Herbs to Strengthen after Surgery
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Heroine
Posted on: May 20, 1998

First of all thank you for reading my question. Now for the problem, I have undergone surgery under general anaesthesia twice in my life and I’m only 13. One when I was about 9 or 10 and another just recently. I have collapsed and lost consciousness after the surgery at home. I also heard that this type of surgery (under general anaesthesia) is also bad for your brain. Could you please advise me on herbs to improve my health now?

The following herbs are suggested to build the body’s resistance before surgery, by Thomas Bartram in "Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine" (Grace Publishers, Mulberry Court, Stour Road, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1PS, England): Honey, bee pollen and Slippery Elm, taken with meals, are great strengtheners; Teas of Alfalfa, Irish Moss, Chiretta and Fenugreek seeds to provide minerals that are lost with blood loss in surgery. These recommendations will help to improve your health after surgery as well.

Siegfreid Gursche, "Encyclopedia of Natural Healing" (Alive Publishers, Canada, (800) 663-6580 or Natural Life Publishing Inc., U.S. (800) 663-6513) states that anesthesia can cause mental distractedness, nausea and vomiting in some people and recommends the following: Calendula, taken a week before and after surgery to help the body "withstand anesthetic gases which can cause muscle pain and weakness. It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties and inhibits scarring. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp. of dried calendula blossoms and drink 3 times daily". "Drinking St. John’s Wort tea before and after an operation will help calm nerves and relieve anxiety". "Dong quai tea or tincture stimulates the appetite, clears liver stagnation, helps the body deal with stress and is used as a general tonic after operation or weakness".

Other nourishing herbs are: Nettles, a mineral rich blood tonic; Burdock root, a blood tonic that helps to clear the body of toxins; Red Clover flowers, a mineral rich tonic that helps the lymphatics clear toxins. The Burdock is bitter, and best taken as a tonic. The Nettles and Red Clover flowers can be combined to make a tea, one teaspoon of the dried mixed herbs to a cup of boiling water, covered and steeped for 15 minutes, and drunk 3 times a day.

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