It is a way to provide supplemental vitamins and micronutrients into your body to improve the body’s state of health and overall well-being. IV stands for intravenous, meaning that the vitamins and micronutrients are administered into the body through the veins.
Nutrient IV therapy administration has become increasingly popular in recent times. Some athletes receive intravenous vitamins after their games to help speed up their recovery. Another common reason people seek out this therapy is in managing certain medical conditions; some studies that have been performed indicate that nutrient IV administration may help relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia, migraines, and hypertension, among others.
One of the earliest types of Nutrient IV therapy was developed by the late Dr. Myers; he came up with the Myers’ Cocktail comprising magnesium, calcium, vitamin C, and other B-complex vitamins. As a matter of fact, the Myers’ Cocktail played a major role in popularization and generalized adoption of this
therapy by people all over. Since the Myers’ Cocktail’s original development, many other combinations of Nutrient IV therapy have been developed. A practitioner can get special hands-on training in Nutrient IV Therapy administration. Many institutions offer this as a course for one to attend, learn and get certified in.
Most people generally consume their vitamins and micronutrients through their food; some people may also take additional multivitamin supplements. When vitamins and micronutrients are ingested orally, they go down to the stomach and intestines, where they are broken down by gastrointestinal enzymes and then absorbed into the bloodstream. There is a limit to how fast these substances can be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract; what is not absorbed continues through the body and is excreted as stool. Also, most substances absorbed from the intestine pass through the liver for more processing before it goes to the rest of the body. Other factors that impact the amount of vitamins absorbed from the intestine are an individual’s metabolism, age, genetics, and interactions with other orally consumed products. Ultimately, a significant amount of the orally ingested vitamins and micronutrients is lost, and only small amounts pass to the rest of the body. As with most of the vitamins and micronutrients going to waste, the body does not derive the full benefits of these substances when they are orally ingested as food or other supplements.
With Nutrient IV therapy, the minerals and vitamins are administered into the body through the veins. By this route of administration, vitamins and micronutrients avoid the metabolism in the intestine. Also, the substances get into the bloodstream and around the body faster as they are not limited by how quickly they can be absorbed, as is the case with oral consumption. Ultimately, only small amounts of vitamins and micronutrients go to waste during Nutrient IV therapy; most of it is absorbed and used by the body. As a result, the body gains the vitamins and micronutrients full benefits when administered through the veins rather than by mouth.
There are a variety of substances that may be in a Nutrient IV bag. Most times, components are tailored to the reason for its use by your doctor. Different illnesses or medical conditions may require a particular combination of vitamins and micronutrients. Therefore, the treatment is individualized. Another great idea is to do a Micronutrient Test to find out what your cells are deficient in before starting treatment with Nutrient IVs. This way you can get targeted treatment and maximum benefits
from this therapy.
Generally, some substances that may be found in a typical Nutrient IV treatment include the following:
A person may start with a Nutrient IV therapy if their healthcare provider recommends it. Other considerations that may warrant the need for this therapy are the following:
For the most part, anyone can receive a Nutrient IV treatment. The components are generally well-tolerated, and the risks of adverse effects, though present, are mild.
There are many types of Nutrient IV options available for administration. These can be categorized based on the reason for which the infusions are administered. The different types of IV vitamin bags often have many similar ingredients; what makes them different is the quantities of the individual ingredients in each vitamin bag type. At Feel Your Best Self, we offer the following options, although we can individualize a bag to fit to your particular health needs.
For the most part, anyone can receive a Nutrient IV treatment. The components are generally well-tolerated, and the risks of adverse effects, though present, are mild.
The administration of an IV vitamin infusion should generally be done in a professional setting such as a healthcare provider’s office or any other appropriate outpatient setting. In addition, to minimize the risks of infections or other complications, the infusion should be administered only by familiar and
skilled personnel with the process. The general process for the administration of an IV vitamin infusion bag is as follows:
There are no clearly set limits regarding how frequently an individual can receive an IV vitamin infusion. This mostly depend on the instructions established by the healthcare provider and how quickly & effectively the individual responds to the therapy. Most commonly, patients come in once a month for this treatment. This works well for health maintenance and prevention of disease. There are times when a person needs it as often as once a week or more than that if they are fighting an acute infection. Some patients make an appointment as needed.
The cost varies from $150 for a Basic Myer’s cocktail to $195 to include all the ingredients. A NAD+ shot can be done as an add on for $30.
Intravenous vitamin infusions are generally safe, with minimal side effects. When they do occur, side effects may be due to poor antiseptic conditions during the administration of the infusion. In addition, some side effects may occur as a result of hypersensitivity reactions to one or more of the ingredients in an infusion. For example, magnesium in an infusion bag may cause a flushing sensation around the head, neck, and chest areas. Also, potassium administration may cause cardiac excitability and arrhythmias in some people. For this reason, those receiving an infusion for the first time should have it titrated slowly and should be monitored closely for any side effects. If any side effects are detected, the infusion should be immediately discontinued.