Published June 2, 2005 in the North Island MidWeek

Naturopathic medicine is not only about avoiding drugs and surgery but also about “complementing” them. This means that a person does not have to decide between one treatment or the other. Margaret, a 55 year old healthy woman, postponed hip replacement surgery for many years. She tried every natural therapy under the sun to treat her osteoarthritis of the hip and at last the pain and lack of mobility forced her to make the decision to go ahead with the surgery. She consulted with a naturopathic physician who recommended a pre and post operation program to not only assist her with the surgery itself but to hasten her long recovery as well.

Natural medicines taken before surgery help to alleviate pain and bruising, decrease the risk of infection, assist the liver to detoxify the anesthetic and help the adrenal glands deal with the general stress of surgery. Continuing remedies for several months after surgery further decreases the risk of infection, speeds up the healing process and increases the feeling of well being. I believe it takes most people three months after a general anesthetic to return to their normal state of well being and with the use of natural remedies this can be decreased to one or two months.

Arnica, hypericum or traumeel are common remedies to prevent swelling, bruising and pain. I recommend these also before dental work as well as during childbirth. These are given in small pellets under the tongue and are very safe to take even if you are fasting or having nothing by mouth. There are a few remedies that are thought by some professionals to thin the blood (although this does not bear out in the research as they do not affect INR’s) and so they are discontinued two weeks before surgery but resumed as soon after surgery as possible. These include vitamin E, garlic, gingko and fish oils.

To aid the healing of bones, after any bone surgery, remedies I consider include: a good mineral complex, good quality protein in the diet as well as in the power form put into a vitamin drink, calc phos and calc fluor cell salts, glucosamine combinations, and anti-inflammatories that contain bromelain and curcumin. Vitamin C is one of the best remedies to aid the adrenal glands to handle and recover from stress. Bowel tolerance levels are recommended which is when adequate levels of Vitamin C cause a loose bowel movement. Naturopathic physicians have many other remedies for liver and adrenal health that are recommended for several months after surgery.

Another large part of Margaret’s healing was the expert physiotherapy, acupuncture and massage therapy that she received as well as the exercise program that she maintains to this day. She is so grateful for the expert care she received from all her professionals. There were many other patients she saw during her bi-weekly physiotherapy appointments who were not nearly as robust, energetic nor optimistic as she because they were not following a similar regime.

Margaret is very happy with her new hip. She is now able to cycle 2.5 hours without any ill effects and she also swims regularly. Only now after these many years can she consider traveling again as she can tolerate sitting for longer periods of time. She is grateful for the opportunity that modern medicine has given her to have a new hip, but she also has reaped the benefits of taking responsibility for her health and adding naturopathic therapies to her treatment program to obtain the best outcome. Are you heading for surgery, having dental work or having a baby? Ask your naturopathic physician how he or she can help you!