Because this came up at my house this week, I thought – why not blog about it? The man of the house had to have minor (it’s only minor if it’s not you, by the way) surgery. While we got great pre-op teaching, not everyone does, so here goes:

If you are having surgery, things need to be very clean – your body, your house, your bed, everything you can think of. In his case, the man had to shower using Hibiclens (4% chlorhexidine) soap the night before and the morning of surgery. Your surgical pre-op team should instruct you on this. The soap needs to stay on your skin for a while, so lather up in the shower, then turn the water off and wait at least 3 minutes before washing off. Use a clean towel each time you shower.

Fresh sheets and pillow cases the night before surgery, and changed frequently if you are in bed for a few days after surgery. In his case, the man is using a recliner, so a fresh sheet draped over the recliner (after you have cleaned it as much as possible). Dog hair, engine grease, and dirt or manure are not great for fresh surgical wounds, so….. yeah, clean.

After surgery, watch the surgical incision for infection. If the incision starts getting puffy, red, or draining anything other than a pale yellow clear fluid, you need to contact your surgeon. There may be additional things to be aware of if you are sent home with any kind of drain or wound vac. Most of the time, you can shower about 24 hours after surgery, but try to keep the incision itself as dry as you can. Very gentle washing (no scrubbing) and pat dry. Follow what your surgical team suggests.

Wound healing (even if it’s a surgical wound) requires really good hydration and extra protein. Water is great, but you could do gatorade, powerade, or (best) body armor drinks to help if you are nauseated or having a hard time getting food down. If eating is a problem, add some protein powder (I like Vital Proteins collagen powder because I can’t taste it) to whatever you are eating or drinking.

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis): probably the primary herb for any type of skin issue. It is anti-inflammatory and promotes lymph drainage. It also helps with formation of granulation tissue.
• Yarrow (Achillea millifolium): helps with flabby, boggy tissue. Yarrow is considered a ‘warrior’ herb – it will help prevent bleeding, help get rid of bruising, and tighten up blood vessels (decrease vascular congestion).
• Comfrey (Symphytum officinale): This is an herb you MUST be very careful with. It is no longer recommended for oral use – topical only. Comfrey salve must NOT be put IN a wound at all, ever. It has an amazing ability for cell proliferation – in other words, it may make the skin heal before the tissue below heals – and that can lead to issues like abscesses. I’m not saying comfrey is not a great herb – it just must be used with caution and appropriate education. Some research shows that if taken orally, it can lead to liver damage.
• Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis): Marshmallow is full of goop (ok, ok – the proper term is mucilage) that is great for wound healing. Originally, one of the primary uses of marshmallow was for poultices for wounds. It makes a great wash for wounds (think abrasions, but any wound is appropriate) and a nice slightly sweet tea.
• Aloe (Aloe barbadensis): you don’t think I’d forget this one, did you? Aloe is again, one of the primary herbs for skin issues. You can use aloe internally, but it is a purgative (think laxative on steroids), so dosing is… cautious. Aloe gel works great to help with the itching after surgery when the skin is healing. It also can soothe where adhesives were if you get a bit itchy from them. It is great for healing wounds and irritated tissues.

As a (kind of) side note: When I was having radiation treatments for cancer, the nurses advised me to use Aquaphor every day. I asked how this would be different from baby oil and laying out on a tar roof. Instead, every day I made a pint of marshmallow and calendula tea (well, I made it the night before and left in the fridge). After radiation, I would use part of it to wash my face and neck then I would drink the rest on the drive home. When I got home, I slathered aloe gel on my neck and face. On the weekends, when I had no treatments, I would use the Aquaphor. I did not have even a first degree burn – and I had a total of sixty treatments. I think this would work just as well for any kind of sunburn or maybe even a chemical burn after the initial treatment.