By Dr. Rafiul Sameer Islam
It’s well known that a healthy diet, regular exercise, and stress management can optimize your well-being. But did you know that intravenous (IV) therapy can also take your health up a notch?
Traditionally, IV therapy was only administered in hospitals. But this treatment is now accessible in outpatient medical settings like infusion centers.
IV therapy can treat more than just serious medical conditions. It’s becoming increasingly popular as a restorative and healing therapy. This article will discuss what IV therapy is and the many benefits it can have on your health and wellness.
What Is IV Therapy?
IV therapy is a treatment that administers intravenous medications into the veins. A medical professional usually inserts a needle into a vein in the arm or hand. A tube connects the needle to an IV bag holding the medication, which allows the solution to drip directly into the bloodstream.
An IV infusion gives you fast results because you don’t need to wait for the medication to absorb into the bloodstream like pills or subcutaneous injections. Infusions can last 30 minutes to a few hours, depending on the IV medication.
5 Benefits of IV Therapy
Keep reading to discover the top 5 benefits of IV therapy for health and wellness.
1) Illness Prevention
IV therapy can treat many chronic diseases, including:
- Neurological diseases
- Rheumatic diseases
- Autoimmune diseases
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
You may receive IV therapy for an illness if the medication you need isn’t as effective through oral administration, if other medications aren’t working, or if the medication you need must be administered in a controlled setting.
IV medications such as Inflectra and Entyvio can relieve Crohn’s diasesa and ulcerative colitis symptoms by reducing gastrointestinal inflammation.
Lubbock Infusion Therapy can administer the following medications to treat illnesses:
- Inflectra
- Entyvio
- Cimzia
- IVIG
- Krystexxa
- Ocrevus
- Prolia
- Remicade
- Soliris
- Solumedrol
- Stelara
- Tepezza
- Tysabri
- Uplinza
- VYVGART
- Zinplava
2) Fast Hangover Relief
Dealing with hangover symptoms such as dehydration, nausea, headaches, heartburn and fatigue is never pleasant. What if there was a way to reduce your discomfort after a night of overindulgence?
IV therapy can help you recover from a hangover by infusing fluids and medications into your bloodstream. You may feel relief from a hangover immediately after finishing your IV therapy.
Infusions that contain normal saline can improve hydration by:
- Replenishing electrolytes
- Restoring fluid balances
- Reducing acidity in the body
IV hydration therapy has the added benefit of flushing toxins out of your system. It can also reduce nausea by administering IV medications such as Zofran and Pepcid. If you’re suffering from a bad hangover, IV therapy may be the cure you need.
3) Weight Loss
Receiving IV therapy can also enhance weight loss by infusing supplements that burn fat, increase muscle mass, and boost energy levels.
The following supplements may support weight loss:
B vitamins. B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folate), and B12 (cobalamin) make up the vitamin B complex. These vitamins improve metabolism and energy levels.
Taurine. This is an amino acid that naturally occurs in the body. Supplementing taurien can improve fat breakdown.
Carnitine. This is a natural substance found in the body. Research shows that taking carnitine can reduce body weight, BMI, and fat mass in overweight individuals.
Glutathione. This is an antioxidant that your body naturally produces. High glutathione levels can improve weight loss and body fat percentage in people with metabolic syndrome and obesity. Interestingly, people with high glutathione levels respond better to dietary interventions than those with low levels.
In combination with healthy diet and exercise routine, IV therapy can help you achieve your health and fitness goals.
4) Strong Immune System
IV therapy can strengthen the immune system. It’s especially beneficial for people with depressed immune systems. This ranges from people with severe autoimmune diseases to people with leaky gut.
Receiving an infusion can help you recover from an infection and protect your body from future illnesses. IV therapy can administer vitamins, minerals, and other supplements that reinforce your body’s natural defenses.
For example, magnesium is a mineral that enhances the function of white blood cells, which allows your body to kill harmful invaders. This immune response decreases inflammation and cell damage in the body. As you can see, IV therapy can be a form of preventive healthcare.
5) Glowing Skin
IV therapy that infuses specific vitamins and minerals into your bloodstream can boost your skin health. Taking B vitamins can promote new skin cell growth resulting in glowing, healthy skin. Additionally, supplementing vitamin C can improve skin elasticity and prevent skin damage.
Zinc is another essential nutrient for skin health. This mineral can:
- Promote healing after an injury
- Reduce acne-causing bacteria
- Protect your skin from UV rays
- Reduce oil production
- Prevent skin damage from free radicals
Receiving an IV with these essential nutrients can enhance your skin health from the inside out. IV therapy may yield more significant benefits compared to topical creams or serums.
Optimize Your Health With IV Therapy
Whether you suffer from a chronic illness or simply want to lose some extra weight, IV therapy can help you upgrade your health and wellness.
At Lubbock Gastroenterology, we have a stand-alone infusion center that provides IV therapy in a comfortable and affordable setting. And we coordinate all aspects of care with your physician.
Lubbock Infusion Therapy offers specialized IV Cocktail formulas to meet various needs. Our treatments can support hydration, metabolism, energy, digestion, and more! Look over our IV Cocktail to learn more about how you can reach your health goals.
Have questions? Call us at 806-749-7155. Our team is happy to discuss how IV therapy can help take your health and wellness to the next level!
Dr. Sameer Islam is a functional gastroenterologist in Lubbock and is a West Texas native growing up in Odessa, TX. He specializes in the comprehensive treatment of all digestive symptoms and conditions. To schedule an appointment, please contact Lubbock Gastroenterology (806-696-4440) located at 4505 82nd Street, Suite 5, Lubbock, TX 79424.
