Any kind of surgery has a huge impact on your quality of life in the days just after the procedure. While plenty of rest is always a good idea, you can get proactive and take a few other steps to make sure your healing is far less painful or slow than it needs to be. The steps given here will help you get back to work, take care of your kids, hit the gym, or get social much quicker, without hurting yourself in the process.

12 Steps to Healing Faster After Surgery

1. Follow the Doctor’s Orders

It is understandable that you would want to go back to your everyday life from before the surgery as soon as possible. The best way to achieve this is by closely following the instructions given by your doctor. If something doesn’t make sense to you, check back with your doctor before you make a call all by yourself. Most doctors will happily answer your questions.

2. Check When to Resume Exercise

Did you have a really active lifestyle prior to the operation? Different types of operations will have different variations of recovery time. The general surgeons at Circle Health Group — the UK’s largest national network of private hospitals — advise that for simpler procedures, you can get back to your previous lifestyle in just a few days, while more complicated procedures will mean a longer period of rest. Make sure you speak with your surgeon, as you don’t want to rush your recovery only to land back at the doctor’s office.

3. Get Mobile

While you don’t want to overdo it, gentle movement can actually aid your progress. You can set alarms on your phone to remind you to take a stroll around your house every hour or so. Gentle movement can keep complications like deep vein thrombosis at bay.

4. Attend Your Follow-Up Appointments

These appointments allow doctors to check if you’re recovering in the expected way. If the recovery is too slow or too painful, your surgeon can diagnose why and take immediate action. They will also want to rule out infection. Make sure you don’t miss your follow-up appointments.

5. Maintain Your Hygiene

Preventing infections is key to a swift and uneventful recovery. Infections can not only complicate the immediate wound but can also move to other areas of the body. Maintaining your hygiene and washing your hands before you touch your incision helps prevent infection.

At the same time, do not go overboard with cleaning the incision. Scabbing is a normal part of healing. Trying to remove scabs or being overzealous while cleaning the incision can make your recovery longer.

6. Drink Plenty of Water

Fluids are crucial for a swift recovery. Plain water is your best friend. Drink plenty of water and other healthy fluids, as recommended by your doctor. Plain water can also help prevent constipation, which can be especially painful in abdominal surgeries.

7. Follow a Healthy Diet

You might feel like you’ve lost your appetite after the surgery. But a healthy diet will help your body recover from the surgery and the anaesthesia. Protein from sources such as fish is important for your recovery, as are healthy fats, minerals, B vitamins and vitamin C. Fruits, berries and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals.

Too many patients shy away from healthy fats from sources such as olive oil and avocados that can actually be good for you. Your doctor can often assist you in finding the right dietary sources for the various food groups and in planning effective meal planning solutions.

Also Read: 5 Health Benefits of Shilajit You Must Know

8. Monitor Your Pain

Stay on top of your pain medication. Don’t miss your doses. Many patients have a fear of getting addicted to pain medication, but the right dose, monitored by your doctor, can significantly ease your everyday life after surgery.

9. Take Your Symptoms Seriously

A lot of patients shrug off significant changes during recovery. If your incision is bleeding, or looks like it is infected, or if you’re having trouble breathing or urinating, don’t hesitate in going to the A&E department to get it checked out.

10. Keep Your Mind Occupied

Recovery can be as much in the mind as in the body. If you keep yourself occupied with hobbies such as listening to soothing music or reading a book, your mind will be too busy to dwell on anxiety about recovering quickly.

Also Read: 7 Mindful Habits to Adopt For Better Mental Health

11. Learn to Meditate

Your convalescence time might be the best time to start a daily meditation practice. Meditation has been proven to have significant benefits on general well-being, pain and recovery. Even just a few minutes of meditation every day can make you calmer, more optimistic and less anxious.

12. Make Goals for the Future

Making a plan for what you’d like to do after healing can help you keep a forward-looking attitude as well as help you stick with the recovery process. Making small, actionable and achievable goals can help you stay focused on your journey to a healthy life.

A surgical procedure may be inevitable sometimes, but you can make your period of convalescence much shorter and far less traumatic by following the above steps. Happy healing!

Ylang Ylang Oil For Wellness: In colloquial terms, the ylang ylang flower (Canaga odorata) is called the ‘Macassar oil paint’ or the ‘perfume tree.’ The plant is native to the tropical rainforests of Sumatra, Java, Polynesia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

In the Philippines, the ylang ylang serves as a remedy for minor wounds, cuts, or burns. There was even a point when it was considered to have healing properties against snake and insect bites. In Indonesia, the aroma of the flower was used for its aphrodisiac nature.

