Supplements That Can Accelerate Surgical Healing

Several nutrients are important in improving the time it takes your body to heal and wound outcome. Especially recognized for their contributions to the body’s ability to heal itself are Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Zinc.

Vitamin A helps prevent infections and is required for cell growth. This is especially important in the generation of new tissues at the wound site.

Vitamin C allows blood vessels to be relaxed and open, improving your ability to heal, and is required in the production of collagen, the connective tissue in skin that helps healing. Vitamin C also helps strengthen the immune system and fight infection.

Zinc helps accelerate wound healing, reduces wound size (think potential scarring) and bolsters immune function to ward off infection.

While most patients get enough of these nutrients from the foods in their diet, supplements can be helpful in ensuring your body is armed with all it needs to achieve the best results in healing.

Another supplement I often recommend to my patients is Arnica, which comes in pill form or as a topical ointment. It’s important to note that if you choose to use Arnica, you should only look for pure arnica extract, homeopathic pills at a 30x dilution or as a topical application and NOT ingest the plant itself. You also shouldn’t apply the topical cream to broken skin. The benefits of arnica supplements are its ability to help reduce swelling and painful bruising from surgical procedures, making the healing process less uncomfortable.