IV vitamin therapy has been popular for decades, but even more so in the last few years as it has been publicized on websites, social media, and elsewhere. Many people aren’t familiar with it or what it can provide, so read on.
John Myers & The Nutrient Cocktail
Most people only need medicine delivered intravenously due to a medical necessity as prescribed by a doctor. But what about someone experiencing dehydration, headaches, and low energy? This is the kind of question that may have been on the top of the mind of John Myers, MD, a Baltimore, Maryland physician, who first got the idea of using IV vitamin therapy to treat acute infection or tiredness, according to Thorne Research. Dr. Myers began experimenting with IV nutrient doses in concentrations higher than what was available via oral supplements, and the era of IV vitamin therapy began.
Know the Risks
When considering IV vitamin therapy or other treatment delivered intravenously, it’s important to talk to your medical professional beforehand about potential risks and benefits. You may have a pre-existing condition to worry about, and it’s also worth remembering that IV therapy involves inserting a needle into a vein in your arm or elsewhere, so you could experience soreness or redness at the point of needle insertion. There is a minor risk of infection and other possible complications to be aware of.
What is Ketamine?
Ketamine is a medicine that was synthesized in the early 1960s as an alternative to traditional anesthesia. While it was fast-acting in rendering subjects unconscious, like other human and animal anesthetic medicines, ketamine was also discovered to produce different effects – namely, an mild dissociative effect at clinical dosages. This dissociative state is thought to be part of what makes ketamine an effective mental health tool. Because of this, ketamine soon became a popular choice for treating symptoms of depression, other mental illnesses, and discomfort from chronic pain and other conditions. It can offer many of the same benefits as IV vitamin therapy.
IV Vitamin Therapy and the Common Ailments It Can Treat
The most significant benefit of IV vitamin therapy is that it delivers nutrients and medicine to your bloodstream much faster than if you consumed food or medicine orally. When you eat food or swallow the medicine, they take time to work their way through your digestive system and get distributed where they’re needed the most.
Because of this, there are several common ailments that IV vitamin therapy can help with more effectively.
- Dehydration. You don’t have to be an Olympic, professional, or otherwise elite athlete to enjoy the benefits of rehydration delivered by IV. Proper hydration is crucial for regulating body temperature, staving off infections, keeping your joints lubricated, delivering nutrients to cells, and helping your organs work the way they should. According to some experts, the average woman needs 16 cups of water each day, while men need 11. It’s possible the vitamins and minerals in water can be delivered more efficiently – and in lower quantities – via IV vitamin therapy.
- A Weak Immune System. If you constantly fill your body with junk food, alcohol, and caffeine, you may be more susceptible to illness and infection owing to a compromised immune system. Eating healthy foods rich in essential vitamins is always a good practice, but IV vitamin therapy is another option that can be tailored to your specific needs. Many vitamins can strengthen your immune system, including vitamin C (in so many foods that over-the-counter supplements often aren’t necessary), vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D, and many others.
- Anemia. If your body lacks healthy red blood cells, it can’t deliver oxygen in sufficient quantities to bodily tissues, making you feel weak and tired. Iron delivered as part of IV vitamin therapy may help.
- Poor Energy Levels.
- Low Moods have reacted positively, especially with vitamins B, C, & D delivered by IV vitamin therapy.
See a Medical Professional If Needed
Think about IV vitamin therapy if you’re experiencing dehydration, headaches, or other issues not treatable with certain medicines. However, any questions about its risks and benefits should always be referred to a licensed medical professional with expertise in the areas you’re most concerned with. You may be referred to other treatment options depending on your medical history, current health, and other factors. This could include newer ketamine therapy. It’s important to talk with a medical professional if you have any adverse effects after utilizing IV vitamin therapy or other treatment.