If you’re curious about this flower, here’s how you can incorporate ylang ylang oil into your wellness routine:

4 Ways To Use Ylang Ylang Oil For Wellness

1. A few drops in your drink to boost heart health and immunity

A study shows that the ylang ylang oil contains active compounds that are beneficial for your heart. This includes terpenes, several types of flavonoids, liriodenine, methylmoschatoline, and dihydroxybenzoic acid. Additionally, researchers from a university in Bangladesh discovered phytochemicals in the ylang ylang oil that possess antifungal and antibacterial properties.

Furthermore, experts believe these phytochemicals might help lower inflammation and improve your immune system. Take note that inflammation is one of the leading causes of cancer, autoimmune diseases, heart diseases, and various cognitive-related disorders. (1)

Moreover, the benefits of ylang ylang oil by AWO explains that since the ylang ylang oil is shown to improve your blood flow and ward off inflammation, it’s safe to say that the flower might also promote a healthy circulatory system. That’s why it’s one of the most helpful essential oils available on the market, together with lavender, sage, and frankincense. This is especially true when it comes to controlling blood pressure and preventing arrhythmia. (1)

To use the oil for boosting heart health and improving immunity, simply drop it over your heart together with a carrier oil, then gently massage. Also, to use ylang ylang oil as a remedy for high blood pressure, you can opt to take it as a dietary supplement or add one or two drops into warm water or tea. (1)

2. Massage the scalp to thicken hair

Most people, especially women, love the smell of ylang ylang. This is one reason the aroma is often added in beauty care products. A growing trend nowadays is to use essential oils—all of which have amazing scents—as a hair mask.

If you want to try this hair treatment, combine one to two tablespoons of coconut oil (serves as the carrier oil) and ten drops of ylang ylang oil. Then massage the concoction into your damp scalp and hair. After massaging, wrap your hair in a towel for 30–60 minutes. This way, the mixture can penetrate your scalp, enhancing its effects. After an hour, wash your hair as usual. You can use this treatment every week or as often as you want. (2)

3. Massage your face to improve your skin

As mentioned, ylang ylang oil is now popular in the beauty industry. Not only can it help thicken your hair, but most skincare experts believe this oil works effectively against acne since it’s known for its antifungal properties. Additionally, ylang ylang oil is said to moisturize the skin and help regenerate your cells, giving you a young and fresh look.

If you want to harness the antifungal and hydrating properties of the ylang ylang oil, add a few drops on your face, then massage gently. As an alternative, you can also purchase skin care products that contain ylang ylang, then follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to apply the product.

Also Read: 5 Skincare Tips To Maintain A Healthy Skin

4. A few drops to your diffuser to prevent fatigue

Lastly, ylang ylang oil is known to boost one’s energy and enhance your mood. As a natural energizer, especially if it’s paired with citrus oil, you’ll have the much-needed energy pump to tackle any tasks at hand, especially if you’re feeling down and sleepy at work.

To use ylang ylang oil as an energy booster, diffuse two drops of ylang ylang oil and two drops of either citrus, lemon, or grapefruit essential oil in your workspace. Doing so won’t only keep the room smelling fresh, but it’ll also boost anyone’s creativity and productivity. (3)

Takeaway | Ylang Ylang oil For Wellness 

Just like other essential oils, there are plenty of benefits you can expect from ylang ylang oil. But do note that you should always consult a doctor to treat any ailments you’re experiencing. After all, essential oils only serve as a supplement, and you shouldn’t substitute it for professional advice.

After the doctor gives you the green light, you can then use ylang ylang oil in a variety of ways, as discussed in this blog post. For one, if you want to incorporate it into your skincare routine, add a few drops to your face and massage thoroughly. To beat the 3PM slump, diffuse the oil in your room. In short, you won’t find any shortage of ways to acquire the benefits of the perfume tree.

References

1. “Ylang Ylang Boosts Heart Health, Moods and Energy”, Source: https://draxe.com/essential-oils/ylang-ylang/
2. “8 Ways to Use Ylang Ylang Essential Oil”, Source: https://lindseyelmore.com/8-uses-for-ylang-ylang-essential-oil/?q=/8-uses-for-ylang-ylang-essential-oil/&
3. “The Benefits and Uses of Ylang Ylang Essential Oil”, Source: https://www.sourcevital.com/blogs/insights/the-benefits-and-uses-of-ylang-ylang-essential-oil

Benefits of Shilajit: If you’re a superfood aficionado and Shilajit hasn’t reached your radar, man, you’re missing out on something. This superfood has been around for centuries and it’s about time that we give it the attention that it clearly deserves.

For those who are not familiar, Shilajit is a tar-like substance that’s sticky and gooey. It’s normally found in the Himalayas Mountain range where it’s also first discovered.