A cocktail you say? I wanted to talk about a different kind of cocktail… the ‘Myers' cocktail’. Ever heard of it? Right now there’s some buzz around it- an IV drip that delivers a therapeutic dose of a set formulation of nutrients. There are IV ‘bars’ popping up around the greater Vancouver area, and the price for these cocktails is steep! So are they worth it?
What this particular cocktail does, is essentially deliver nutrients in a quick and efficient way to the bodily tissues that need them. Intravenous administration bypasses the digestive system, and delivers nutrients directly into the bloodstream for immediate assimilation and use.
The Myers' cocktail tends to be beneficial for people with:
Lowered immune function or immune imbalance (chronic illness, allergies)
Malabsorption issues/ malnourishment (Crohn's, ulcerative colitis, poor diet, prescription drug treatments)
Fatigue (stress, overwork, exhaustion)
Fibromyalgia or chronic pain syndromes
This burst of usable nutrients is very supportive to immune function and overall health. For that reason, the IV therapy can also be considered as a natural flu shot, or way of boosting immune function as we move into cold and flu season, where we're constantly trying to dodge the runny nosed, coughing people around us!
What the Myers' cocktail is not intended for, is a replacement for healthy choices or a quick fix. It isn’t intended for regular health maintenance, or an insurance plan to back up poor lifestyle and diet choices…. Although of course we can all use a little help now and then!
The Classic recipe:
Vitamin C to support immune function, provide antioxidants, and support adrenals in times of stress.
B-Complex to support the nervous system, and mood balance.
Vitamin B5 specifically for stress or anxiety, promoting healthy adaptations.
Magnesium supports heart function, decreases blood pressure, and helps to relax/calm the muscles.
Calcium supports heart and muscle function, nerve transmission, and bone health.
Sterile water is what carries the nutrients, providing added hydration while maintaining the proper osmolarity for safe injection of the solution into the bloodstream.
How long do the effects last? Personally I find that the day of an IV drip, I feel absolutely wiped! I know that my body is being pushed into a rest and restore state, using all the newly available nutrients to work on repairing where it needs to. It’s usually not until around day 2 or 3 that I feel a notable change in energy, mental clarity, and stress levels. The treatments work amazingly after a particularly defeating session of final exams! Depending on the reason for choosing this therapy though, and the health state you are starting from, the amount of treatments required will vary. To optimize efficiency of the metabolic functions these nutrients are used for, it may take a few successive treatments to get the stores back up. There are also other nutrients that can be added to the base recipe to really tailor and maximize benefit for each individual.