The Harpal Clinic Vitamin Therapy Guide: Which IV Drip Is Best For Me?
Dr Harpal Bains
MBBS DFSRH PGCAestMed (Dist)
August 17, 2022
Dr Harpal Bains
MBBS DFSRH PGCAestMed (Dist)
August 17, 2022
Considering your first IV drip, shot or push? With so many different types to choose from, it’s not unusual to feel overwhelmed. Our IV vitamin therapy guide matches your symptoms or goals with the most appropriate type of vitamins for you.
You may be surprised to know that at Harpal Clinic…
If you want to know more about the drips we offer concerning specific wellbeing issues and goals, read our IV vitamin therapy guide below.
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Targeting and alleviating gut issues is possible with our specially formulated gut + autoimmune disease + Inflammation IV drip, which contains essential vitamins and macrominerals. It also contains an amino acid combination, which can directly address gut issues. How? Protein intake is often low in the Western world, with our diets being predominantly carbohydrates. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and by improving protein status this can help the cellular structure needed for a healthy gut barrier.
Gut issues can be a sign of a condition seemingly unrelated to the gut. If we suspect that you have an underlying problem, we have formulations available to address this, such as our liver IV drip (as digestive issues can be a sign of poor liver detoxification) or our vitamin D injection (as this application method can bypass the gut, where vitamin D supplements lose much of their efficacy). We may also recommend the Myers cocktail to improve overall wellbeing.
For those who consistently feel worn out and fatigued, our Tired All The Time (TATT) IV drip is just what is needed to feel energised once more. It helps to repair mitochondria, restoring processes that are crucial for energy production. This drip also features vitamin C and B12 for all-round optimised energy production, but also available is our mitochondria repair IV drip for highly targeted cellular repair.
Feeling TATT can be a sign of poor liver detoxification, so our detox IV drip may be recommended if we suspect that environmental or lifestyle factors may have impacted the efficacy of your liver. Alternatively, our NAD+ IV drip helps with cell regeneration, and results in overall improved health (including improved ability of the body to get rid of toxins).
B vitamins are essential for a process called cellular respiration, which is how the body makes energy. Without enough B vitamins, you can often feel fatigued and have low energy. This is why we may suggest B12 and B complex to help you feel less tired.
We often see fatigue issues in patients taking multiple medications; an example of this may be those taking metformin to treat diabetes. Metformin can quickly deplete B12, potentially leading to feelings of chronic fatigue, which may lead to difficulties with weight loss as energy levels are lowered.
As a side note: It can be beneficial to carry out a drug depletion of vitamins and minerals. Many patients we see are taking multiple medications and this can impact nutrients, which isn’t always covered in traditional GP appointments.
Those also predisposed to feeling tired include vegans and vegetarians due to the low dietary intake of B12. B12 is also heavily associated with psychiatric issues like depression and anxiety – even memory loss has been linked to B12 deficiency.
We may suggest the Myers cocktail in addition to B12 and B complex as it is great for all round wellbeing, and our patients often report having more energy after treatment.
A poor immune system can not only increase your chances of viral illness, but can also have a knock-on effect on other areas of your health, including your sleep quality, complexion and gut health. Our immune booster IV drip support your immune system so it can work at its full potential, which is invaluable to those who are on the go all the time and live in the city.
Our glutathione IV drip has anti-inflammatory properties and helps ensure a robust immune response thanks to its amino acid blend. Our gut + autoimmune disease + inflammation IV drip also features a selection of amino acids designed to support the immune and digestive systems in tandem.
Vitamin D is integral in maintaining the body’s immune response. In addition, the body requires B12 and B complex to carry out any processes, including those associated with the immune system. These vitamins can help support your immune system so it is firing on all cylinders.
Vitamin C and zinc can also play a part in ensuring the immune system is not over or under reacting. Again, the Myers cocktail is great for an overall boost and we can add the vitamin D and zinc into the Myers IV bag.
All three of these drips work to reduce the signs of ageing by targeting slightly different aspects of our cells. On a very basic level, ageing is essentially caused by our cells dying off or slowing down, and having too much oxidative stress and too many free radicals.
