How to naturally prepare your body before surgery when you have Crohn's Disease.

​It's a fact. No one wants to go under the knife and have surgery. It is a very daunting experience. Then there is the sometimes long recovery period afterwards. I can speak from experience here as I have undergone surgery three times and as a result of complications (an infection in the hospital which left me in Intensive care for a month and stuck in the hospital for four more) have been left with 90 cm of the small bowel. 
​So even though it can be stressful, there are certain things you can do to make not only your lead up to surgery smoother but your recovery a whole lot easier, enabling you to return to health quicker.

6 Ways To Prepare Your Body for Surgery

1. Turmeric
There are currently over 7,000 studies researching the efficacy of turmeric and its active (anti-inflammatory) component curcumin. Turmeric is also antibacterial, is a natural pain killer as it reduces inflammation, boosts immunity, aids liver detoxification, aids your body to deal with stress, its antioxidant rich, aids digestion and contains many more health benefits.

When you schedule your surgery try drinking a Turmeric shot.

• 1 tsp of Turmeric with a pinch of black pepper
• Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice in filtered water
• 1 Tbsp of Kultured Wellness coconut yoghurt (for the high quality fats and probiotics)

All of these ingredients ensured that the curcumin component in the turmeric is absorbed more effectively. You can drink this up to 3 or 4 times a day. 

NOTE: You may not be able to continue taking the turmeric leading up to the surgery as you may have to avoid all blood thinners, even natural ones such as turmeric, ginger, garlic and olive leaf. As soon as you get home from surgery, continue to have your daily turmeric shots.

Disclaimer: thin blood can be dangerous during surgery since it may not clot properly. It’s important you talk to your doctor or surgeon so you know which medications, supplements and real foods will need to be avoided and for how long.

2. Coconut Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is a fantastic oral detoxification practice. You simply swish a few teaspoons of coconut oil in your mouth for 15-20 minutes. I opted to add in a few drops of the highly potent oregano oil for maximum antiseptic and antifungal properties, as oregano oil is also a natural antibiotic and aids in the treatment of infections.

3. Probiotics
Like Hippocrates, I truly believe that ‘all disease begins in the gut’ So make sure you do everything you can to prepare your gut and body  for the unavoidable antibiotics and drugs. Make yourself some smoothies and add these Probiotics to receive all the benefits. 

4. Bone Broth - Gelatin and Collagen 
All three of these foods provide a bioavailable form of minerals, trace minerals, calcium, magnesium and amino acids which are essential for healing of the digestive tract, hormonal balance, digestion, sleep, liver detox, skin and hair, nails and teeth health. Additionally, the amino acids found in these foods promote probiotic balance and growth. This is how you can use all three foods.

• Bone broth: Sip on this throughout the day and use it as the base for your soups/purees
• Gelatin: Add in extra gelatin to the bone broth that you drink throughout the day
• Collagen: Unlike gelatin, collagen doesn’t ‘gel’ or ‘set’ so it can be easily stirred into juices, dips, smoothies and soups. I also used it as my nutrient dense ‘protein powder’ in smoothies. This kept me feeling satisfied, not heavy or too full.

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5. Loading up on Greens
Making sure you include Supreme Greens into your daily food intake is also extremely beneficial. They provide incredible amounts of nutrition in just one spoonful. They are full of vitamins and minerals, are easily digested, absorbed and utilised. Add them to your smoothies.

6. Stress Management
Stress adds so much havoc to your body, as it suppresses the immune system, decreases nutrient absorption, slows down the blood flow to the digestive system and turns off or turns down our body’s healing processes.

We know how important stress management is, however sometimes it’s a lot easier said than done and is a constant work in process. However, if stress is not managed, it weakens the immune system over time which doesn’t allow the body to fight off bad bacteria and viruses, resulting in systemic inflammation and leaky gut.

So because you need your body to work to the best of its ability so you can have a speedy recovery include these into your daily routine

• have magnesium salt baths with lavender oil before bedtime
• walked along the beach/ in nature for relaxation and to connect with the earth
• meditate at least once a day (even if for just 15 minutes)
• watch a funny movie or TV series to allow your body to release more tension.

​If you have any more questions then please free to email me at [email protected] or visit my Facebook Page at My Crohn's Doctor. 
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Yours in Health and Wellness
Dr Michael

My Crohn's Doctor
www.mycrohnsdoctor.com
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LEGAL DISCLAIMER - This article (including links to any/all website pages, blog posts, blog comments, forum, videos, audio recordings, etc.) is not intended to replace the services of a physician, nor does it constitute a doctor-patient relationship. Information is provided for informational  purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should not use the information for diagnosing or treating a medical or health condition. If you have or suspect you have an urgent medical problem, promptly contact your professional healthcare provider. Any application of the recommendations in this blog post is at the reader's discretion. My Crohn's Doctor and Dr Michael are not liable for any direct or indirect claim, loss or damage resulting from use of this blog. Readers should consult their own physicians concerning the recommendations in this article.