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Intravenous Vitamin Therapy Basics, Benefits and Process

History of IV Therapy

Intravenous vitamin therapy (IV therapy) dates back to ancient times when leaches were believed to extract diseases. Bathing in blood and drinking blood were frequently used to heal diseases. During the 17th century, an attempt was made to perform IV therapy. Due to poor results and complications, the attempt was unsuccessful. Another attempt was made during the 19th century due to the dehydration resulting from the cholera epidemic.

Sepsis and complications resulted in therapy only being offered to patients in critical condition. Therapy did not become viable until the 20th century after the discovery of blood typing and infectious agents called pyrogens. Intravenous vitamin therapy was used during both World War I and World War II. Later in the 20th century, plastic IV catheters and bags enabled modern practices for infection control. Since then, IV therapy has become a beneficial and practical means of saving lives.

What is IV Therapy?

In some instances, a healthy diet does not provide enough vitamins and minerals. Cells are unable to obtain the necessary nutrition due to diseases and metabolic disorders. The result is damaged and weakened cells. Supplemental nutrition becomes vital for the healing process. During therapy, nutrients are sent directly to the bloodstream. The digestive system is bypassed to enable high doses of nutrition to reach the tissues. The body is then filled with nutrients for the restoration of energy and defenses.

Therapy is customized by a nutritionist or medical professional based on the specific condition of the individual. The patient receives maximum effectiveness with very few side effects. Therapy successfully treats numerous medical conditions including:

• Allergies
• Chronic fatigue
• Depression
• Malnutrition
• Aging
• Hepatitis
• Coronary artery disease
• Migraines
• Chronic sinusitis
• High cholesterol
• Viral and bacterial infections
• High blood pressure
• Detoxification
• Parkinson’s disease
• Asthma
• Upper respiratory infection
• Muscle spasm
• Fibromyalgia

The Different Types of IV Therapy

There are three main types of intravenous vitamin therapy, to provide fluids, administer blood products to give drugs. The most common types of therapy recommended by a nutritionist include:

Glutathione: Glutathione is referred to as the queen of anti-oxidants. As an amino acid. glutathione is concentrated in the liver. Toxins are converted by liver enzymes to a compound the body can flush. Glutathione removes toxins through bile or urine. Glutathione stores are used for detoxification until it is gone. The result is toxic overload. Glutathione is diminished by medications, alcohol, environmental toxins, high levels of stress, cigarettes, previous infections and an unhealthy diet.

As the body ages, the production of glutathione decreases. The resulting deficiency can lead to premature aging. Ensuring the level is high is crucial for disease prevention. The body is unable to absorb glutathione well with an oral administration. This is the reason a professional nutritionist will recommend intravenous vitamin therapy.

High Doses of Vitamin C: Vitam C administered in high doses fights immune system issues, fatigue and toxicity. Vitamin C is used for the effective treatment of numerous conditions including fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Administration of vitamin C through an IV enhances the immune system better than when taken orally. High doses of vitamin C are not well tolerated through oral digestion. High vitamin C levels in the blood increase hydrogen peroxide levels, a toxin for cancer cells.

Chelation Therapy: The therapy eliminates heavy metals from the individual’s bloodstream to decrease free radical damage often leading to arteriosclerosis. An amino acid called EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) is administered through an IV to bind with heavy metals including calcium, lead and iron. The metals are then flushed out through the urine. Chelation therapy is effective for decreasing occurrences of arteriosclerosis to help prevent strokes, cancers, heart attacks and senility.

Myers’ Cocktail: John Myer’s developed a mixture of minerals and vitamins referred to a Myer’s Cocktail. The therapy treats fatigue, decreases the symptoms of asthma and fibromyalgia, boosts the immune system and helps with allergies. The IV administration bypasses digestive issues to temporarily increase energy production.

Hydrogen Peroxide: Good bacteria require high oxygen environments and H202. The majority of cancer cells and harmful bacteria are unable to survive an environment containing H202 or oxygen because they are anaerobic. An IV administration of hydrogen peroxide triggers single oxygen molecules for release into the bloodstream and cells. The single oxygen molecule is capable of destroying bacteria and anaerobic viruses, oxidizing toxins for easier processing through the kidneys and liver and killing cancer cells.

Alpha Lipoic Acid: An IV administration of ALA (alpha-lipoic acid) will attach to free radicals to effectively fight cancer. Levels of glutathione, coenzyme Q10 and vitamins C and E are increased. Alpha-lipoic acid helps with insulin sensitivity while decreasing blood sugar for the treatment of damaged arteries and nerves in diabetics. A nutritionist may also recommend ALA for individuals with liver diseases including Hepatitis B and C.

The Basics of IV Therapy

Certain medications need to be given through an IV infusion or injection. The medications are sent to the vein through a tube or needle. An IV catheter is the thin plastic tube inserted directly into the vein enabling the medical professional or nutritionist to provide safe and multiple medication doses without the need for a needle for every dose. Medication administered through an IV enables the dosage to be controlled.

In emergency situations, the medication must be delivered quickly including poisoning, stroke and heart attack. If the medication is taken orally, the drug may not reach the bloodstream fast enough. Intravenous vitamin therapy sends the drug right to the bloodstream. In some situations, the medication must be provided constantly and slowly. IV administration is ideal for providing drugs consistently over time.

An IV is used for certain medications to prevent the enzymes in the liver or stomach from breaking them down through an oral application. By the time the medication reaches the bloodstream, the drug will not work efficiently. An IV administration ensures efficiency by sending the medication right to the bloodstream. For short-term needs, a standard IV line is generally used such as a short hospital stay or the delivery of medication for surgery, antibiotics, nausea or pain.

