IV Therapy for Vaccine Recovery 

Many people are interested in supporting their body’s detoxification systems after receiving a vaccine. The truth is that vaccines can be toxic to the body; this is intentional. After all, vaccines aren’t just a viral antigen; they contain many other ingredients designed to provoke the immune system and deliver the active ingredient. 

When making decisions about vaccines, toxin exposure is something to consider, and many people decide that the vaccine’s benefits outweigh the risks. Yet, others who are more vulnerable to these toxins or have been injured by vaccines previously may make a different choice. 

The additives in vaccines are also one reason why people may experience post-vaccine symptoms, such as low energy or brain fog. 

IV therapy is an excellent strategy for vaccine recovery to support the body’s clearance of toxins. It can be used in addition to detoxification supplements as well as diet and lifestyle change. 

This article will cover the ins and outs of nutritional IV therapy. You will learn more about: 

• IV therapy definition 
• IV therapy nutrients
• Health benefits of IV therapy
• IV therapy advantages compared to food or supplements
• IV therapy for post-vaccine detoxification 
• Are there any downsides to IV therapy? 

What is IV Therapy? 

IV therapy is a medical treatment where nutrients enter the bloodstream through intravenous delivery. It requires an IV drip set up and a needle inserted into a vein from a doctor, nurse or phlebotomist. 

A PIV, or peripheral intravenous line in the arm, is how IV nutrition therapy is most often delivered. IV therapy can also be administered via PICC line (peripherally inserted catheter) or CVAD (central venus access devices0, allowing people to receive frequent treatments. 

IV therapy is offered through IV clinics by Functional Medicine or integrative health care providers. Your doctor can tailor the mixture or cocktail of nutrients to your individual needs or needs or goals, including detoxification support. 

IV nutrition isn’t new; it has a long history of use in hospitals to treat nutrient deficiencies in malabsorption syndromes, alcoholism or provide nutrition when a patient can’t eat food.  

IV Therapy Nutrients 

IV nutrition therapy for detoxification, and other purposes, doesn’t provide total nutrition support but is designed to be used in addition to the nutrients one obtains through the diet. 

An IV can provide the following nutrients:

• Fat-soluble vitamins – Vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin K1 and K2 
• Water-soluble vitamins – vitamin C and all the B vitamins 
• Minerals – calcium, magnesium, zinc, selenium and trace minerals 
• Specific essential amino acids – building blocks of protein 
• Antioxidants – glutathione and alpha lipoic acid
• Mitochondrial support – Phosphatidylcholine and NAD+
• Fluids for hydration 

An example of a popular IV nutrient formula is the Myers’ cocktail, named for the doctor who developed it in the early 1980s.

Includes:

• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Vitamin B1
• Vitamin B2
• Vitamin B3
• Vitamin B5
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12
• Vitamin C
• Sterile water

It’s essentially a B complex with electrolytes and vitamin C. The IV solution appears yellow because of the riboflavin, vitamin B2. 

IV Therapy Health Benefits

Nutrients delivered via IV supports a range of symptoms and diseases, including: 

• Asthma attacks
• Migraines 
• Fatigue
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Muscle spasms
• Upper respiratory tract infections
• Chronic sinusitis
• Seasonal allergies
• Cardiovascular disease
• Cancer support
• Hangovers
• Morning sickness 
• Inflammation 
• Stress 
• Substance abuse 

IV therapy also supports wellness and overall well-being. 

In one placebo-controlled trial of the Meyer’s cocktail use in fibromyalgia, study participants saw an improvement in tender points, pain, depression and quality of life following the treatments. Because of this study’s small sample size and the placebo effect, the placebo group also experienced an improvement in tender points over four weeks. 

As another example of IV therapy, IV vitamin C is being used as part of a Covid treatment protocol in some hospitals because of the benefit to upper respiratory infections and the immune system. 

Advantages To IV Therapy 

IV therapy offers many advantages compared to oral nutrients from food, medical foods or supplements.

