Inflammation can make us feel uncomfortable and is caused by our body to protect us from harm. Inflammation can be short or long-term (acute or chronic) and can stem from serious underlying medical conditions. If you are feeling stiff, swollen, or pain when you are moving, your body may be dealing with inflammation. To reduce inflammation, let’s first begin to understand its role in the body.
Why Do We Experience Inflammation?
Inflammation is a natural reaction within our body to protect itself. It does this by telling our white blood cells where to go to provide more care, which increases blood flow to that area. This can cause swelling, redness, or a warm feeling and can be the cause of your pain. You may also have symptoms like fatigue, chills, loss of appetite, or fever. Inflammation can also happen inside of our organs. For example, myocarditis (inflammation in the heart) can cause you to be short of breath, and inflammation of the kidneys can affect blood pressure.
Treating Inflammation
The easiest way to treat inflammation or pain caused by inflammation is to rest up and take over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. It is recommended to see a physician for long-term pain to ensure it is not caused by an internal disease or reaction, such as heart disease, diabetes, or another condition. Your physician may recommend a specific exercise, diet, or therapy to assist with pain management.
One of the quickest ways to decrease inflammation in the body is to get an anti-inflammatory IV. These are administered directly into the bloodstream, allowing them to work quickly.
Delivering ingredients directly to the bloodstream also ensures a much higher absorption rate than taking treatments orally. When consuming oral treatments, they must pass through the digestive system before they can be absorbed by the body. During this process, roughly 50% of ingredients get broken down and lost, meaning only half of the treatment is absorbed.
IV therapy circumvents this process, allowing 90% or more of ingredients to enter the bloodstream directly. Further, cells have instantaneous access to the ingredients, meaning they can get to work more quickly.
There are several different types of IV therapies that offer anti-inflammatory benefits, which we discusss below.
Peptide Therapy
Proteins are long sequences of linked amino acids. Peptides are also made up of amino acids; however, they are significantly shorter, making them smaller and less dense than proteins. This allows them to be absorbed by the body more easily so that they can enter the bloodstream faster.
Peptides perform various functions in the body, including:
- Improve immune function
- Prevent blood clots
- Act as antioxidants
- Facilitate cellular communication
- Reduce inflammation
The antioxidant properties of peptides also help prevent damage from free radicals, which can cause cellular damage that results in further inflammation.
NAD
Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD) is a naturally occurring coenzyme necessary for cellular energy function. It has been studied as a treatment for various health issues, especially anti-aging, brain health, and to support recovery from substance abuse disorder. NAD helps regulate the production of PGC-1-alpha, a protein that protects cells against oxidative stress and defective mitochondrial function.
NAD’s anti-inflammatory properties are particularly beneficial for brain health, as NAD relieves inflammation associated with cognitive decline. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been linked to age-related brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Combating inflammation and oxidative stress helps preserve the brain’s ability to adapt to changing environments, known as plasticity. It also helps support neuronal stress resistance.
By reducing inflammation and helping prevent further oxidative stress, NAD treatments can help improve concentration, reaction times, and help speed learning.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient that plays an essential role in several body functions, such as:
- Tissue repair and regeneration of skin, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels
- Iron absorption
- Immune function
- Production of neurotransmitters
- Powerful antioxidant properties
The antioxidant properties of Vitamin C help protect cells from the generation of free radicals caused by immune response, preventing further damage from oxidative stress.
The anti-inflammatory properties of Vitamin C have become especially evident in recent studies regarding Covid-19. Vitamin C deficiency has been linked to Covid-19, as well as inflammatory health conditions. Covid-19 is known to cause severe inflammation that can cause significant damage to various body systems.
Glutathione And B Vitamins
Glutathione is the body’s most abundant antioxidant. It also helps manage immune response and helps the digestive process. Similarly to Vitamin C, glutathione deficiency has been linked to Covid-19.
Although it is normal for glutathione levels to decrease naturally with age, Covid-19 appears to significantly impact the pattern of decline. The result is that younger people are showing signs of oxidant damage more consistent with much older people. As previously stated, oxidant damage to cells frequently results in inflammation.
Acute inflammation caused by a hyperactive immune response is known as a “cytokine storm”. While glutathione can help protect cells from a cytokine storm, B-vitamins can help prevent or reverse this effect.
Glutathione and B-vitamin supplementation can help relieve inflammation resulting from Covid-19 that contributes to long-Covid symptoms.
Exosome therapy
A small bud is formed when two cells in the body merge together. Eventually, this cellular component will detach from the fused cells and function as a messenger, carrying genetic information and proteins between cells. This cellular component is an exosome. Exosomes have several benefits, though it should be noted they are not considered a cure for any condition. Instead, they function best as a supporting therapy alongside existing treatments.
Inflammation occurs when the immune system responds to pathogens or damage and is a necessary part of the body’s defense system. Some people have immune systems that are overactive, causing excess inflammation that can damage cells.
Research suggests that exosomes play a role in regulating immune response, meaning exosome supplementation therapy can help prevent unnecessary inflammation. Exosomes also appear to aid in the removal of cellular cytotoxins produced by the immune system.
There are a number of inflammation-related health conditions that exosome therapy can help treat, including:
- Age-related inflammation
- Neurodegenerative conditions
- Obesity
- Crohn’s disease and Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Autoimmune disorders
Exosome therapy treatments can vary depending on a number of factors. Some patients may only need to receive one treatment, while others may need subsequent booster sessions. You should also note that you may need to take a break from your typical routine to allow your body to rest and the exosomes to work. This may involve a change in your anti-inflammatory medication regimen, abstaining from strenuous activities for 48 hours following your session, or pausing your workouts for a few weeks.
Stem cell therapy
Stem cells are considered “master cells of the body” due to their unique ability to produce highly specialized cells that perform specific functions, such as muscle cells, brain cells, heart cells, etc. Stem cells are necessary for repair and healing throughout life. Stem cell therapy supplements the body with lab-grown stem cells. These cells are often created to generate certain specialized cells to help treat illness, injuries, or other health conditions.
Stem cell therapy has both regenerative benefits and anti-inflammatory properties. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have proven to be the most effective stem cell therapy in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).
Those who have RA experience inflammation in inner joint tissues, causing the loss of cartilage – important connective tissues within joints. As the disease progresses, the joint and bone can be damaged, causing pain. MSCs combat both symptoms of RA. They suppress inflammatory response and help regulate the overactive immune system. They also facilitate cellular repair and healing, helping to rebuild damage to joint cartilage, bone, and tissues.
Intravenous stem cell therapy is the best method of stem cell treatment for RA. This is because the injection of stem cells into joint tissue can cause the development of synovial fibroblasts within joints, which can worsen symptoms. Infusion therapy delivers stem cells directly to the bloodstream and thus does not present this risk.
In-Home IV Treatment With Drip Hydration
Drip Hydration offers several treatments, some of which include anti-inflammatories like Toradol to help provide relief quickly. All of our treatments are administered by a registered nurse. Contact us today to schedule your vitamin IV!
In-Home IV Treatments With Drip Hydration
Drip Hydration offers mobile IV treatments in the comfort of your home. Once you book your appointment, a certified nurse will come to your desired location and administer the treatment, which usually takes less than an hour. During this time, you can do anything you’d like, such as relax under a warm blanket or watch TV. Drip Hydration will also go to hotels, worksites, or other locations upon request.
You can either browse our treatment options and decide which is best for you or speak to a representative who can help you choose what you need based on your health goals. To schedule your appointment or learn more, contact us today!
