6 Ways To Heal Faster

When animals are sick or injured, they slink off to the comfort of their nest or lair until they're all better. And you? Dream on. You usually have to make breakfast, show up at work, and retrieve the dry cleaning—no matter how you feel. Getting better is just one more entry on your checklist of things to do.
Fortunately, researchers have identified steps you can take immediately to bounce back faster. For starters, you should get adequate sleep, a good 8 to 9 hours each night. During the first 2 hours of sleep, your body experiences a spike in the production of growth hormone, which is vital to all the body's healing processes, says Elizabeth G. Motyka, MD, coauthor of The Rapid Recovery Handbook. She also advises a nurturing diet rich in lean proteins, vitamin-packed produce, and healthy fats.
To move even faster down the road to recovery, though, add these more-surprising, but equally effective, strategies. Whether you're scheduled for surgery or trying to recover from a muscle strain, these six speed healers can shave days—even weeks—off your downtime.

1. Honey

The proof: On superficial wounds, such as cuts and burns, honey acts as an antibacterial agent, rapidly cleaning out and preventing further infection, according to an analysis of nearly two dozen studies by New Zealand researchers. One found that burns treated with honey healed, on average, in 11 days—4 days less than burns treated without it. The sweet stuff also reduced swelling and minimized scarring.
Try it: Researchers used Manuka honey from New Zealand (available in both pure and ointment forms at manukahoneyusa.com), but any locally farmed product (as opposed to commercial brands; heat used during production reduces antibacterial strength) will be just as effective. To get the fastest results, follow the researchers' method: Put some honey on sterile gauze, apply to the wound, and change the dressing every 24 hours.

2. Hubby harmony

The proof: A rough patch in your marriage can actually slow your recovery from illness or injury, while a strong relationship may speed your repair, says Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD, a professor of psychiatry at Ohio State University College of Medicine. In an experiment, she found that small blisters on couples whose interactions were more hostile healed at only 60% the rate of friendlier couples. The culprit: the stress hormone cortisol. The relationship is clear-cut between the two. The more conflict, the more cortisol; and the more cortisol, the slower the healing. This means the opposite is true, too: When your relationships are strong and positive, healing proceeds faster.
Try it: Mending an up-and-down marriage takes time (and sometimes, a commitment to therapy). For now, just do your best to handle disagreements as calmly as possible, removing any element of hostility and nastiness so neither of you feels under personal attack. Watch for cortisol-triggering communication styles: Studies have found that couples tend to produce more cortisol when their conflicts include demanding, negative comments on the part of the wife and the husband withdrawing

3. Massage

The proof: Pulled a muscle? Strained a tendon? Hop on the masseuse's table. Sure, a good rub feels great, but massage also helps relieve overworked muscles by alleviating soreness and reducing swelling. Australian researchers say that, if tended to within 3 hours of the onset of pain, a strained muscle will be about a third less sore and swollen 3 days later than it would be without the therapy.
Try it: A single session can help muscles bounce back faster, the Australian study found. Ask your health club to recommend a massage therapist or search the American Massage Therapy Association's website.

4. Hypnosis

The proof: You are getting sleepy...and better! Hypnosis may accelerate recovery from serious injuries and surgeries. A Harvard Medical School study showed that the fractured bones of patients who received regular hypnotherapy were fusing at an advanced rate—6 weeks after the break, their bones appeared to have been healing for 8 1/2 weeks. A separate Harvard study also found that the incision wounds of women who were hypnotized before and after breast-reduction surgery healed more quickly. The hypnotized women also had less pain.
Try it: Don't worry—no one will make you bark like a dog. Hypnosis is just a state of heightened awareness in which suggestions for change and healing may be more easily absorbed. You can find a qualified professional through the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists.
Or try these self-hypnosis CDs at home: Rapid Recovery from Injury (health journeys.com) or Smooth Surgery, Rapid Recovery: A Systematic Hypnotic Approach (hypnosisnetwork.com), both by Carol Ginandes, PhD.

5. Natural Relaxation

The proof: Have you ever been so involved in an activity—painting, practicing music, even polishing the silver—that you felt your worries and concerns drift away and your mind go pleasantly blank? That's called the relaxation response—and it's good for whatever ails you.
"Your heart rate, blood pressure, and metabolism decrease, and the amount of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels, increases," says Herbert Benson, MD, the legendary mind-body research pioneer at Harvard Medical School and the president of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Chestnut Hill, MA. His studies have shown that people who regularly elicit this natural physical response shave weeks off the time it takes to recover from any disorder caused or exacerbated by stress, such as insomnia, PMS, and hot flashes.
Try it: "It doesn't matter if you meditate with a one-word mantra, say the Rosary, work in the garden, or knit," says Benson, "as long as it breaks the train of everyday thought." Aim for a 10- to 20-minute state of relaxation once or twice a day.

6. Yoga

The proof: By improving circulation and lowering stress, just about any kind of exercise promotes recovery. But yoga may be better. University of Washington researchers say yoga eases lower-back pain faster than conventional exercises.
Try it: Yoga classes are everywhere, but if you can't stand the chanting or lugging around a yoga mat, buy an introductory DVD at collagevideo.com or search through our yoga routines.

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