The SHN #94: Modern Surgery and Your True Nature

Welcome Back to The Synergetic Health Newsletter! 

February 27, 2025: Greetings from Hanoi, Vietnam! This capital, with over 1,000 years of history, buzzes with chaotic scooter-filled streets and blends French colonial charm with Vietnamese traditions. I’m staying in the Old Quarter, a lively maze of tourists, shops, and stalls serving up famous banh mi sandwiches, bun cha, and the uniquely delicious egg coffee.

In today’s newsletter, we’ll strip away assumptions—about surgery, ourselves, and what’s worth noticing.

🔪 The Costs of Modern Surgery

Modern surgery saves lives and speeds recoveries, but it’s not without hidden costs. Having had two surgeries myself (an open appendectomy and a laparoscopic labral repair), I’ve learned these trade-offs can linger long after the scars fade. My story’s a cautionary tale—and a call to dig deeper.

The Dark Side of Electrocautery

One “advancement” in modern surgery is the use of electrocautery. Unlike traditional scalpels, which cut cleanly through tissue, electrocautery uses heat to cut and cauterize simultaneously. This reduces blood loss and speeds up procedures, making it a favorite among surgeons. But convenience comes at a cost.

Electrocautery leaves behind dead tissue, which can create a host of long-term complications. These include:

• Chronic tissue dysfunction

• Increased risk of infection

• Traumatic scar tissue formation

• Areas of numbness

• Fascial restrictions

• “Frozen” healing (Cell Danger Response)

For me, it might explain some lingering movement quirks—though surgery itself, tools aside, is a deep shock to body and beyond. (I can’t help but wonder about the metaphysical ripple of ‘going under’ and being cut open.)

My Brief Surgical History

My appendectomy went from laparoscopic to open—recovery stretched on, and without rehab, I’ve spent 15 years sorting out core imbalances.

My laparoscopic labral repair eased shoulder pain but left lingering movement issues. Electrocautery’s risks make me question both surgeries’ lasting impact."

The Appendix: More Than a Vestigial Organ

Research says the appendix aids gut health and immunity, storing good bacteria and maybe even guiding repair. Mine’s gone—routine then, but was it harmless? I wonder about the ripple effects.

A Call for Better Post-Surgical Care

Abdominal surgeries like appendectomies and C-sections hit the body hard, yet rehab is scarce. Without proper rehab, these disruptions can become permanent, leading to chronic pain, imbalances, and dysfunction.

It is crazy to me that physical therapy is not prescribed for women who have a C-section birth. The current standard of care does not include a comprehensive physical therapy regimen, despite the obvious trauma. One study found physical therapy vastly improved C-section recoveries.

Exploring Solutions: Neural Therapy

Despite the challenges, there is hope. I’ve recently learned about neural therapy, a treatment that involves injecting local anesthetic into surgical scars to “reset” oversensitized nerves and restore normal tissue function. The theory is that this normalizes the autonomic nervous system, which can be dysfunctional in chronic pain and illness.

I recently heard Dr. Miriam Rahav (NYC) on a podcast about neural therapy. She says midline scars—like my appendectomy—can disrupt energy pathways, creating what she calls an ‘interference field.’

This might explain some of the persistent core issues I've experienced from my appendectomy. The treatment itself sounds relatively straightforward - involving small injections of local anesthetic like lidocaine into the scar tissue using needles similar to insulin syringes.

Many patients report immediate relief, with some describing a sense of deep relaxation or what Dr. Rahav calls getting to "the trailhead of healing." She explains that this can help reset the autonomic nervous system and create systemic improvements beyond just the local scar area. While I haven't tried it yet, it's something I plan to explore when I return to the U.S.

These treatments are most effective when administered by qualified practitioners and started early, but can be efficacious years after. Dr. Rahav mentions one 70-year old woman who alleviated brain fog after treating her 40-year old C-section scar, for example.

A Word of Caution

Modern surgery is a marvel, and I’m grateful for the life-saving interventions it has made possible. But it’s not without its downsides. If you’re considering surgery, weigh the pros and cons carefully. Ask questions about the tools and techniques that will be used, and advocate for a comprehensive rehab plan. If you’ve already had surgery and are experiencing ongoing issues, know that there are potential remedies. The body has an incredible capacity to heal when given the right support.

Don’t miss the hidden costs—physical or otherwise.

