Condition

Surgical Recovery

Surgical recovery is the period after an operation when the body repairs tissue, guards against infection, and regains normal function. Ginger has the strongest evidence, with nine small trials finding that nausea after surgery improved, and inflammation went down with serrapeptase after wisdom tooth surgery. Still, the studies were small and the enzyme evidence is only moderate, so results may not apply to every operation.

Sources: PMID 16389016; PMID 23649050

Supplements studied: 17
Graded outcomes: 14
Trials: 22
People studied: 7,636

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

17 supplements

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)

Ginger (Zingiber officinale): outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Nausea Symptoms Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	9 studies	268 people
Studies that measured nausea symptoms Ginger syrup as an antiemetic in early pregnancyAltern Ther Health Med · PMID 12233808 Ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trialObstet Gynecol · PMID 11275030 Effect of a ginger extract on pregnancy-induced nausea: a randomised controlled trialAust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol · PMID 14712970 and 6 more on the Ginger (Zingiber officinale) page

Passionflower

Passionflower: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Anxiety Symptoms Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	6 studies	120 people
Studies that measured anxiety symptoms Herbal medicines as anxiolytics prior to third molar surgical extraction. A randomized controlled clinical trial.Clin Oral Investig · PMID 32951121 Effects of passiflora incarnata and midazolam for control of anxiety in patients undergoing dental extraction.Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal · PMID 27918731 Effects of Passion Flower Extract, as an Add-On Treatment to Sertraline, on Reaction Time in Patients ‎with Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study.Iran J Psychiatry · PMID 27928252 and 3 more on the Passionflower page
	Motor Control	Improves (the measure goes up)			60 people

Serrapeptase

Inflammation: improves
Leg Edema: improves
Pain: improves

Serrapeptase: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Inflammation Small Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	4 studies	390 people
Studies that measured inflammation A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing the efficacy and safety of paracetamol, serratiopeptidase, ibuprofen and betamethasone using the dental impaction pain modelInt J Oral Maxillofac Surg · PMID 19168326 A multi-centre, double-blind study of serrapeptase versus placebo in post-antrotomy buccal swellingPharmatherapeutica · PMID 6366808 [Reduction of postoperative swelling. Objective measurement of swelling of the upper ankle joint in treatment with serrapeptase-- a prospective study]Fortschr Med · PMID 2647603 and 1 more on the Serrapeptase page
	Leg Edema Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		240 people
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	150 people
Studies that measured pain The treatment of breast engorgement with Serrapeptase (Danzen): a randomised double-blind controlled trialSingapore Med J · PMID 2688125

Peppermint

Nausea Symptoms: improves
Sedation: improves

Peppermint: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Nausea Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	4 studies	86 people
Studies that measured nausea symptoms Examination of the effectiveness of peppermint aromatherapy on nausea in women post C-sectionJ Holist Nurs · PMID 22034523 Peppermint oil: a treatment for postoperative nauseaJ Adv Nurs · PMID 9378876 An investigation into the use of aromatherapy in intrapartum midwifery practiceJ Altern Complement Med · PMID 10784271 and 1 more on the Peppermint page
	Sedation	Improves (the measure goes up)			35 people

Systemic Enzymes (Bromelain/Trypsin/Rutin)

Post-Surgical Swelling: improves

Systemic Enzymes (Bromelain/Trypsin/Rutin): outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Post-Surgical Swelling Multiple studies in oral surgery and orthopedic procedures: Proteolytic enzymes reduced post-operative edema and inflammation. Used as adjunct therapy for faster surgical recovery.	Improves (the measure goes up)	Moderate effect

L-Carnitine

Ammonia: improves
Neutrophil Count: improves
Blood Clotting: improves

L-Carnitine: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Ammonia Moderate Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	5 studies	208 people
Studies that measured ammonia Carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism during exercise after oral carnitine supplementation in humansInt J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab · PMID 19164828 Acetyl-L-carnitine for patients with hepatic encephalopathyCochrane Database Syst Rev · PMID 30610762 L-Carnitine for the Treatment of Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy in Patients with Advanced Liver CirrhosisJ Nutr Sci Vitaminol · PMID 30381621 and 2 more on the L-Carnitine page
	Neutrophil Count	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	208 people
Studies that measured neutrophil count l-Carnitine Improves Postoperative Liver Function in Hepatectomized PatientsJPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr · PMID 31599019
	Blood Clotting	Improves (the measure goes up)			208 people

Cordyceps

Bilirubin: improves
Kidney Function: improves
Liver Enzymes: changes; see studies

Cordyceps: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Bilirubin Small Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect	1 study	167 people
Studies that measured bilirubin Clinical application of Cordyceps sinensis on immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplantationTransplant Proc · PMID 19545680
	Kidney Function	Improves (the measure goes up)			167 people
	Liver Enzymes	Changes; see studies			167 people
	Liver Fibrosis	Improves (the measure goes down)			167 people
	Survival rates for Organ Transplants	Improves (the measure goes up)			167 people
	Uric Acid	Improves (the measure goes down)			167 people

Yarrow

Inflammation: improves
Pain: improves
Wound Healing: improves

Yarrow: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Inflammation Small Decrease	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		140 people
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	140 people
Studies that measured pain The effect of Achillea millefolium and Hypericum perforatum ointments on episiotomy wound healing in primiparous women.J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med · PMID 28027682
	Wound Healing	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	140 people
Studies that measured wound healing The efficacy of Achilles millefolium topical gel along with intralesional injection of glucantime in the treatment of acute cutaneous leishmaniasis major.Adv Biomed Res · PMID 24804185
	Vaginal Irritation	Improves (the measure goes up)			140 people

Curcumin

Fatigue Symptoms: improves
Pain: improves

Curcumin: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Fatigue Symptoms Small Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Small effect		50 people
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		14 studies	50 people
Studies that measured pain Efficacy of Curcuma longa in relieving pain symptoms of knee osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.J Rheum Dis · PMID 39712249 Curcuma longa extract reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in osteoarthritis of knee: a four-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trialInflammopharmacology · PMID 27761693 Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyBMC Complement Altern Med · PMID 29316908 and 11 more on the Curcumin page

Vitamin K

Bruising
Erythema: improves

Vitamin K: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Bruising No effect		NoneNo effect	2 studies	10 people
Studies that measured bruising The effects of topical vitamin K on bruising after laser treatmentJ Am Acad Dermatol · PMID 12140470 Lack of the effect of topical vitamin K on bruising after mechanical injuryJ Am Acad Dermatol · PMID 15153914
	Erythema	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	20 people
Studies that measured erythema Effects of topical vitamin K and retinol on laser-induced purpura on nonlesional skinDermatol Surg · PMID 10594627 The role of topical vitamin K oxide gel in the resolution of postprocedural purpuraJ Drugs Dermatol · PMID 19894369

N-Acetylcysteine

All-Cause Mortality
Kidney Function: improves
Length of hospitalization: improves

N-Acetylcysteine: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	All-Cause Mortality No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	1,737 people
Studies that measured all-cause mortality No Significant Beneficial Effects of Intravenous N-Acetylcysteine on Patient Outcome in Non-Paracetamol Acute Liver Failure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.Biomedicines · PMID 39062036
	Kidney Function	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	1,711 people
Studies that measured kidney function Meta-analytic Techniques to Assess the Association Between N-acetylcysteine and Acute Kidney Injury After Contrast Administration: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.JAMA Netw Open · PMID 35788669
	Length of hospitalization	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	1,512 people
Studies that measured length of hospitalization N-acetylcysteine use among patients undergoing cardiac surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials.PLoS One · PMID 31071081
	Liver Enzymes	Changes; see studies		1 study	448 people
Studies that measured liver enzymes N-acetylcysteine in the Donor, Recipient, or Both Donor and Recipient in Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis.Transplantation · PMID 37069635
	Heart Arrhythmias	Changes; see studies			886 people
	Heart Attack Risk	Changes; see studies			1,178 people

Whey Protein

Length of hospitalization
Strength: improves

Whey Protein: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Length of hospitalization No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	657 people
Studies that measured length of hospitalization Effect of Whey Protein Supplementation on Postoperative Outcomes After Gynecological Cancer Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.World J Oncol · PMID 39850521
	Strength	Improves (the measure goes up)		2 studies	657 people
Studies that measured strength Effect of Whey Protein Supplementation on Perioperative Outcomes in Patients with Cancer-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PROSPERO 2020: CRD42020188666).Nutr Cancer · PMID 34961401 Whey Protein Supplementation with or without Vitamin D on Sarcopenia-Related Measures: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Adv Nutr · PMID 37196876

Creatine

Bilirubin
Power Output: improves
Muscle Creatine Content: improves

Creatine: outcomes studied for Surgical Recovery
Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
Bilirubin No effect		NoneNo effect	1 study	37 people
Power Output	Improves (the measure goes up)		44 studies	37 people
Muscle Creatine Content	Improves (the measure goes up)		11 studies	37 people
Functionality in Elderly or Injured	Improves (the measure goes up)		1 study	37 people
Liver Enzymes	Changes; see studies			37 people