Most popular IV drips and why they are loved!

If you scroll through your social media feed long enough, it’s an inevitability that you’ll come across people showing off an IV drip running through their arm, claiming to see some very significant effects surprisingly fast. Admittedly, intravenous therapies have come a long way from the sterile walls of hospital rooms as nothing more than an effective way to transfer blood and hydration into the body.

But what are all these celebrities and influencers actually taking in these drips? Are they truly as effective as people claim them to be? Keeping these questions in mind, let’s dive into the world of IV therapy, examine some of the most popular drip formulations, and figure out why they’ve become the go-to wellness pick for many across the globe.

What is IV therapy?

To get the basics out the door first, IV therapy—short for intravenous therapy—involves transferring fluids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients directly into your bloodstream through a cannula in a vein. It’s a delivery method that skips the slow process of your digestive system to allow for faster absorption and often more potent effects.

Originally, the therapy was used exclusively in hospitals for those who were unable to consume food and water through the mouth for one reason or another, or who had severe deficiencies. It often required continuous patient monitoring with devices such as a medical‑grade SpO2 monitor. Since then, the technique has now made its way into the wellness and anti-ageing sectors, with licensed clinics and “drip bars” offering a whole host of options to tackle specific deficiencies in the body.

What are the different types of IV drips?

Myers’ Cocktail

Developed and first administered by Dr. John Myers in the 1970s, this cocktail is one of the most popular amongst seekers of IV therapy. It contains a blend of magnesium, B-complex vitamin, vitamin C, and sometimes even calcium. It is, in essence, a supercharged multivitamin medication that is designed to support people in dealing with chronic fatigue, migraines, poor gut health, fibromyalgia, and more. One medical study even claims that the cocktail can help treat conditions like acute asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and other major disorders.

High-Dose Vitamin C

The goal of this particular drip is in the name itself: delivering a higher dose of Vitamin C than any oral supplement or natural sources can realistically provide. A practitioner will usually recommend this to boost immunity, improve the production of collagen in the body, and reduce inflammation across the body. Not only that, but ongoing research also suggests that High-dose Vitamin C drip could hold promise as a tool in helping people fight cancer. 

NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)

As we age and our body begins to suffer from the effects of time, our natural NAD+ levels decline. NAD+ is a coenzyme found in every cell in the body.It is what governs the metabolism and DNA repair within our body. To counter the problem of cellular aging and to prolong the 100% efficiency of our youthful selves, NAD+ drips can help to improve our cognitive function, enhance our energy, and may even be helpful in slowing down cellular ageing.

Glutathione

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that’s either included as a standalone drip or added to others. When paired with vitamin C, it becomes a wonder medication that is used to brighten the skin, detoxify the liver, and helps to repair cell damage within the body. The use of this drip is especially popular in beauty-centric IV clinics and is often what you’ll see many influencers use across social media due to its skin brightening effects.

Recovery or Hydration Drips

Often designed to support athletes, recovery drips  often include a blend of ingredients designed to aid with muscle repair. They may include a combination of electrolytes, vitamin C, B-Complex vitamins, and some key enzymes, combined specifically to flush out all the toxicity within your body or to restore your body’s physical performance.

Why are celebrities and influencers so into IV therapy?

Now, upon examining what goes into these drips and what benefits they provide, it becomes easy to see why they have grown so much in popularity. For one, the feeling of your skin looking slightly more radiant, or your long-term fatigue simply disappearing, after an hour-long drip can feel equivalent to magic. Secondly, when you add to that a healthy influence of celebrities like Rihanna, Adele, and Chrissy Teigen, who jumped head-first into the trend, what you get is a perfect storm of hype and curiosity.

That being said, should you follow suit just because your favorite celeb does? Not quite. Like any medical technique before it, IV therapy should always be approached with caution, especially for those with underlying health conditions. It’s best used as a supplement to, and not a replacement for, a healthy lifestyle.

What to keep in mind before you book?

Choose a reputable provider

Of all the drip bars and luxury salons that have cropped up in the wake of this technique, it’s vital to ensure that your IV therapy is administered by a qualified and licensed IV drip professional in a sterile environment. A DIY approach or getting it done in an unregulated environment should be avoided at all costs.

Know what you’re getting

Before you get started, make sure to receive a clear breakdown of what your chosen drip contains and why your clinic is recommending this specifically for you. Some clinics may try to push for a one-size-fits-all blend, but ideally, your therapy should be personalized and tailored to your medical history, goals, and needs.

Never skip the basics

Remember, no IV drip can fix your chronic fatigue if you refuse to put in the effort and make some healthy lifestyle changes. Intravenous therapy should be considered a tool in your toolbox and not the toolbox itself.

The future of preventative health

IV drips, for the time being, will remain a kind of dual existence. On one hand, their effects make them the medicine of the future, providing a fast-track way to deliver nutrients to the body. On the other hand, its perception as a health fad that people on social media are currently promoting has brought a bit of skepticism into the mix. At the end of the day, though, IV therapy should be treated as just another step on your journey to an improved lifestyle and approached responsibly as such. After all, when it comes down to it, making responsible choices is the true and final differentiator for a healthy life.