Boosting energy? Check. Healthier skin? Check. Boosting your immune system? Check. Curing that Sunday- morning hangover? Check.

IV Vitamin Therapy  has gained popularity over the years, has taken the once cringe-worthy experience of being stuck with a needle and turned it into a wellness regimen-must. It’s even got a long list of A-list celebrities — from Rihanna to Adele — backing it.

Here are some common questions that we get from patients about this amazing therapy. Our doctors at Sage have over 30 years of combined experience administering IV Vitamins, and find them to be an incredible addition to boosting your health long-term.

 What’s happening to your body when you get an IV drip of vitamins?

The first IV vitamin drips were developed and administered by Dr. John Myers in the 1970s. His research led to the popular Myers’ Cocktail. These types of infusions generally take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, and take place within a medical office with a licensed medical professional observing the infusion. While you’re undergoing an IV vitamin drip, your body is receiving a higher concentration of the vitamins themselves. A vitamin that’s taken by mouth gets broken down in the stomach and digestive tract, and is limited on how much can be absorbed. If, however, the vitamin is given through an IV, it’s absorbed almost completely.

When a person receives an IV vitamin treatment, they’re receiving a liquid mixture of vitamins and minerals through a small tube inserted into a vein. This allows the nutrients to be absorbed quickly and directly into the bloodstream, a method that produces higher levels of the vitamins and minerals in your body than if you got them from food or supplements. This is because several factors affect our body’s ability to absorb nutrients in the stomach. Factors include age, metabolism, health status, genetics, interactions with other products we consume, and the physical and chemical makeup of the nutritional supplement or food. Higher levels of the vitamins and minerals in your bloodstream lead to greater uptake into cells, which theoretically will use the nutrients to maintain health and fight illness.

 Variations of IV therapy have been prescribed by doctors and administered for over a century. It’s a quick and efficient way to deliver fluids or medication into the body’s circulation.

What kind of person or type of health concerns would benefit the most from this practice and Why?

Vitamin infusions are being used for a wide variety of health concerns. Conditions that have responded positively to the Myers’ IV Vitamin Cocktail treatment include:

·         asthma,

·         migraines,

·         chronic fatigue,

·         fibromyalgia,

·         muscle spasms,

·         musculoskeletal pain,

·         allergies,

·         mold toxicity

·         heavy metal toxicity,

·         and sinus and respiratory tract infections.

A number of other disease states, including angina and hyperthyroidism, have also shown promising results to IV vitamin infusions. Many people are also using IV vitamin therapy for quick rehydration after an intense sporting event, such as running a marathon, to cure a hangover, or for improved skin clarity.

Traditionally, people who aren’t able to eat enough food, or who have an illness that interferes with nutrient absorption would be good candidates for IV vitamin therapy. Other uses for IV vitamin drips include correcting dehydration after extreme exercise or alcohol intake, boosting the immune system, and increasing energy levels.

 The most popular reasons for IV vitamin treatment is to relieve boost energy, stress, rid your body of toxins, balance hormones, boost immunity, and make you skin healthier. Vitamins used in the IVs are water soluble, so once your body uses what’s needed, it will excrete the excess through your kidneys into your urine.

 We use many vitamin combinations to also support various forms of chronic illness, such as autoimmunity, toxin exposure, heavy metal toxicity, mold toxicity and post-cancer therapy support.

 What kinds of vitamins or minerals would this method work best for?

There’s no limit to which vitamins the IV therapy can work to infuse into your body. The best vitamins for this treatment, however, are those that are natural to a person’s body and can be measured with levels to ensure that the IV infusion is given at a healthy dose.

 Commonly used ingredients in an IV vitamin drip are vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, potassium, trace minerals and calcium. IV vitamin drips may also contain amino acids (the building blocks of protein) and antioxidants, such as glutathione and  Alpha Lipoic Acid.

 The super antioxidants ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) and L-Glutathione assist with brain and nervous system healing, along with binding and excretion of heavy metals and mold toxins.

A stronger form of chelation (removal) of heavy metals can also be done for people that have had a greater amount of exposure, such as having mercury fillings, exposure to leaded paint/gasoline or growing up near a toxic site.

 What are the risks, if any?

 The risks associated with Vitamin IV Infusions are minimal, and include typical risks of IV insertion, including infection at the site, and aching of the vein. We take great precautions to sterilize the area before insertion, and have techniques to address pain at the site. Vitamin infusions are very safe, and are given to individual patients in a formula that is safe for their individual needs and conditions.

What should people look out for — and keep in mind — if they’re planning to undergo IV vitamin therapy?

If you are interested in IV Vitamin Therapy, we would love to have a discussion with you about which form is the best for you. If you are reading this, and not in our area, look for a Naturopathic Physician, Integrative Physician or Functional Medicine Physician in your area.

 Typically, before we administer IV Vitamin Therapy we assess kidney and liver function, your G6PD, Iron and Ferritin (Iron stores) levels.

 IV Vitamin Therapy can be a fantastic way to support your health and help you to thrive in the long-term!

 Please reach out to us if you have questions about how IV Vitamin Therapy can work best for you!

 In Health, Dr. Angila Jaeggli