What Is IV Nutritional Therapy?
by Anand Thakkar, M.D. ~
IV nutritional therapy has become an incredibly popular health treatment in the last few years and people use it to manage a number of different conditions. But before you visit an IV nutrition clinic, you might be have a few questions about IV therapy in general. This blog post will answer most of your questions about what IV nutritional therapy is and how it works, what the benefits are, and what different types are available. So, here’s everything you need to know about IV nutritional therapy. If you have more questions, or would like to speak to specialist schedule a free consultation today.
What Is IV Nutritional Therapy?
We all know that the body needs a mixture of lots of different vitamins and nutrients to function properly. IV nutritional therapy is simply a more efficient way of giving your body what it needs. In this treatment vitamins and nutrients are injected directly into the bloodstream. The specific mixture of vitamins and nutrients all depend on the individual needs of the patient. In most of the cases, people choose IV therapy to treat a specific health issue. IV therapy be used to improve overall well-being.
A variety of nutrients can be used during IV nutrition treatments and once selected, they are blended together and administered via an intravenous drip. The most common nutrients include:
Here, at the Chicago Weight Loss & Wellness Clinic; the treatments is always administered by a trained professional and is perfectly safe. Before any treatments, patients discuss their health concerns and their reasons for seeking the treatment with their healthcare professionals. After a detailed consultation; a customized treatment plan is created.
The Benefits of IV Nutritional Therapy
There are a number of reasons why people use IV nutritional therapy. Most people who use it are looking to make general improvements to their health and wellbeing.
Age management is one of the biggest benefits of IV nutritional therapy. When you start feeling your age; you notice that your skin is dull, your energy levels drip, and your body just does not work quite as well as it used to. The right mix of vitamins and nutrients, administered via IV drip, can help rectify these. They can boost your energy levels, reduce wrinkles and rehydrate skin, improve eyesight, and reduce constipation.
However, it’s not just older people that benefit from IV nutritional therapy. People of all ages undergo treatment in order to boost their energy levels. IV therapy can improve the immune system and prevent illness.
IV treatments are also very popular among people who want a detox. The detox may be as part of a wider health plan. It can also be used to get rid of the symptoms of a hangover or to safely withdraw from drugs/alcohol.
Patients with advanced medical conditions also report an improvement in their symptoms after undergoing IV nutritional therapy sessions. IV therapy can be used to treat some conditions like:
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Chronic Fatigue
- Fibromyalgia
- Mitochondrial Dysfunction
These are just some of the many benefits of IV nutritional therapy. There are a number of different types of IV therapy treatments, each designed for a specific use.
Different Types of IV Nutritional Therapy
IV detoxification and IV NAD Therapy
IV NAD Therapy is a revolutionary new treatment that can help not only drug and alcohol addicts safely detox, but it also has a range of other health benefits.
NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a compound that is found throughout the body in two forms; NAD+ and NADH. Energy production in your cells relies on NADH being recycled into NAD+, so when there is a shortage of NAD+, your cells do not function effectively. This ‘mitochondrial dysfunction’ is a major factor in many chronic illnesses, but IV NAD therapy can boost cell health, prevent cell death, and improve your overall health.
IV detoxification and IV NAD therapy are fast becoming the most popular detox methods for people with drug and alcohol addictions. NAD+ is vital to the bodily processes that remove alcohol from the body. Patients with severe addiction problems have a chemical dependency on alcohol. IV NAD therapy can combat the chemical dependency, allowing addicts to completely detox and recover from their addiction in just 7-14 days. When the chemical dependency is removed, patients are more likely to maintain their sobriety.
This type of IV nutritional therapy can also reduce the chances of chronic illness and neurodegenerative disease. Cell death is linked to a number of serious health issues. This is often caused by low levels of NAD+ in the cells. IV NAD therapy can prevent that cell death, protecting the body from illness.
As well as preventing cell death, NAD+ also impacts a group of enzymes called sirtuins. Sirtuins are a family of proteins that can be found certain fruits. They are responsible for switching on the genes that control aging. By manipulating these enzymes, IV NAD therapy can help to slow down the aging process.
The way that your body responds to exercise involves NAD+. Our muscles are depleted of vitamins and nutrients when we exercise. Recent studies show that this is linked to a decrease in NAD+. By injecting NAD+ directly into the bloodstream, you can exercise for longer without feeling fatigued.
IV Glutathione Treatments
The liver naturally produces glutathione. It is administered to treat a wide range of health problems. It plays a very important role in many different bodily processes like the building and repair of muscle tissue and the synthesis of chemicals and proteins that boost the immune system.
When taken orally, it treats cataracts and glaucoma, alcoholism, heart problems, hepatitis, liver disease, and immune system disorders, including AIDS.
Doctors also regularly inject glutathione into the muscle tissue and it can be administered directly to the bloodstream through an IV drip. IV glutathione treatments have a variety of health benefits and are used to treat a number of conditions.
