IV Nutrition therapy

Vitamins and minerals are important to our health and functioning and IV Nutrition therapy is a new and popular method to take care of your body’s needs.

We should, ideally, get our vitamins and minerals from natural sources. But sometimes this is not possible. That is why many of us choose to take dietary supplements.

However, even supplements may not be enough because, for instance, some are not absorbed properly.

What is IV Nutrition Therapy?

An increasingly popular option is to get intravenous nutrition therapy, meaning getting vitamins and minerals injected directly into a vein over a period of time (from minutes to one or two hours, depending on the formula used). Intravenous nutrient therapy is nothing new. It has been used in the treatment of people who have been hospitalized, especially those who have trouble eating. However, intravenous nutrient therapy has been recently gaining in popularity with healthier people too. Even a number of celebrities (e.g., Chrissy Teigen) have admitted to receiving IV nutrition treatments.

What ingredients are included in IV Nutrition therapy and what are their benefits?

A popular formula used in IV nutrition therapy is called the Myers Cocktail. Myers Cocktail contains relatively high doses of a number of essential vitamins and minerals: B vitamins (e.g., B1, B3, B6, B12), vitamin C, calcium, and magnesium. Only a few studies have been conducted on Myers Cocktail, with some research finding the cocktail to be of benefit in the treatment of fibromyalgia, though these findings have not been statistically significant.¹ One way to get a better idea of the potential benefits of this treatment is to review the cocktail’s key ingredients and their functions in the body:²
Calcium: Calcium is a mineral required for bone and teeth formation, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, and the health of the circulatory system and the heart.
Magnesium: Magnesium is essential to the working of countless enzymes. It is involved in muscle contraction, nerve conduction, and energy production.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C plays a key role in numerous enzymatic reactions and the formation of collagen (found in connective tissues). It also improves iron absorption. Vitamin C has strong antioxidant properties and helps maintain a healthy immune system.
B vitamins: B vitamins are involved in many physiological processes, such as the formation of blood cells, energy production, and the optimal functioning of the nervous system.

Concluding thoughts on IV nutrition therapy

You may be interested in receiving IV nutrition therapy for a variety of reasons—to boost your immune system, combat feelings of fatigue and exhaustion…or to make up for an unhealthy diet. Whatever your personal reasons, weigh the potential benefits (as discussed above) against potential side effects and risks (e.g., injection-related risks, like infection). Then, make sure your treatment is provided by an experienced health professional. That is very important. In general, when provided by a properly trained and licensed health care professional who knows your medical history. Harbor Psychiatry & Mental Health is an IV nutrition therapy Center and can provide you with nutrients your body needs in a quick, convenient, and safe way.