It’s the end of October, which means the bustle of the holiday season is right around the corner. It’s an exciting time of year — there will be special moments spent with loved ones, lots of fun social engagements and decadent celebratory foods aplenty. It is also a time when our focus on self-care may take a back seat. But with everything going on, it’s important we try to maintain our body’s health to keep up with all that we want to do.
Proper nutrition — with the vitamins and minerals our bodies require to stay healthy and keep our immune system strong — is essential during this season. Temperatures are dropping and daylight saving time is this coming weekend, so there will be more time spent indoors and less access to the natural benefits of daylight hours and being outside. Often we aren’t able to get all the vitamins we need through diet alone, which is why many of us include vitamin supplements in our daily routine. While oral supplements can help to support our nutrition deficits and help in immunity defense, they won’t be as effective as IV (intravenous) vitamin therapy could be.
According to the National Institute of Health, Americans have been taking vitamin supplements since the 1940s. A quarter or more of individuals in their 20s or 30s take a vitamin or mineral dietary supplement. For those who are 60 years or older, the number jumps to almost 40%.
Not everyone is keen on keeping up with an oral dosing regime, so getting your vitamin needs through the method of an IV drip might be right for you.
What is IV therapy?
IV therapy is a delivery method used for medication and fluids. IV stands for intravenous, which means the fluid is administered through the veins. The fluid being sent into your body contains vitamins and minerals or medication and is delivered through an IV drip or injection into the vein. IV therapy allows the fluid to move quickly through your bloodstream, bypassing the digestive process and delivering faster and more effective results than oral administration.
IV therapies have long been used in hospitals as standard practice to treat dehydration and illnesses. Advancements in IV therapies now make it more widely accessible to quickly improve vitamin deficiencies, rehydrate your body and revitalize how you feel. Treatments are often referred to interchangeably as hydration, vitamin or nutrient therapies. A profusion of vitamins and supplements are combined into IV treatments that are used to serve an array of purposes, customized to fit your health needs.
What are the benefits of IV therapy?
When deciding on trying out a new treatment, you’ll want to know its benefits. If you’re needle shy like a lot of people, you may also wonder why people would voluntarily choose to get an IV treatment. IV therapy has become a mainstream way for people to get the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants they need to feel their best and keep their bodies functioning as they should. IV vitamin therapy is used to improve many health issues in men and women of any age including:
- Cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure
- Diabetes
- Fibromyalgia
- COPD
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Viral illnesses, including the common cold
- Chronic depression
- Asthma
- Sinusitis
- Acute or chronic muscle spasm
- Acute or chronic asthma
- Migraine headaches
- Respiratory problems
- Infections
- Bronchitis
The 11 vitamins below are the common ingredients found in our customized blends:
Calcium
- Calcium is well-known for supporting bone health, but it also maintains healthy muscles and heart rhythm. Calcium supplements help prevent osteoporosis. Calcium is also an ingredient in many antacids and has been found to help prevent high blood pressure.
Magnesium
- Magnesium helps maintain normal blood pressure, keeps bones strong and promotes heart health. Some people do not get sufficient magnesium in their daily diet — leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and whole-grain cereals are all rich in magnesium.
Vitamin B-5
- Vitamin B-5 is found in meats, vegetables, grains, legumes and milk and helps the body make use of the carbohydrates, protein and lipids that it receives.
Vitamin B-6
- Vitamin B-6, or pyridoxine, helps maintain skin, nerve, heart and red blood cell health. Most people receive enough of this vitamin in their diet, but a lack of vitamin B-6 can result in anemia.
Vitamin B-12
- Vitamin B-12 occurs naturally in animal-sourced foods like meat, fish, dairy and eggs. If you are lacking sufficient vitamin B-12 in your diet, you may feel weak and tired and experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, depression, loss of vision, numbness, tingling and other nerve problems.
Vitamin B-100 Complex
- Vitamin B-100 complex is a combination of B vitamins used to prevent vitamin deficiency due to diet or illness.
Vitamin C
- Vitamin C helps tissues and bones repair themselves and helps the body absorb iron. Vitamin C is typically believed to help reduce the risk of getting a cold, but studies have not been able to find significant evidence for this.
Glutathione
- Glutathione occurs naturally in your body and is made of three amino acids: cysteine, glutamate and glycine. It is an antioxidant that fights free radicals or molecules that cause damage to your cells. It also helps to detox your body from harmful chemicals and pollutants.
Zinc
- Zinc is a mineral that should be consumed regularly from sources like red meat, fish and poultry. A lack of zinc can cause short stature, loss of taste and reproductive issues. Zinc supplements are used to promote healthy growth in children and infants and to treat immune system problems.
Lipoic Acid
- Lipoic acid is an antioxidant found in yeast, liver, kidney, broccoli, spinach and potatoes. It helps people with diabetes or associated nerve issues. The antioxidant can also help with aging skin and weight loss.
Chromium
- Chromium is an element that is beneficial to people with type 2 diabetes or high glucose levels. Some people also use chromium supplements to help build muscle or encourage weight loss.
Each of these vitamins and minerals produces a specific response in your body, such as increased energy and metabolism, cell regeneration or superior disease-fighting responses.
Is there a downside to IV therapy?
Just as you want to understand the benefits of treatment, you’ll want to understand if there are any risks associated. We believe the pros of IV therapy far outweigh any cons, but it is always a good idea to be a well-informed patient.
- Small risk of infection — Anytime you receive a shot or injection, there is a possibility of infection. Any puncture to the skin, whether through a minor cut or major surgery, may risk infection. IV therapy falls within these risks. KC Wellness employs the highest safety standards to ensure there is almost no risk of infection.
- Discomfort or discoloration — Anytime you receive a shot or injection, there is a chance for slight bruising, itching or redness around the injection site. This is normal and a sign your body is working to detect a foreign object. Any symptoms should subside within a few hours to a few days.
- Minor Pain — Anytime you receive a shot or injection, there may be a tiny “pinch.” This should only last a second until the needle is removed. There should be no pain while the IV is in place.
How Is IV Vitamin Therapy Administered?
All ingredients are mixed with sterile water, placed in an IV bag and administered over about 10-15 minutes through an IV line. Many of our patients receive this therapy one or two times per week to experience and maintain improvement.
Consult with KC Wellness
When it comes to complete wellness, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. It is a personal matter requiring an individualized plan to fit your needs and lifestyle. But for many people, without guidance and support from outside resources, successfully meeting your wellness and weight-loss goals can be a challenging process. At KC Wellness, we have a holistic approach to wellness. We help you stay on course to follow a realistic and consistent eating pattern, take any vitamins in which you may be deficient and get regular physical activity. We focus on lifestyle changes that encourage safe and sustainable results.
If you are looking to increase your energy, enhance your daily performance, boost your immune system and even improve the symptoms of chronic illnesses, then KC Wellness may be precisely what you are looking for. Our doctors and staff are always available to answer any questions and provide guidance along the way to help you succeed. You can check out our vitamin therapy services to learn more about what we do. Reach out to our team today to see how we can help you in your health and wellness journey. Call us at 816-214-5276 or contact us here. There’s no reason to wait — let us help you feel your very best every day.
You can also check out our comprehensive guide to medical weight loss. You can see all of our services HERE.