As a complementary form of health care, acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can help enhance the effectiveness of allopathic medical treatments. One area where acupuncture is particularly helpful is before and after a surgical procedure.
How does pre- and post-surgical acupuncture help?
Acupuncture provides numerous benefits when you’re preparing for, and recovery from surgery. Let’s explore some of the ways it helps:
Minimize inflammation, pain, bruising and swelling
Surgery causes trauma and inflammation to the local area, resulting in stagnation of qi and blood. That’s why pain, swelling and bruising occur at the surgical site. Acupuncture stimulates the flow of qi and blood in the body, which will naturally promote healing and relieve pain and swelling. Numerous studies have demonstrated the link between acupuncture and a reduction in inflammation.
Speed up recovery time
Acupuncture stimulates the flow of qi in your body and improves circulation, meaning you’ll be back on your feet (literally and figuratively!) quicker if you do acupuncture pre- and post-surgery.
Help with after-effects of anesthesia
Anyone who’s every been under general anesthesia knows that you often feel groggy and foggy-headed afterwards, sometimes for several days or even weeks. Acupuncture can help stimulate proper functioning of the liver system, so that it metabolizes anesthesia and other drugs, helping you feel more like yourself again.
Manage stress and anxiety
Let’s face it – surgery is stressful. You worry about the potential risks and side effects, the cost, and taking time away from work and family. Acupuncture helps to relax the mind, calm anxiety and improve sleep – all of which will help you recover faster and move forward in good health.
What the research says
Acupuncture helps the body pre- and post-surgery in so many ways, but don’t just take our word for it. Research published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery found that acupuncture administered after heart valve surgery produced a number of benefits, including a reduction in pain, nausea, stress and anxiety, fewer hours in the intensive care unit, and a reduced need for post-surgical meds to manage atrial fibrillation.
How many treatments are needed?
If you have a planned surgery, we recommend coming in for a series of treatments in the weeks leading up to your procedure. The number and frequency will depend on the type of surgery you’re having and your overall health picture, but a general guideline is to come in 1-2 times a week, for a series of 4-8 treatments before surgery. After your procedure, we recommend coming back in for acupuncture as soon as you’re feeling well enough to leave the house. Again the number and frequency of recommended post-surgical treatments will vary, but the general guideline is the same: plan for 1-2 times a week, for a series of 4-8 treatments after surgery.
Bottom line
Acupuncture is a safe and effective complement to surgery: it reduces pain, minimizes the side effects, and helps you heal and recover faster. Do you have a surgical procedure coming up? Let us help you get back on your feet with acupuncture.
Click here to schedule online or call us in East Nashville at 615-457-1979 or in Bellevue at 615-645-9866. We’re here to help.
