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.

Start taking a good multi-vitamin to provide the basic building blocks for healthy skin production and wound healing. Check to see that the following supplements--close to these dosages--are included in your multivitamin. If not, you will need to purchase additional supplements.

--Vitamin A: 20,000 IU a day. Note: 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, 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.
Or, you can take an antioxidant blend that includes vitamins A, C, E, selenium and zinc to reduce inflammation. Example: Carlson's Plus Zinc, two soft gels per day.



FIVE DAYS 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 dissolve under your tongue. Follow package directions for dosing.
Arnica: minimizes bruising.
Phosphorus: minimize bleeding, especially if you tend to be a heavy bleeder.

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.

AFTER SURGERY
Take arnica and phosphorus again, 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. Ideally, these should be part of your daily health-care routine.
Note: Review homeopathic dosing and protocol with a professional specifically trained in it. You can find someone in your area at http://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.

Reprinted with the permission of: BottomLine Daily Health News-Boardroom, Inc.
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