No matter how small a surgery
is, it carries significant physical and emotional effects.
Acupuncture has been proven to help people heal before and after a
surgery.
A Study on the Effects of Acupuncture for
Post-Operative Pain Relief
A recent Duke University study
showed that acupuncture not only reduced the post-operative pain but
also lessened the need for pain medication. Anesthesiologists from
Duke analyzed data from over fifteen tests and discovered that for
optimal results, it is best to receive acupuncture before and after
surgery. Doing this also reduced the effects caused by opioids if
taken.
Similar studies have also
reported a decrease in the level of nausea and the intensity of
post-operative vomiting. American Society of Anesthesiologists
investigated the study and concluded that acupuncture decreased
nausea by as much as 33 percent, dizziness by almost 40 percent,
urinary retention by 70 percent, and pruritus by about 25 percent,
all compared to those who received standard procedures.
Acupuncture Before and After
Surgery
Here are other benefits of
including acupuncture in your preparation for surgery and recovery
from surgery.
It can reduce stress:
Most people are nervous about having surgery. Scheduling an
acupuncture treatment at least one week before, will calm you down
and improve your sleep.
It can strengthen your immune
system: Being healthy before the surgery
is important as it can help you heal faster. Acupuncture before and
after your procedure will boost your immune system and help you
recover faster.
It can reduce scarring:
Acupuncture works wonders on scars, both cosmetic and internal, by
bringing back the sensation to the affected area.
It will help you recover
faster: Rest and sleep are very important
to recovering from surgery, and acupuncture can help you relax so
you can sleep better.
Acupuncture for Post Surgical
Healing
Acupuncture
can also help with the body’s recovery following surgery. No matter
how advanced surgical techniques are these days, surgery is still a
type of trauma that the body must recover and heal from afterwards.
Acupuncture helps to boost the immune system and to restore proper
functioning to the body, and in post-operative care can help the
body to recover and regain health more quickly. Acupuncture can
also help with inflammation, decrease swelling and improve mobility
and range of motion after surgery. This is important to recovery in
order for a person to regain their full abilities and have full use
of the body in the months down the road from surgery. Acupuncture
may also help reduce adhesion formation and reduce scarring and scar
tissue as the body heals from surgery.
Research shows that acupuncture can be very
effective for post-operative recovery when surgery is followed by a
series of acupuncture treatments, and it can also be beneficial to
perform acupuncture a day or two, and even a week before surgery.
This ensures that the body is in a healthy state going into surgery
in order to ensure a complete and healthy recovery.
If you or someone you know in
the Santa Monica / Los Angeles area will be having or already had
surgery, give us a call or send an email in order to discuss how
acupuncture can help.