Strengthening your immune system with IV infusions

by Anand Thakkar, MD. ~

A healthy immune system is a barrier to foreign invaders. It prevents harmful germs from damaging your cells and disrupting how your body functions. Therefore, having a strong immune system is important. IV infusions can provide the body with many nutrients to strengthen it from within.

Unfortunately, many factors can weaken your immune system. These include:

• Lack of sleep
• Lack of physical intimacy with another person
• A lack of moderate exercise
• Going through an episode of intense grief
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Smoking or using recreational drugs, such as marijuana
• Spending too much time indoors
• Eating a high-fat diet
• Eating too few fruits and veggies
• Taking certain medications that lower your immune system after a transplant
• Chemotherapy drugs for cancer
• Having low levels of vitamin D
• Feeling anxious

However, there is a way you can fight back: IV infusions. These treatments help to restore your immune function and make your body more robust.

At Chicago Weight Loss & Wellness Clinics, we offer an immunity-supporting IV (intravenous) infusion treatment. This option helps you feel better by giving your system high-dose vitamin C. It is particularly beneficial for patients who need higher doses than they can obtain through diet.

What Are IV Infusions?

High dose IV infusions are given through a vein into the bloodstream. A medical practitioner first prepares the injection site. Then they use a syringe to pump a high-potency vitamin solution into the body. This causes the electrolytes to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. When taken this way, patients can increase plasma levels higher than by taking oral supplements.

Vitamin C IV Fusions

The body carefully regulates the level of vitamin C in the blood that comes from food. The bowel controls the rate of absorption, and the kidneys remove any excess.

Under normal circumstances, controlling your body’s internal environment is a good thing. However, sometimes you may need a high dose of vitamin C to get the desired effects that you want. Even taking up to ten grams of vitamin C per day orally may not raise blood levels significantly.

For that reason, you may require IV infusions. They bypass the stomach and help you achieve much higher blood concentrations. A 2,000 mg injection, for instance, could increase your blood plasma levels of vitamin C 70-fold. Higher doses – around 5,000 mg – have been shown to kill abnormal cells in laboratory studies.

Doctors have been prescribing high dose vitamin C infusions since the 1970s. Studies show that high doses of vitamin C may reduce the spread of colon, liver, pancreatic and prostate cancer cells. It helps patients achieve higher quality of life and may also reduce side effects.

Why Choose High-Dose IV Vitamin C Infusions?

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that the body cannot manufacture by itself. Humans usually get it from foods such as kale, papaya and oranges. However, achieving high doses on a regular diet is challenging. Furthermore, many people have suboptimal levels of the nutrient. Those with severe deficiencies can develop symptoms such as weakness, easy bleeding and lethargy.

Vitamin C is a vital nutrient that also plays a role in immune function, according to researchers.

It operates via several channels. Firstly, vitamin C is a critical part of the body’s defense skin defense system. Research finds that using the nutrient can reduce UV damage of skin cells. It does this by strengthening the skin’s natural barrier and capturing free radicals.

Vitamin C may also support the immune system in healing wounds. Research indicates that taking the nutrient alongside others my help injuries heal faster.

Secondly, vitamin C appears to improve the function of white blood cells. White blood cells come in several forms. These include monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. These cells help the body fight infections in different ways.

High-dose vitamin C may improve their activity through various mechanisms. First, it may be able to protect them from oxidative stress. When vitamin C is present, free radicals do less damage. And second, it may help them function more effectively, allowing them to destroy more germs.

Lastly, vitamin C may also encourage higher production of white blood cells. Evidence suggests that when levels of the nutrient are low, the body produces fewer immune cells. However, when levels are high, it creates more. Vitamin C’s effects on the immune system have been explored in pneumonia patients. Studies find that taking high-dose vitamin C shortens recovery time.

High-dose IV therapy may offer a host of additional benefits, besides, improving the immune system.

• Protect cell structures by encouraging protein and collagen production.
• May be able to increase collagen production in the blood vessels and bones, keeping them healthy
• May increase your overall energy levels.

Who Benefits Most From IV Infusions?

Patients get IV infusions for a variety of health concerns. However, there are some who stand to benefit considerably from the treatment.

Those With Chronic Fatigue

If you feel tired or listless all the time, you could benefit from vitamin C infusions. Doctors have been using IV therapy to treat conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome for some time now. Clinical practice and evidence shows that increasing the concentration of vitamin C in the bloodstream may improve your energy.

Those With Lowered Immunity

Some drugs, such as rapamycin and chemotherapy, can lower immunity. Therefore, many organ transplant and cancer patients choose IV infusions. These encourage the activity of any remaining immune cells, preventing disease.

Those With A Hangover

People who have been using alcohol or other intoxicants may also benefit from IV infusions. High doses of vitamin C and other beneficial nutrients can help you to feel better.

Those With Nutrient Deficiencies Or High Dose Requirements

Sometimes, you may not be able to get all the nutrients you need into your body through your regular diet. Again, IV infusions with vitamin C and other compounds can help.

Boost Your Immunity With IV Infusions

If you’d like to discuss IV infusions further, please contact our team at Chicago Weight Loss and Wellness clinics or schedule an appointment at a location nearest to you.

About the Author

Dr. Anand Thakkar is a licensed Internal Medicine physician. He is Board Certified in Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine. He has been a member of the teaching faculty for students at Chicago Medical School and has been featured on ABC, FOX, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, and Forbes as a recognized authority in wellness, fitness & nutrition, weight loss, anti-aging, hormones & metabolic medicine, holistic medicine, lifestyle coaching and women’s & men’s health. His mission is to help people become the healthiest versions of themselves using movement, nutrition, and a whole-body approach to medical care.

This blog is for informational purposes only. Do not make any major changes to your lifestyle, diet, or exercise without the supervision of a licensed medical professional.