🔎 What Happens When You See What’s Already Here

Recognizing your true nature doesn’t require effort, special techniques, or years of practice. It’s just seeing what’s here—no effort, no chase.. And when that recognition happens, something shifts—not because you’ve gained anything new, but because you’ve stopped overlooking what’s always been present.

The changes that come from this recognition are subtle yet unmistakable. Your body relaxes into a natural alertness, free from the usual mental chatter and scattered attention. The tension you’ve been carrying—often without even realizing it—begins to dissolve.

Douglas Harding, in his book On Having No Head, describes these shifts beautifully. Here’s what he observed:

• “Whole body alertness in place of the heady intermittent sort”
  A grounded, full-body presence takes over.

• “A reduction of stress, particularly in the regions of the eyes, mouth, and neck, as if one were at last letting them go”
  Your face and neck soften, like a long exhale.

• “A progressive lowering of one’s center of gravity, as if losing one’s head were finding one’s heart and guts and feet which are now rooted in the earth”
  Awareness drops to your heart, guts, feet—rooted.

• “A calming of fears, a marked reduction of greed and anger, a smoothing out of personal relations, more capacity for selfless love and more joy”
  Fear and anger fade; love and joy rise naturally.

What’s interesting is that these qualities aren’t something you need to attain. They’re not “out there” waiting for you to find them. They’re your natural state, your birthright. The only reason they feel elusive is because we’ve buried them under layers of mental clutter, conditioning, and the belief that we’re not already there.

If you think ‘I want that,’ notice—the wanting might be the block. It’s already here, waiting.

No fixing, no striving—just pause. What’s looking through your eyes? It’s you, already here."

The Headless Way to Enlightenment: Experiments

Douglas Harding on “Having No Head” video

Long video of guided experiments on finding who you are

𝕏 Thread of the Week

🔎 Don’t Sleep on DMSO: This article (“Like Penicillin, ‘Miraculous’ DMSO Could Change the Lives of Afflicted Millions”) uncovers the story of DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide), a remarkable yet largely forgotten therapeutic compound that could transform modern medicine. This safe, versatile substance derived from wood pulp processing can be administered intravenously, orally, or topically, quickly penetrating tissue to reduce inflammation and promote healing. A search of PubMed reveals over 39,000 studies demonstrating its effectiveness for conditions including stroke, spinal injuries, chronic pain, skin disorders, and autoimmune conditions.

While the FDA has only approved DMSO for treating interstitial cystitis, documented cases show significant results, including paralyzed patients regaining mobility and improved outcomes for neurological conditions. Despite its proven potential, this inexpensive and well-studied treatment remains largely unused in modern healthcare. I’m still in my research phase with DMSO but am incredibly bullish on its potential for a wide variety of health issues.

🔴 Don’t Sleep on Red Light: Research shows LED lights emit high-energy blue light that can potentially damage the retina and disrupt sleep patterns. Studies have linked prolonged LED exposure to irreversible retinal damage and increased risk of age-related macular degeneration. However, there's promising evidence that red light therapy (specifically 670nm) can improve eye health and function. A single 3-minute morning exposure to red light can enhance color perception for up to a week by boosting mitochondrial function in the retina's cells. This matters because we're increasingly surrounded by blue light from screens and LED lighting, while beneficial red light exposure from natural sources has decreased in our modern environment.

📚 Sleep on Peer Reviewed Studies: This thread highlights the deep-rooted challenges undermining the peer review process in scientific publishing. Peer review’s the gold standard, but in 2025, it’s faltering—bias and fraud slip through. Prominent editors from leading medical journals have sounded the alarm, with some suggesting that a substantial portion of published research may be flawed or irreproducible. The system's vulnerability to accepting fake or nonsensical papers further calls into question its ability to filter out low-quality research. Critics also contend that peer review can stifle innovation, reinforce the status quo, and be swayed by industry interests, potentially hindering scientific progress.

🔗 One Hitters

📈 Interesting productivity hack (Thread)

🍊 Can’t sleep? Try orange juice with glycine (Video)

👶🏻 The hidden dangers of hospital births and how to protect you and your baby (Article)

🖱️ Homemade marshmallow recipe for collagen maxing (Video)

🔗 If you know anyone who loves learning about these types of topics, send them this link!

📰 To read all past newsletters, go here.