Invasive medical tests are not fun, but thankfully anesthesia makes most of them manageable. The problem is, many people experience uncomfortable symptoms after the procedures. This isn’t surprising, since the doctor may have been inserting a tube inside some part of your body to take a look around. But with a little preparation and help from natural medicine, you don’t have to suffer these troubling aftereffects. Whether you’re having a colonoscopy, an endoscopy to examine your esophagus and/or stomach, a cystoscopy to look at your bladder or some other procedure, here are the helpful steps I recommend.

  • Drink plenty of water. I always recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces of water daily to stay well hydrated. This is especially important to do before and after the testing to help support a healthy metabolism. Important: Just be sure to follow any fluid restrictions given by your doctor.
  • Go easy with the foods you eat. If the procedure involves your digestive tract or one of your elimination systems, such as the bowels or kidneys, it’s wise to limit your diet to fruits, steamed or baked vegetables, small amounts of rice and liquids (such as soup, juice and tea) for two days after the procedure. This will ease your elimination processes and accelerate the healing of any tissues that have been poked or prodded during the test.
  • Get up and at ’em. While you should avoid vigorous exercise such as running, high-impact aerobics or biking until your increased risk of bleeding has passed (usually five to seven days after a procedure), walking is gentle and promotes good circulation, which helps speed recovery. I suggest a 10-minute walk every two waking hours after an invasive medical procedure, unless your personal circumstances make walking difficult or your doctor advises against it.

    • Certain botanical medicines also promote recovery from a medical procedure. If you are scheduled to receive one of the tests below, ask your doctor if the natural remedy listed would be all right for you to take.

  • Colonoscopy. Three cups of peppermint tea per day, consumed 30 minutes away from meals, will reduce intestinal gas and gastrointestinal spasms-common complaints after a colonoscopy.
  • Cystoscopy (bladder study). Cornsilk-literally silk from the ears of corn-is a soothing diuretic that helps heal urinary tract irritation, which often occurs when a tube is inserted through the ureter for this procedure. The tincture form of cornsilk is best absorbed. A typical dose is one-quarter teaspoon in four ounces of water, taken away from food, four times a day for up to a week after a cystoscopy.
  • Endoscopy. A sore throat is the most common complaint after this procedure, since the membranes get scratched and irritated when the doctor sticks a tube down your throat. I recommend drinking three daily cups of tea made from licorice root and slippery elm. One of my favorite premixed sore throat teas: “Throat Coat” by Traditional Medicinals, available at natural-food stores.