Homeopathy doesn’t change, my friends. However, our understanding of it continues to grow and evolve, just like with any scientific pursuit.
Years ago, I posted a blog article on surgical protocols. In the ensuing years (13 to be exact, at the time of this writing), I have adjusted these protocols and the information I provide to my clients and students.
Now, I’d like to share them with you. Many of you are new to my site and may not have discovered my older posts. Some of you have found the older posts and may wonder why the information may be slightly different.
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As I mentioned recently, if you read the very first of my blog posts, you’ll see I was quite classical in my approach. I leave all those posts there so that you can see my evolution as a homeopath. They also show that in homeopathy, there’s generally more than one way to scramble an egg.
When we need conventional medicine for a necessary surgery — such as setting a bone or repairing injuries from an accident — these surgical protocols will help the body return to homeostasis, both during the procedure and as it recovers afterward.
Ensure that your caregiver, advocate or family member also has this information to assist you through the event, as stress can sometimes cause our brains to skip a beat.
Surgical Protocols
Before Surgery:
Arnica montana 200C is given the night before and morning of surgery. Arnica has a reputation for keeping infections at bay, minimizing the shock to the system, reducing swelling, and minimizing the possibility of hemorrhages, while also putting the patient at ease.
An additional precaution is to add Hypericum perforatum 200C mixed with or taken along with Arsenicum album 200C. Taking these medicines on the day of surgery, as well as the following few days, is reported to protect against infection, swelling and other complications.
After Surgery:
Arnica 200C can be repeated as soon as possible after surgery and administered every few hours or so for the 1st day. Then, it may be repeated as often as required for pain. If the pain is persistent, this may indicate the need for Hypericum 200C to be alternated with Arnica. For example, Arnica is given at noon and 4 p.m., while Hypericum is given at 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and so on. As soon as there is some relief from pain, the remedies are tapered to a more open frequency.
The more intense the pain, the more likely these remedies are essential. As improvement ensues, the need for the remedy will decrease, and the space between each dose will lengthen even further.
There are times when other homeopathics are required, such as Staphysagria 200C for incisional pain or Nux vomica 200C for nausea or other gastrointestinal issues from anesthetic.s or other drugs. One or both of these can be integrated into the above schedule.
Phosphorus 200C also comes into use as a powerful remedy for headaches following anesthesia, as well as difficulty withdrawing from it.
X-Ray Protocol:
A method considered around X-rays is to incorporate Calc fluor 12X and Nat mur 6X. Each one is taken twice in one day (on the day of the X-ray). This process may be repeated one week later.
As Recovery Ensues:
As the apparent need for remedies is no longer required, they should be eliminated from the schedule.
I generally provide Remedy Cards for the homeopathic medicines I discuss in my blog posts. However, I would prefer all this information remain together — in one place — rather than several separate cards.
So, feel free to print out this blog post and keep it in a safe place for future reference. You never know when an accident can trigger a necessary surgery for you or one of your loved ones. These surgical protocols will be just what the doctor ordered … well, you know what I mean.
Pass on the good news of Practical Homeopathy®!
Warmly,
P.S. If you want to learn more about these medicines and their application to surgical procedures, you’ll need a materia medica (an alphabetical listing of homeopathic medicines, along with their keynotes and most appropriate uses).
If you’re not quite ready to dive into the over 2,000 pages of a professional materia medica, I have just the thing. I wrote A Materia Medica: Practical Homeopathy® for Busy Families, just for you, in common, easy-to-understand language. I detail over 150 of the most commonly utilized homeopathic medicines and provide stories and insights on how I’ve used them in my family and my practice. This book most assuredly belongs on your reference shelf.
P.P.S. This Monday, October 13, 2025, at 8 p.m. EDT, we’ll continue this conversation. Surgery, whether scheduled or emergent, is something you must be prepared for. Let's go over the remedies you should have on hand and those you might not have thought of when the unexpected comes your way.
Join me within my Joette’s Mighty Members site or on our simulcast network through the Joette Calabrese Facebook page, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Rumble and Instagram.
Invite your friends! Everyone should have this information … just in case.
Joette is not a physician, nor is she prescribing, advising or making health decisions for you. The relationship between you and Joette is not one of a patient and prescriber, but rather that of a client and educator. It is fully your choice whether or not to take advantage of this educational information.
What about tooth implant surgery, 6 months out and still not feeling whole? What’s done is done, I wish I could go back and change things.