These advantages include: 

• Bypass the gut – IV nutrients don’t require digestion and absorption processes to get into the body as they are delivered directly into the bloodstream. Bypassing the gut is an advantage to anyone who has gastrointestinal issues, poor digestion or compromised absorption. Stress, illness and other factors also reduce digestion and absorption function. IV nutrition has a 100 percent absorption rate compared to varying absorption rates of supplements, typically around 30-50 percent.

 

• Fast delivery – IV therapy allows for the extremely fast delivery of nutrients. Most IV therapy sessions are only around 20 minutes to achieve a high infusion rate. 

 

• Higher dosages – The administration of higher dosages of certain nutrients are possible without the constraints of the gut. As an example, vitamin C has a limit to oral tolerance because high doses may cause GI distress. Still, much higher, therapeutic dosages are achieved through an IV. 

 

• Better results – With IV therapy, cells are essentially flooded with a high supply of nutrients they need to do important work, like detoxification. IV nutrition increases blood and tissue levels of the nutrients administered. Many people report a feeling of well-being and improved symptoms immediately after treatment.  

 

IV Therapy For Detoxification 

The goal with IV therapy in vaccine recovery is to use this fast and efficient delivery system to provide abundant nutrients to support detoxification. These nutrients assist the body, and specifically the liver, in neutralizing and eliminating toxins from the body.

Since the liver can get overwhelmed from toxin exposure, IV therapy just makes sense. In addition, many of us have increased requirements for certain nutrients, because of genetic polymorphisms, for example. You may be able to recover faster post-vaccine than using diet and supplements alone. 

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and Phosphatidylcholine are two IV infusions used therapeutically for detoxification support. 

NAD+ is the active cofactor form of vitamin B3 (niacin) used by every cell in the body for energy metabolism. NAD levels decline with age and increasing levels in the body via oral supplementation, IV therapy, strength training and flavonoids that inhibit NAD breakdown are strategies used in anti-aging medicine and chronic disease management from the Functional Medicine perspective. 

Because NAD+ works to decrease inflammation and enhance immune function, it is a helpful tool for the prevention or treatment of both viral illnesses and vaccine injury and may be particularly supportive in the elderly. More research is being conducted in this area, but clinical results are already being seen. 

Phosphatidylcholine is another molecule that is administered intravenously and orally to support detoxification. Phosphatidylcholine is the most abundant phospholipid in the cell membranes and mitochondrial membranes throughout the body.

In this role, it helps to protect cells from damage caused by toxins and displace toxins from the membranes themselves. 

Phosphatidylcholine is also important for liver health, a main site of detoxification in the body and the choline component supports methylation, which is also required for effective liver detoxification of a variety of chemicals. 

People recovering from vaccines may experience changes in brain health and memory. A recent animal study found that phosphatidylcholine administration increases levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, thus improving memory and reversing dementia.  

Safety And Downsides To IV Therapy

IV therapy is generally safe; however, since it is mainly unregulated be sure to work with a trusted provider for your care. When using IV therapy specifically for detoxification, your doctor can tailor the IV formula to your body’s needs and specific toxins you are working to clear from the body. 

The main downsides to IV therapy include cost and access. IV therapy treatments may cost $200-1000 per session and may not be available in all areas. If cost or access are a barrier for you, depending on what’s included in the IV, effective detoxification protocols using diet, lifestyle and supplements are recommended and can be quite successful. 

If you are recovering from a vaccine, talk with your Functional Medicine provider to determine if IV therapy would be a good addition to your treatment plan.

While benefits may be seen from IV nutrients alone, a holistic and integrative approach also requires dietary diligence, lifestyle support and well-placed supplements. 

Many people find receiving IV nutrients to be quite pleasant and relaxing. It usually involves resting in a comfortable chair in a spa-like room, so you get the full benefits to body and mind. 

References

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2894814/ 
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12410623/ 
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7762433/ 
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10956380/ 
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7558103/
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3562414/ 
7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3729018/ 
8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7782901/