of the disease. True holism is nourishing and building. Instead of being like an athlete showing up to a match without stretching, we nourish the entire being and then focus on building after the fact. The interventions include focusing on exercise, sleep, mind/body reset, diet, and lifestyle. This post outlines options for holistic healing practices after surgery.

Hop off, roll down, spring up, live another day

OK, so maybe do not spring up too quickly after surgery 😉 but let’s explore using holism to facilitate the healing process from surgery. Not to put even more pressure on this “scary” word but it is kind of a big deal AND I suggest looking at the pre and post process through a holistic lens to actually bring you comfort. On October 2nd, 2020, I had bunion surgery. The bunion on my right foot was considered severe, causing me pain and numbness, and the possibility of arthritis in my foot was real. It entailed over two months of prep time, seven weeks without any pressure on my foot, and was quoted at a nine to twelve month recovery. I was dancing on New Years Eve and hiking by January, all through this holistic healing process, which is not linear and I surprised everyone with the speed and thoroughness of my journey.

 

Prepare

Nervine herbs for mind/body
I noticed the importance and power of the mind immediately once I scheduled the procedure. Throughout the entire process though, nervines are hugely important. Nervines aid your mind in the stress response. Nervines calm your mind, and the body responds. I started drinking a nightly nervine/vitamin tea including chamomile, passionflower, nettles, skullcap, milky oats. You can make your own magic and literally drink in the calmness on a cellular level – As you make the tea take a few deep breaths into how you are supporting yourself. As you sip the tea, embody that you are drinking acceptance of the process and praise to yourself for providing nourishment.

Hot and cold contrast baths
Alternating hot and cold therapy reduces inflammation, stimulates circulation, and aids in loosening muscle tightness, all of which help reduce pain. Foot baths were recommended twice a day leading up to surgery for a few months (as well as post-surgery once the stitches were removed). All you need is two plastic containers big enough to fit your feet, and access to hot and cold water. Adding epsom salt for extra pain and inflammation aid as well as birch or wintergreen essential oil for aches and pains was also useful. Read more about contrast baths here.

Anti-inflammatory diet
Reducing inflammation before surgery is critically important. The more we can focus on our system as a whole, the stronger our vital health will be during the healing process. Increasing nutrition is also key.

Think low to no-carbs, no sugar. Leafy greens and other colorful veggies and high protein, specifically red meat poultry, eggs, and seafood as they are best sources of easily digestible protein. Here is a helpful article which continues to outline how to eat for a nutrition focus and minimizing inflammation.

Arnica Montana & CBD
Arnica is an amazing herb for pain and swelling and can be taken internally via homeopathy only. I also utilized a strong CBD oil internally from the morning of surgery and on for the next few months. My take on on Western medicine is that it absolutely has its place, especially undergoing major procedures. Although the prescription the doctor gave me helped me get through the first 3 days post-surgery, other parts of me started to feel worse. And after those first 3 days post-surgery, I was able to rely on herbs and CBD for pain. Feel this out on your own.

Arnica tablets – 30ck, 1 tablet/day, 1 week before surgery then 200 ck, 5 tablets the day before surgery. Then taken as needed after surgery.

Post

Herbs To Consider
Nausea / Nutritive Tea Formula:
Peppermint, fresh ginger, nettles
Peppermint and ginger aided my nauseousness the day of the procedure and nettles is a nutritive hug in itself. Being prepared by having tea ready to go by yourself or a loved one for the time you arrive home is really comforting.

Daytime Healing Tincture Formula:
Include gotu kola and yarrow. Gotu kola aids in seeding up the repair of nerve tissue damage as well as develop collagen. Yarrow is also excellent for internal would healing as well as an antimicrobial (in addition to oregon grape root and echinacea).

*This list of herbs, supplements, and formulas is not extensive. See below for information on working with me through your procedure*

Food As Medicine
Continue on anti-inflammatory diet.

• Bioflavanoid rich foods – protect connective tissue integrity, control bruising and inflammation. 
• Examples: berries, turmeric, ginger, alfalfa sprouts 
• Fermented foods – positive bacteria for the gut and body (be sure to get unpasteurized) 
• Examples: kim chi, miso, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha 
• Bromelain (750 mg/day) – enzyme found in pineapple, to reduce inflammation 

Movement
You can still get on a yoga mat in a walking boot. Moving your qi or life force energy is very important, even when you aren’t walking. Once I was comfortable enough to get up and down off my yoga mat, I would do core work or upper body stretches. This helps your body recover faster since you are maintaining good health and function. 

Laying flat on your back and doing simple leg lifts one leg at a time, while focusing on the power coming from your core is a great exercise to help the development of blood clots and work on your core strength. Once my foot wasn’t in the very tender stages (and while still in a boot), doing cat-cows really helped me feel more into myself each morning with circulating my qi and moving the blood. I also got creative and utilized my knee scooter to do some upper body movement while standing, think Warrior 2 variations in facing different ways:

Meditation
When you aren’t putting pressure on your foot for 7 weeks (plus an additional 3 weeks weaning off of crutches), visualization becomes really fun. Visualization meditations became my outlet everyday after work. Utilize an app such as Insight Timer and there are many healing visualizations offered. Or walk yourself through one where you imagine that you are walking on a beach, feeling the sand between your toes at each step. Smelling the ocean air. Tasting any salt water from ocean splashes and listening to the waves crash. I believe visualization meditations can wake parts of your body up subconsciously that on the physical level may not yet be ready to walk. Incorporate your senses, get your body moving in ways and in places that you may not be able to physically go.

Miscellaneous Options
Corrective bodywork (osteopathic, acupuncture) is usually necessary to correct chronic post-traumatic pain.

• Magnesium for inflammation
• Vitamin D for tissue integrity 
• Lipsomal Vitamin C (4,000 mg/day) – essential nutrient 
• Quercetin (250 mg/day) – anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties 

Without being lucky enough to have had the years of holistic herbalist training under my belt, my entire process would have been more painful, less easeful, and not nearly as eye-opening. Not to say that it was easy, but setting my body up in a state of vibrant health pre-surgery and continuing to focus on healing by using herbs, contrast baths, an anti-inflammatory diet, movement, and meditation encompassed an experience I will never forget and I am here to help others navigate their own journeys. 

When the number 555 appears before you, it is a sign for a life changing event. Consider taking it in stride for the opportunities behind it. And you can prepare for life changing events via the outlined information above. Do you have a procedure you’d like to prepare for together? Contact Lindsey to set up a time to discussed a personalized natural surgery recovery pre and postoperative care plan.