Practical Homeopathy focuses on the name of the condition, such as surgical site infection or nerve pain that shoots across the face.
Hi Jen, I am thinking about an implant. Would like to know what you would like to change?
THANK YOU, Joette!!!
How often each day would you recommend taking the Hyper+Ars to prevent against infection, etc.?
Usually Hyper/Ars is taken twice daily.
Hi Joette. This came at a timely moment as I might have to undergo a cesarean section in a few weeks. I’m assuming these are safe to take while pregnant and before that surgery? Thanks in advance.
I can’t answer for Joette, but I’ve taken these (and other) remedies before and after c section successfully twice already, and will again in November. Yes they are safe. As well as effective!! Best of luck to you !♡
Hi Joette
How would you prepare for a cat scan?
Thank you
A CAT scan is a set of x-rays.
I am so excited to have an x-ray protocol. I know the remedy “x-ray” has been recommended in the past, and I was going to buy it to have on hand, but these cell salts are ones I already have!
I love having these reminders… thank you. Can you offer your thoughts on this? I read some similar approaches from a homeopath who also follows the Banerji protocols. She no longer recommends Arnica BEFORE surgery as she encountered a situation where the patient’s blood was not the viscosity needed for surgery… I don’t recall which direction it was in (thin or thick?) and the doctor inquired after the surgery if the patient had been using something to cause this. It was a delicate matter as they could not control it … so I am wondering whether you’ve heard of this.
Perfect timing for us as we have a surgery scheduled this week! We have used arnica and hypericum in the past for surgery. I haven’t thought to add the arsenica album to the protocol during this time!
Question for you-
Do you do these remedies and completely refuse all hospital meds? When I tried in the past they weren’t supportive of just these, as it was for a child and they felt it would not be sufficient enough/not my body to decide about.
Thank you!
-Curious Mom
Its not your body but it’s your child.
I can’t say whether you should refuse all drugs but perhaps some of them will be unnecessary, or may be reduced once you commence homeopathy.
Excellent summary. I pick up pointers from you all the time. Thank you.
What would you recommend to be helpful to support the body a few months post-surgery where these remedies were not taken previously?
Start where you are now.
That is, if there’s something occuring presently, treat that and don’t look back.
Love your homeopathy tips and newsletters. I had my daughter try both arnica and hypericum after spinal surgery and it did not help. She has developed neuropathy after a spinal fusion that is taking a long time to recover from – also having muscle spasms when lifting her right leg they say is caused from moving the muscles out of the way for the surgery. Wondering if there is any other remedy that would help. I’ve searched for answers but found nothing. Is it really just a matter of time as Drs have told her?
Homeopathy is a decidedly condition specific medicine. The remedies I discuss here are for surgical proceedures, not neuropathy or spasms. And yes there are homeopathics for those conditions.
You might want to begin by Googling JoetteCalabrese muscle spasms and JoetteCalabrese neuropathy.
Is there anything you can recommend for bloodclots and hematomas i keep developing the Dr’s can not figure out why i keep getting all the bloodclots thru out my body and hematomas that require emergency surgery to remove they are now calling me a medical mystery can you help
This medicine has been used specifically for this condition. But also consider your diet.
That is, look at whether you’re eating a diet heavy in oxalates. They can often cause such seemingly odd symptoms.
Perfect timing as my daughter needs oral surgery in a few weeks.
The doctor is recommending prophylactic antibiotics which I don’t want to give her. Hopefully this will help keep things from getting infected.
Also, I won’t give her the opioids they prescribed but they’re always talking about” keeping ahead of the pain “ with the ibuprofen. Any advice on that? My thought is that if the pain gets bad enough I can give it then.
Google this for surgical pain: Joette Calabrese Surgery
I used the surgical protocol for my daughter-in-law. She had three C-sections already. Bleeds heavily due to unusual circumstances. (Two uterus four ovaries and fallopian tubes). Extreme, heavy monthly bleeding, and bleeding in general. Especially during surgeries. This time, (her fourth C-section, she took the arnica 200 the night before, the morning of, and afterwards for several days, the nurses knew her history and were prepared for extremely heavy bleeding. They were amazed at this time she had very light bleeding. She was amazed too because she had never even had a normal monthly. And using homeopathy that has corrected as well. She uses Arnica for everything now and feels like it’s magic. And all her children know how to use it when they bang and bump things on their bodies.
Thanks, Patricia. I’m happy your daughter has found this out.
Arnica is King.