It is often used by cancer patients because it can prevent some of the toxic side effects of chemotherapy. Patients undergoing hemodialysis treatment also benefit from glutathione because it prevents anemia. It is also effective in the treatment of conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and atherosclerosis (hardened arteries).
Glutathione plays such a huge role in the body, which is why IV glutathione therapy is such an effective treatment.
IV Myers Cocktail
There are many different combinations of vitamins and nutrients that are used during IV hydration therapy, but the Myer’s cocktail is one of the most popular. This mix of nutrients was first designed by physician John Myers and it contains a combination of essential vitamins and nutrients to boost your overall health and manage common health symptoms. The Myers cocktail consists of the following vitamins and nutrients:
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has so many health benefits, most notably boosting the immune system. This is why it is good to increase your consumption of foods rich in vitamin C when you are sick. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that can help to slow down the signs of aging, improve your skin and boost energy levels.
Vitamin B complex
There are a total of eight B vitamins and they play a central role in many bodily processes. They’re essential for healthy skin and hair growth and they boost your memory. Vitamin B deficiencies are also linked to low mood and an increased risk of mental health issues.
Magnesium chloride
Magnesium chloride is a crucial nutrient, which supports your immune system and prevents illness. It also has proven benefits for people suffering from asthma, high blood pressure, and migraines.
Calcium gluconate
Calcium gluconate increases levels of calcium in your blood promoting healthy bone growth.
This combination of vitamins and nutrients has a number of health benefits. Firstly, it improves your overall mood and increases energy levels, making it perfect for anybody that suffers from stress or fatigue. A deficiency in vitamin C and B12 causes a serious negative impact on memory and brain function. IV therapy improves brain function too. Boosted levels of vitamin C also prevent cold and flu.
People often wonder whether they could take oral supplements to get the vitamins and nutrients found in Myer’s cocktail. While that is an option, IV hydration treatments are far more efficient. It is estimated that blood concentration of vitamin C is roughly 50 times higher than it would be if you took an oral supplement. If you are looking for a way to prevent a variety of health problems, boost your mood, and strengthen your body, the Myer’s cocktail is incredibly effective.
These are some of the most common treatments you will find in an IV nutrition clinic. We adjust the formulation of vitamins and nutrients to suit the healthcare needs of the patient.
IV Nutritional Therapy FAQs
It is only natural to have some misgivings about IV nutritional therapy, especially if it is your first time having the treatment. These are some of the most frequently asked questions about IV nutritional therapy.
Is IV nutritional therapy safe?
This is the biggest question that people have about any treatment; but there is no need for concern. All of the vitamins and nutrients that are used during IV hydration treatments are things that your body naturally produces body or can be found in your food and drink. It is a relatively simple medical procedure, as long as a trained health professional administers the intravenous IV drip. It is a safe option for most people.
A medical professional will carry out an assessment and adjust the dosage to suit a patient’s individual needs before any treatment. There are limits to the number of IV treatments a patient can have in a certain period of time.
How often should I have IV nutritional therapy?
There is no right answer here. It all depends on your individual needs. The average frequency for IV hydration therapy is around once a month. We do not recommend that you have more than 2 treatments per week.
How long does IV nutritional therapy take?
The length of the treatment depends on the type of IV hydration therapy that you are having. On average treatments take between 30 and 60 minutes.
Can I have a treatment after drinking alcohol?
Yes, you can have a treatment after drinking alcohol and it is, in fact, very good for curing hangovers. IV therapy is a very effective treatment for addicts who are trying to detox from alcohol. However, we recommend that you remain sober before and during it.
It is safe to drink alcohol after your treatment. But since your body uses up vitamins and nutrients when metabolizing alcohol, it can reduce the positive effects of your IV nutritional therapy.
Can I eat before or after having a treatment?
Yes, it’s absolutely fine to eat and drink before or after your IV nutritional therapy treatment.
Can I exercise after having a treatment?
Exercising after your IV nutritional therapy is not dangerous. However, we recommend that you wait an hour or so after the treatment before you start exercising. Since the vitamins and nutrients administered during an IV hydration treatment improve performance and recovery times, a lot of people prefer exercising after the recommended wait period.
Hopefully, this has cleared up many questions you have about IV nutritional treatments and their amazing benefits. There is a range of different formulations available including IV hydration treatments, IV glutathione treatments, and IV NAD therapy, which can all boost your overall health and tackle specific health problems.
Administering vitamins and nutrients directly into the bloodstream is a far more efficient way of replenishing the body of these vital nutrients as compared to taking them orally as supplements, The health benefits of IV therapy cannot be ignored. When performed by a licensed healthcare professional; it is a completely safe procedure. The majority of patients that have IV nutritional therapy are happy with the results.
This blog post is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice. If you are considering IV therapy with us, we encourage you to book a treatment at a location closest to you. We serve Chicago and its neighboring areas.
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.
Learn more about Dr. Thakkar or Chicago Weight Loss and Wellness Clinics here.