— Originally published in the Source Weekly, from Dr Phillips’ monthly column, The Medicine Cabinet Within.
The focus of nutrition in every form through diet and supplements has become a cornerstone of medicine, and important for anyone interested in treating disease states as well as improving health and vitality. While taking in nutrition and supplements orally is the obvious choice in most circumstances, delivering vitamins, minerals and other compounds by an intravenous route can provide huge therapeutic benefits.
Whether administered by an intramuscular injection or an IV infusion, nutrients delivered this way flow directly to the cells, bypassing the typical oral route that requires adequate absorption in the gut and processing by the liver. This dynamic in and of itself provides a lot of therapeutic value, as many individuals have suboptimal absorption of vitamins and minerals in the digestive tract, for a wide range of reasons. Inflammatory conditions of the gut, enzymatic deficiencies, past surgeries and a multitude of other issues can all compromise the body’s ability to effectively absorb nutrients.
Commonly B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc are all used in varying dosages, and in certain situations other nutritional compounds can be delivered by IV route. A more specialized iron infusion can be administered for some individuals with low ferritin and iron levels to help restore the body’s reserves of this crucial mineral. Depending on the individual circumstance these nutrients can be employed in a variety of combinations and potencies, with the goal of invigorating the intracellular machinery that drives the metabolism of every cell in the body.
There is a wide range of indications for the administration of IV nutrients, ranging from addressing verified deficiencies on lab work, all the way to treating otherwise healthy individuals with the goal of boosting cellular metabolism throughout the body. Clinically, I have found IV nutrient delivery to be helpful in a huge range of circumstances and for most individuals it is a very safe and low-risk intervention.
Immune system function in many situations can be generally supported by IV nutrients. This is particularly true for those who tend to recover slowly or have complications from colds and flus or have other underlying conditions compromising optimal immune responses to bacteria and viruses. Much research has been done on this topic, particularly on vitamin C administration for everything from the common cold to Covid 19 and more serious respiratory infections. A 2020 study published in Frontiers in Immunology describes The Long History of Vitamin C quite well.
Chronic stress unfortunately is endemic in our culture and can contribute to the aforementioned viral infections, poor sleep, depression and anxiety as well as weight gain and other metabolic issues. Again, IV nutrient delivery is one intervention that can help create resiliency at a cellular level to imbalances to the endocrine and nervous systems that result from long term exposure to stress. Obviously addressing the causes of stress should be at the top of the treatment plan, but IV nutrients for many are a game changer for dealing with the downstream physiologic effects of stress.
Mental health issues like depression and anxiety for most are complex issues that require a comprehensive approach to finding meaningful and lasting resolution. This should include mental health professionals, addressing the real-life issues, but often the metabolic contributions to mental health are overlooked. Clinically, many individuals find that by supporting the brain and nervous system with B vitamins and often poorly absorbed minerals can be an important part of resolving issues of mental and emotional well-being. There is a good discussion found in this NIH study on Nutritional Therapies for Mental Health.
Suboptimal nutrition from food, issues compromising gut absorption of vitamins and minerals, and supporting cellular metabolism in the face of environmental stressors are all reasons to consider intravenous administration of nutrients. Obviously working with a trained and qualified provider is key, and taking a comprehensive approach to addressing all the factors involved with health conditions is very important. In many instances, IV nutritional therapy can be a valuable intervention to address nutrient deficiencies and improve health and vitality.
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