I love spring! Like many, I am dusting off the bicycle and hitting the road and digging out my hiking shoes from the back of the closet and going for some beautiful hikes. I know there are many out there who are not winter fans and have been spending more time on the couch than working out. There are many locals who are training for the Iron Horse or are preparing for a race season – be it running, biking or triathlons. Whether just starting a workout program or ramping up the intensity, we all want to recover faster and perform our best.
As an integrative practitioner of family medicine, in addition to working with chronically ill people using intravenous (IV) nutrition, I have worked with athletes to improve their performance and to speed their recovery. The benefits of IV nutrition are immeasurable and there is very little risk. Here are some testimonials:
“After several months of intensive training, traveling, and racing I felt like I was digging myself in a big hole of fatigue. After going to Sonas and getting a Myers’ cocktail I felt fully recovered! It was followed by nearly two weeks of phenomenal training and racing.” – Ashlie Kinton-Angel, PT, cyclist, and endurance tri-athlete
“I received Sonas’ nutritional IVs prior to the Boston marathon. I recovered faster than I ever did, I felt great, ran a great race – my best Boston ever. I wouldn’t run a marathon without it ever again!” – Jay Ciotti, MD, family physician and marathon runner
“I have been on IV vitamin therapy for about a year now. I cannot tell you how important this therapy is. Life begins and dies in the gut. Most individuals I have found, as a holistic practitioner, have some problems with their digestion and subsequently with their absorption of essential minerals and vitamins. One of the other problems is the foods we eat. Most of the foods we eat these days are void of the nutrients we need to support our system especially if the body is stressed by lifestyle or through vigorous exercise. Intravenous supplementation goes right into the blood stream and bypasses the gut so the minerals and vitamins are much more bioavailable.
“As far as how it improved my quality of life, I was stressed out and my body could not maintain health because of gut issues. Renae and her IV’s have actually been a life saver to me. I would recommend this therapy to anyone as we all need some help with our health!” – John A. Rothchild, DDS, Holistic Dentist
To understand more on how this works and if this treatment may be good for you, read on.
What is a Myers’ Cocktail, and what conditions does it address?
A Myers’ “Wellness” Cocktail is a nutritional “cocktail” given intravenously (IV), or through a vein. It consists of magnesium, calcium, various B vitamins, and vitamin C. The Myers’ Cocktail has been used to treat general fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia, relieve acute asthma attacks, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinus infections, seasonal allergies, migraine headaches, muscle spasms, menstrual cramps, as well as to support recovery from endurance athletics. Many relatively healthy patients choose to receive periodic Myers’ Cocktail injections because it enhances their overall well-being for variable periods of time.
This cocktail is named after John Myers, a physician from Baltimore, Maryland. He treated patients with IV nutrient therapy for over 25 years. Since then, thousands of patients nationwide have received this cocktail with great benefits.
How does IV Nutrient Therapy Work?
IV administration of nutrients can achieve blood concentrations not obtainable with oral (pills or liquid), or even intramuscular (IM) administration. For example, an IV of Vitamin C can raise the blood levels 50 – 100 times higher than what a person can do taking it orally. Because of this, a person doesn’t develop diarrhea, and at these higher blood levels, IV vitamin C can exert effects similar to pharmaceutical drugs such as antivirals (e.g. influenza drugs), antihistamines (e.g. Benadryl or Claritin), or smooth muscle relaxants (e.g. asthma and angina drugs).
IV nutrient therapy may be more effective for correcting nutrient deficits inside cells, where they are needed. In certain disease states, the capacity of nutrients to get in and stay inside the cells may be diminished. IV administration helps get those nutrients inside the cell. If cells are repeatedly “flooded” with nutrients, the improvement may be cumulative in their ability to heal, and improve their illness/condition.
When treating patients with IV nutrition, some patients get progressively better and after a series of treatments no longer require therapy. Other patients need regular injections in order to better control and counteract their medical conditions. In some cases, continued IV therapy may be necessary because a person’s disease state is too advanced to be reversible, therefore ongoing IV nutritional support is recommended.
I’m Tired all the Time or I am getting a Cold. Is a Myers’ Cocktail right for me?
In my practice, one of the biggest reasons we recommend and administer Wellness IVs is because a person is run down, fatigued, under moderate to severe stress or is at the beginning of an illness such as flu or cold. Many patients respond to treatment with results lasting days to several months. About 50% of the people we have given IV Myers’ for an oncoming flu/cold/respiratory bug get immediate relief and resolution of their illness. Others get a significant reduction in illness severity and length.
Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or fibromyalgia usually improve with weekly or twice monthly injections. In some cases, the improvements are after the first IV, others after 3-4 treatments. As mentioned above, some patients become progressively healthier and eventually stop treatment. Other patients maintain periodic injections to help them function better and restore energy.
Other conditions we have treated with good success include depression, recovery from athletic training or endurance events, allergies, drug withdrawal, and menstrual cramps.
What are the side effects, if any?
Does feeling better and having great stamina and energy count as a side effect? IV Nutrient Therapy is generally very safe and poses minimal if any negative side effects.
Given too fast, an IV may lower blood pressure causing warmth, dizziness or faintness (so we don’t do that!). The only known allergic reaction to IV nutrients has been when using those with preservatives, and these reactions are quite rare. Some patients may experience burning at the localized IV site. As with any injectable treatment, there is always a risk of infection or phlebitis, although it is also very rare.
I have been administering IV nutrients since 1989, am a licensed medical provider in the state of Colorado and have an extensive background in intensive/critical care. Experience counts if there is ever an urgent or emergent situation, and although chances are quite rare of this occurring it can happen.
How much does a Myers’ Cocktail cost?
The cost of a Meyers’ IV nutritional cocktail is $60 – $75. If you have more questions or would like to be evaluated to determine if you are a good candidate for IV Nutrient Therapy, don’t hesitate to contact us or schedule an appointment.
Renae Blanton, MSN, ANP is a Family Nurse Practitioner at Sonas Integrative Medical Center and has been administering IV medications since 1989. She specializes in integrative family medicine with a focus on environmental issues such as lead toxicity, anti-aging, women’s health and chronic disease and illness. She can be reached at 970-247-2500 or sonasimc@yahoo.com.
To read more information, visit http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/.fulltext/7/5/389.pdf