WOUND HEALING

Physical stress from surgery, trauma and wounds places an extra burden on the body's immune system and creates a greater need for L-arginine. Studies have shown that incisions heal more quickly, and more supportive protein and collagen is produced when L-arginine is taken several days prior to, and for a week or so after surgery.

When L-arginine is given along with the amino acid glutamine, and with fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 (like fish and flax oils), the healing results can be quite remarkable. This therapy can reduce infectious complications by about 75 percent in surgical patients and hospital stays by more than 20 percent. (Arch Surg 9:9;128(11):1242.5)