Our TATT IV drip helps to repair the mitochondria (the powerhouse of our cells), supporting processes that are crucial for energy production. The mitochondrial repair IV drip aids in cellular repair. It helps to protect against free radicals and oxidative stress (the presence of which contributes to ageing and age-related diseases) so your cells can function better. By improving the ability of the body to get rid of toxins, NAD+ IV drip helps stimulate cell regeneration to reduce cellular ageing so you can feel better for longer. It also contains glutathione which works to prevent cellular damage.
Magnesium is a vital mineral for muscle recovery and helps improve the blood sugar response, which is beneficial for those with type 2 diabetes. It can also help athletes with recovery. It is thought that magnesium helps the muscles to relax and contribute to fewer muscle cramps post-workout. If you are in less pain the day after, you are more likely to work harder.
In a similar vein, our glutathione IV drip contains an amino acid blend that aids muscle recovery post-workout, and can benefit athletes additionally with tissue building and wound healing.
Long days the norm? B12 deficiencies are common, and if you’re working in a city, glutathione is also recommended as the toxic burden in urban environments can become overwhelming for the body. When walking around a city, you are exposed to traffic fumes that will increase your body’s toxic burden. If the liver is preoccupied with excreting external toxins, a high toxic burden may lead to an ineffective metabolism of hormones or medications. This can potentially contribute to hormonal imbalances and generalised dysregulation.
For all-round skin and hair improvement, we recommend our skin + hair IV drip. This aids the replenishment of vitamins and minerals needed for healthy, lustrous hair and skin, and can be beneficial for those with issues such as acne, hyperpigmentation and hair loss.
It can be quite common that patients with brittle hair, skin and nails have an underlying problem such as a thyroid condition (hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) or nutrient depletion. Nutrients that help support the thyroid gland include zinc, selenium and vitamin D.
Research shows that those with acne often have low zinc, as this mineral helps control sebum production in the skin. Alpha-Linolenic acid (ALA) can help to reduce inflammation (supporting inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis), skin ageing, and has an immunomodulatory response. It’s a precursor to Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), which is found in fish oil, and can be included as part of an IV drip alongside other vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin C is used for the synthesis of collagen, so without it, collagen won’t be produced. This vitamin is water soluble, so it leaves the body quickly and requires consistent daily intake to maintain the levels in your body.
B vitamins are needed to create and do anything in the body, as everything takes up energy. The body will always prioritise primary functions over skin, which is why skin is often the first organ to suffer when you are run down or ill, and it is thought that a deficiency can even increase the signs of ageing. Beauty starts from the basic cellular needs.
In tandem with IV therapy, we may recommend an assessment of your hormones and gut to treat the underlying cause of your acne. One common cause of acne is excessive testosterone production, as seen in patients with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). Hormonal imbalances can also cause acne. Some people are simply genetically prone to favour pathways that cause acne – this can be tested for and treated as well.
When we take antibiotics, they pass through to the liver where the body eliminates them. To do this, glutathione facilitates the excretion of toxins from the body. If you are taking lots of medication and are exposed to a high level of toxins, glutathione can become depleted, which means that this detoxification process becomes less efficient and the chemicals are more difficult to remove. Glutathione is crucial in helping the body to complete this process.
Conversely, if you feel like your medications are not working and you need a higher dose, or they are too strong and you are experiencing side effects, this could also be the result of a liver detoxification issue. Our liver IV drip can provide targeted support for liver health and detoxification.
Prolonged antibiotic use, as well as certain other medications, can impact the efficacy of the immune system – this is where our immune booster IV drip can help in supporting the system and, in turn, providing a number of related wellness benefits.
Glutathione can be taken to help support detoxification, and the Myers Cocktail administered for overall wellness. Vitamin D is also crucial in the recovery from post-viral syndrome, and is usually paired with other drips. Vitamin D has been associated with recovery from long-COVID and acute COVID.
Our IV nurse, Elisabeth, has plenty of experience in administering IV drips and has seen innumerable positive outcomes in patients’ wellbeing. She says:
“Our drips are designed to target specific areas of your health, and can be personalised according to your own personal health needs. We encourage you to make the best use of our extensive experience by giving us a thorough breakdown of your health so we can help select the IV drip that will be most beneficial for you.”
Curious about the IV drip process? Here’s a step-by-step run through:
