I wanted to share some tips for preparing for surgery that help you feel better and have a quicker recovery. I just had an amazing client who was so well-prepared for her surgery that I was inspired. Here are some tools to have in your johnny pocket when you or a loved one head to surgery.
My client scheduled a Reiki session before her procedure to help her feel balanced and calm. Reiki is a very gentle but powerful form of hands-on healing. I offer many different energetic healing modalities but people really love Reiki. It is being used more and more in hospitals to help people deal with stress and pain. Most people report feeling very relaxed and connected after a session, which is the perfect way to head into surgery or any life-changing event.
Another great thing to bring to surgery with you is a crystal or stone. It can be very calming to hold a nice sturdy stone. Many people have used one of the rose or clear quartz hearts in the picture below. It fits in the palm perfectly. You could also use any rock or crystal that you liked or had meaning for you. People have also done a lovely little ritual with the stone that is going to be used, passing it around to loved ones and asking them for their good wishes and prayers; sending that energy into the stone. This pass-around has been done in hospital rooms, at dinner tables and in waiting rooms. It can be done out loud or in silence. It feels so good to have something concrete and real to express your love and support in an anxious time. Some anesthesiologists will allow the person to hold the stone, taping it onto their hand, some hold it for the person and some have someone else hold it and give it back to them in the recovery room. It is helpful to hold the stone sometimes during the rest of the time in the hospital and the healing process as a calming reminder love and support.
Then, of course, essential oils. They are a great addition to the hospital tool kit. Peppermint is great for nausea. I had a bottle by my bed when I was last in the hospital. I would pour a few drops on my johnny for when the smells from the bed next to me or the hall-ways were overwhelming! Also, with surgery comes pain and inflammation and essential oils can be very helpful in calming those down.
My client wrote me a note after her surgery:
“Katherine – I cannot emphasize enough how wonderful the rolling oil was for my physical therapy! I used it many time a day during the painful therapy. It relaxed me and gave me the wearwithall to keep going. All in all I am doing GREAT! Thank you so much for having me in the right place to receive the surgery and continuing to heal. You are a wonderful lady with a special gift.”
There are so many oils that are healing for both pain and inflammation. A roll-on or massage oils can work wonders in relieving pain and buoying the spirit. Lavender and Ylang Ylang are a marvelous combination, both very calming and anti inflammatory. Lemongrass is a great pain reliever and Marjoram and wonderful at soothing tight muscles. The roll-on and massage oil would not be applied directly to the surgical site, but to the area around it and anywhere else on you body that is tense from lying in bed. Once the area is healed and your surgeon has given you the OK you can use oils to help with healing and lessen scarring. Oils like Geranium, Helicrysum and Frankincense can really speed skin healing and reduce scarring.
Hope those tips are helpful for anyone that has to have surgery. Let me know by email or over at the blog if you have anything that has helped you. Below are the sources I use for essential oils. (As I’ve written before the world of multi-level marketing makes buying essential oils very confusing and these are some great small companies that sell beautiful oils at good prices.)
Appalachian Valley Natural Products
Nature’s Gift
Elizabeth Van Buren
