If you’ve ever risen in the morning following an evening of celebration with what seems like a head-spinning and body-sapping hangover, you’ve no doubt done your homework for a speedy fix in reversing the aftermath of a hangover. One method increasingly becoming a buzz in recent years is IV therapy. The principle behind receiving a dose of fluids and nutrients in an intravenous drip in making you feel less awful, is a great-sounding plan, but does IV therapy treat hangovers? Let’s find out in this guide about the effectiveness of IV therapy for hangovers, how it works, and is it worth a try?
What is IV Therapy?
IV therapy or intravenous therapy is the act of delivering fluids, electrolytes, vitamins, and trace minerals directly into the body’s circulatory system through a vein. It is commonly administered in a hospital setting for reversing dehydration, nutritional deficiency, and other ailments. However, in recent times, IV therapy is increasingly promoted as an immediate cure for a variety of ailments such as hangovers, fatigue, and dryness of mouth.
IV hangover therapy treatment typically involves a combination of saline (saltwater), electrolytes, and in certain situations vitamins such as vitamin B12, vitamin C, or magnesium.This is for purposes of rehydration as well as replenishment of nutrients lost in the body, which can lower hangover effects severity.
Why Do Hangovers Happen?
Preceding our discussion about if IV therapy is or is not effective, let’s discuss what causes a hangover. A hangover is when an individual develops a constellation of signs and symptoms following a bout of alcohol consumption, typically the morning after a severe night of use. Symptoms of a hangover are generally:
Dehydration: Because alcohol works as a diuretic, consumption leads to a rapid production of urine in the system, thus leading to dehydration. Dehydration is a leading cause of most common hangover symptoms like headache, dizziness, and mouth dryness.
Electrolyte Disbalance: Drinking alcohol also leads to a deficiency in basic electrolytes including potassium and sodium, which contribute to weakness in muscles, fatigue, as well as irritability.
Blood Sugar Imbalance: It leads to decreased blood sugar levels which result in shakiness, tiredness, and queasiness.
Toxin Build-Up: As you metabolize alcohol in your liver, byproducts of alcohol metabolism (i.e., acetaldehyde) are poisonous to you. Nausea, headache, and general ickiness can result.
Gastrointestinal Upsets: Nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal disturbances are caused by irritation of stomach lining by alcohol.
What is IV Therapy for Hangovers?
The concept behind IV hangover eradication is a straightforward one: since dehydration, electrolytic imbalance, and nutrient deficiency are hangover symptom’s greatest sources, putting those directly into a patient’s system would supposedly make their health improve at a rapid rate.
Here’s how you should supposedly rid yourself of a hangover with IV therapy:
1. Hydration
The saline you receive in IV therapy is designed so it can quickly hydrate you effectively. That is crucial because dehydration is one of the leading causes for hangover effects. IV hydration is able to replenish fluids at a significantly greater level when compared to drinking water or sports drinks because it is not absorbed into your digestive tract but rather goes directly into your system in your bloodstream.
2. Electrolyte Replacement
Electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium are essential in regulating the body’s fluid balance. Alcohol causes the loss of these electrolytes, resulting in fatigue, muscle cramps, and nausea. IV therapy usually involves a combination of electrolytes that can be absorbed quickly to rebalance and cure symptoms.
3. Nutrient Infusion
IV hangover hydration is usually a combination of vitamins and minerals including vitamin B12, vitamin C, and magnesium. These vitamins and minerals are supposed to give you a boost in energy, enhance your immune system, and also detoxify your body. Vitamin B12 is extremely crucial in energy production whereas vitamin C is great for detoxification.
4. Detox
Certain types of IV therapy interventions involve antioxidants such as glutathione, which might reverse toxins within the system of a person’s body, such as acetaldehyde, a product of alcohol. Nausea and general wellness would improve.
5. Instant Relief
Another great thing about iv therapy is that it is also capable of delivering quick relief. Because the nutrients and fluids are going straight into the bloodstream, benefits are able to take effect a lot faster compared to taking it orally. That is really helpful for those individuals requiring quick hangover relief so that they are able to prime themselves up for a long day ahead.
Does Hangover Therapy by IV Work?
Now we’re familiar with how IV therapy operates, it’s question du jour time: Does IV therapy treat hangovers?
The simple answer is actually yes, there is some symptom relief for hangover in IV therapy but it does not treat it. Let’s look a bit closer at its effectiveness:
1. Hydration
IV therapies are extremely effective at replenishing fluids and for hangover treatment for dehydration. As dehydration is so common a cause for hangover, treatment by an IV drip can offer nearly immediate relief for headache, parched mouth, and lightheadedness. That is not to indicate it would completely eradicate hangover symptoms in a person.
2. Electrolyte Balance
IV therapy’s electrolyte replenishment ability can actually treat symptoms like muscle cramp, drowsiness, and irritability. If an electrolyte imbalance is what prompted your hangover in the first place, then IV therapy can come in handy. Its success is, though, limited by person and hangover severity.
3. Vitamins and Nutrients
Infusing vitamins and nutrients like vitamin B12 and vitamin C can provide a pick-me-up in energy and help your body recover sooner. Even though nutrients are beneficial in hangover recovery, there is no cure for all hangover symptoms. When you hangover is primarily caused by inflammation in the alcohol itself, for example, IV therapy won’t take effect as much.
4. Quick Relief
Another wonderful thing about IV therapy is its quick results. Since fluids and nutrients are directly infused into your system in your bloodstream, you can begin to feel better within an hour or 30 minutes. That might prove convenient for people who have no time at their disposal in a bid to rest and recover from a hangover.
5. Cost versus Benefit
While IV therapy is most effective, it is not affordable. It would range between $100 to $300 for a typical hangover treatment for an individual to receive IV therapy, depending on where you are and what is administered. To some people, it would not at all make economic sense paying for it when there are more treatments like hydrating with water, taking electrolytes, and sleeping at a lower cost.
Other Hangover Treatments
Should you not wish to attempt at trying IV therapy or are interested in trying an alternate method, there are some alternate treatments available which might ease hangover sympoms:
Rehydrate with Water: Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is able to rehydrate a person in addition to prevent hangover side effects.
Electrolyte Drinks: Oral rehydration solutions or sports drinks can help replenish electrolytes and achieve equilibrium.
Rest: Letting your body rest and sleep is most likely the best method for fighting a hangover. Pain Relievers: Over-the-counter medicine such as ibuprofen can ease head pains as well as pains in some parts of the body. Eat a nutritious meal: Eat calorie-rich foods such as greens, eggs, and bananas in a bid to replace expended energy and support repair.
- Pain Relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen can help alleviate headaches and body aches.
- Eat a Nutritious Meal: Eating foods that are rich in nutrients, such as eggs, bananas, and leafy greens, can help restore energy and support recovery.
Conclusion
In conclusion, IV therapy can be effective in alleviating certain hangover symptoms, particularly dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. It offers rapid relief and can help you feel better quickly, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you’re considering IV therapy for a hangover, it’s important to weigh the benefits against the cost and determine if it’s the right option for you. Keep in mind that the best way to avoid a hangover is by drinking responsibly and staying hydrated throughout the night. If a hangover does occur, hydration, rest, and a balanced diet can also help you recover without the need for an IV.