Intravenous Therapy with Dr. Laura Stix

The problem with oral supplementation is how much is absorbed into the body and how much survives the journey to the liver (first pass metabolism). When a nutrient is taken by mouth, it passes into the intestines where the nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream. From there they soon pass into the liver which changes the nutrients. They are then circulated to the cells of the body and may or may not be taken into the cells themselves. Whatever is not used is filtered into the urine from the blood and is discarded. Some is passed into the stool and not absorbed at all.

Intravenous (IV) administration of vitamins, minerals and other natural substances, delivers nutrients directly to cells via the blood stream. Many people suffer from malabsorption and natural supplements may not be delivered to the cells where they are required for health and healing and may simply pass through the stool. IV administration of these substances bypasses any absorption issues and enables delivery of a therapeutic nutrient dosage that cannot be achieved through oral dosing alone.

Malabsorption is very common. 20% of our elderly population do not properly absorb vitamin B12. IV administration of the nutrients ensures a high dose delivery directly from the blood to the cells. Many therapeutic benefits of nutrients must be given intravenously to have effect. For instance, only the IV route of administration of vitamin C reaches blood levels consistent with concentrations demonstrated to be cytotoxic to several cancer cell lines.

The Myer’s Cocktail 
The Myers cocktail was pioneered by Dr. John Myers, MD, a physician from Baltimore, Maryland, who developed this treatment more than 30 years ago. The doses of the various nutrients were further modified, based on more recent research by Dr. Alan Gaby, MD.

Myers’ Cocktails are a vitamin and mineral infusion containing a combination of magnesium, vitamin C, calcium, B vitamins, and other nutrients found to be effective in many common conditions:

• Cardiovascular Disease

• Viral Infections, ie: Colds, Flu, Herpes

• High Blood Pressure

• Allergies & Eczema

• Digestive issues, ie: Celiac disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

• Fatigue including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

• Chronic pain

• Fibromyalgia & Myofacial pain

• Migraines

• Insomnia

• Anxiety & Depression

• Acute muscle spasm

• Upper respiratory tract infectionsAcute asthma attacks

• Chronic sinusitis

• Seasonal allergic rhinitis

• Paresthesias, numbness, tingling

• Neuropathic pain in cancer patients

What To Expect
The Myers’ Cocktail Drip (bag) takes anywhere from from 15 – 50 minutes to administer, depending on the size of the nutrient bag prepared. Patients may notice a slight flush in the chest and/or face, sometimes patients feel it in the legs as well which indicates an increase in blood flow to the area. Patients may also notice a slight metallic taste as the minerals pass through the circulation of the palate.

Other benefits of IV therapy:

• It delivers nutrients directly into the blood stream which provides the body with the support it needs to help heal the digestive system from the inside out.

• Infusions are specific and individualised to patient needs and presenting concerns (ie: additional magnesium can be added for insomnia or muscle spasms, or more vitamin C for itching eczema).

• Blood levels can reach almost 10X the amount that can be achieved through oral supplementation alone

• It can rapidly replete nutrients in depleted health states including illness, compromised digestive health, eating disorders, or over-training

• It accelerates recovery from physical training and helps boost athletic performance

• The amount of magnesium that can be delivered can make a radical difference in muscle and/or pain related issues such as post-MVA (motor vehicle accident), migraines, headaches, muscle spasms/cramping, piriformis syndrome, menstrual cramps, etc

• Rapidly boost immune function at the onset of colds/flu