A standard IV line can be used safely for as long as four days. The process begins with the insertion of a needle into a vein in the elbow, wrist or back of the hand. A catheter is then placed over the needle. The catheter will remain in the vein after the needle has been removed. IV catheters are used by clinics and hospitals. There are two types of IV administrations requiring a standard catheter defined below.

Infusion: An IV infusion is used to administer medication right into the bloodstream for a specific period of time. The medication is usually sent to the catheter using a pump or gravity.

Push: An IV push is a fast injection of medication. The insertion of a syringe into the catheter enables one dose of medication to be sent quickly to the bloodstream.

The most common method used in the United States is called a pump infusion. A pump is directly attached to the IV line to send a solution or medication slowly and steadily into the catheter. Pumps are effective when the dosage of medication must be controlled and precise. Gravity is used by a drip infusion for a constant supply of medication during a specific period of time. The solution and medication drip from a bag into a tube to reach the catheter.

Benefits of IV Therapy

IV administration improves the wellness of the individual by providing 100 percent of the nutrients and vitamins the body needs to provide numerous benefits, including alleviating:

• depression symptoms
• cognitive function and mental clarity
• asthma symptoms
• immune health
• fatigue
• migraine symptoms
• Maintaining the strength of tissues and muscles
• Accelerating wound healing
• Enhancing energy levels
• Improving allergies

The body is impacted by dehydration in numerous ways, often resulting in issues with the digestive tract such as constipation. When the kidneys and liver are damaged, toxins build up in the body. Intravenous vitamin therapy flushes the systems with clean fluids to improve the function of the vital organs. Therapy enables the kidneys and liver to perform more effectively by filtering out and eliminating toxins. Drinking fluids is often not fast enough to enable the organs to eliminate all of the built-up toxins.

IV therapy delivers fluids in the correct amount quickly to the vital organs. When too many fluids are consumed, it can be hard on the digestive system. In most cases, a greater volume of fluids needs to be consumed to enable the body to absorb them individually. The digestive system has to work a lot harder to eliminate the fluids unable to be processed. When the body attempts to eliminate all of the excess fluids, many of the nutrients essential to the body can also be flushed out.

If supplements are being consumed in addition to fluids, the digestive tract can become irritated due to the supplements. IV therapy enables the absorption of fluids and nutrients by the body. The digestive system is bypassed because the administration is sent right to the bloodstream. Less waste is creating than when drinking fluids to enable to body to retain more of the essential nutrients required.

We are made of 55 to 60 percent water. When the body becomes dehydrated, the impact is felt immediately and symptoms of dehydration include far more than thirst. You may experience muscle aches, joint pain, and dry skin. All of these are signs the body requires more hydration. Ensuring the body receives enough liquids is extremely difficult when drinking fluids alone. Intravenous vitamin therapy quickly improves the health of the muscles, joints, and skin.

The influx of nutrients and fluids has enough power to flush toxins from the body to restore health. Therapy helps the individual feel healthy, look younger, and always perform at optimal capacity. Dehydration is unable to be efficiently prevented by drinking plenty of fluids. Drinking water after working out is not efficient because most of the water is absorbed by the digestive tract and throat. The problem is every single tissue in the body required hydration.

This is the reason so much water must be consumed to provide the body with sufficient hydration. IV therapy enables the body to send fluids where they are needed the most by delivering fluids right to the bloodstream. The process is a more efficient and faster way of hydrating the entire body. IV therapy is customized for every individual because no two people are exactly the same. The needs of each body are dependent on numerous factors including the level of activity, lifestyle, and current health status.

We will not be provided with everything necessary to perform at peak levels by drinking fluids alone. Intravenous vitamin therapy is customized to ensure each individual receives the ideal mixture of nutrients, electrolytes and fluids necessary for optimal performance. Therapy can be focused on different aspects including boosting energy levels, skincare, athletic recovery, recovering from a hangover and enhancing immunity.

To perform as effectively as possible, the brain requires good hydration. Once an individual becomes aware they are thirsty, dehydration has already begun. Once this process begins, the brain starts slowing down. The memory can become impaired and information is processed slower. For the brain to function correctly, fluids are necessary. When an individual is properly hydrated, they will make much better decisions.

Unfortunately, one of the last areas of the body to receive hydration from fluids alone is the brain. IV therapy results in an improvement in cognitive function a lot faster than simply drinking water. An intense workout results in the loss of much more than fluids. Drinking water will not be enough to replenish lost nutrients such as electrolytes. Not only will drinking water not replace what the body needs, but it will not efficiently deliver nutrients when they become necessary for the body to function properly.

IV therapy not only provides the body with hydration, but it also replenishes and refreshes the body with the necessary nutrients immediately right through the bloodstream. Sickness prevents numerous individuals from performing daily tasks or going to work. Numerous common illnesses can be avoided through IV therapy because the body is provided with an efficient and fast dose of compounds to boost immunity including vitamin B12 and vitamin C.

When specific vitamins enter the body through the bloodstream with IV therapy, they are more effective than when taken orally. IV therapy was created to ensure the immunity boosters reach the areas of the body where they are needed much faster. The body is unable to recover efficiently without hydration. Hydration for athletes after working out is critical for reducing stiffness and muscle soreness. When an individual is tired after working out all day, it is because they are dehydrated.

Energy can be effectively restored through the administration of immediate fluids. Fluids enable an individual to recover more quickly from a hangover. Due to the efficiency of IV therapy, the body recovers quicker after a workout than by drinking water. A nutritionist will recommend IV therapy for the mixture of fluids, nutrients and vitamins necessary for hydration and better health. All of these are the reasons IV therapy is so important for maintaining good overall health.

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