Acupuncture has a lot to offer, both pre- and post-surgery. Surgeries have both physical, mental, and emotional effects on the body. First of all, surgery can be very stressful, both emotionally and physically: thinking about the actual procedure, enduring it, recovery, and the effects of the drugs used, and if anticipating the results.
Acupuncture can be used before surgery to help calm the nervous system, alleviate anxiety, and promote better sleep in the run-up to surgery. Acupuncture helps your body deal better with the stressors that can impact the overall quality of your life.
Acupuncture can boost the immune system and help speed recovery by reducing inflammation and increasing circulation of blood and lymph as well as affecting blood cells for healing. Acupuncture also helps post-operative pain, in addition to common side effects from medication such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation. The better you feel the quicker you will be able to move around and resume a productive lifestyle.
And finally, acupuncture can help reduce the appearance of physical scars on the body, as well as improving the healing of the scars on the inside that can limited your range of motion and cause pain. While no one really wants surgery, unfortunately it is a necessary fact of life for many of us at some point during our lives.
Think about acupuncture as a way to prep and prime before surgery and as a way to recover and heal more quickly after surgery.
Contributor:
Acupuncturist, herbalist, Maya abdominal practitioner, and reflexologist Christina Morris is the founder of Element Natural Healing Arts. Writing about health and wellness gives her an outlet to express her care and concern for her beloved community. She believes everyone can achieve better health and happiness–emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually.