The idea that your body could fail to recognize itself and mount an attack to destroy its own tissue seems like the plot of a low-budget horror film, but autoimmune diseases are all too real. In fact, they're even fairly common — about 24 million Americans suffer from one of the more than 80 different types of autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune diseases can’t be cured, but you can address the symptoms with a variety of treatments that reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and block pain. At Integrative Medica in Salt Lake City, Utah, we offer multiple modalities, including one of the most effective treatments to support your immune system — IV therapy.
Here, our naturopathic physicians, Dr. Joshua Hersh and Dr. Jake Schmutz, take a closer look at IV therapy for autoimmune diseases.
Researchers believe that genetics and environment both play roles in the development of autoimmune disorders, and ongoing studies continue to explore why some people suffer from this puzzling phenomenon. Here are a few of the most common types of autoimmune diseases:
The symptoms of autoimmune diseases vary depending on the type and severity, but they often include skin rashes, joint pain, impaired vision, fatigue, hair loss, aches and pains, and trouble concentrating.
IV therapy delivers essential nutrients directly into your bloodstream to address your specific symptoms. IV therapy is superior to many oral supplements and medications because we can administer more potent doses, and your body absorbs 100% of the nutrients. By bypassing your digestive tract, IV therapy goes straight into your system so it can get to work, quickly supporting your immune system and reducing your symptoms.
Treating autoimmune diseases takes patients and a knowledgeable team that understands the complex interplay between all your body’s systems. Drs. Hersh and Schmutz have years of experience administering both conventional and alternative medical treatments to address chronic conditions holistically.
Depending on your specific autoimmune disease, they may recommend nutritional counseling, regenerative medicine, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, or neurocranial restructuring, to name just a few of their evidence-based treatments.
If you’re a good candidate for IV therapy, we customize your treatment to include nutrients that will reduce your symptoms and improve the quality of your life. Here are a few of the ingredients we may use:
Some autoimmune diseases prevent your body absorbing the vitamin B12 you consume, which is a problem because you need vitamin B12 to produce white blood cells, which are essential to a healthy immune system. A boost of vitamin B12 improves your immune system.
Oxidative stress occurs when you have free radicals — oxygen molecules with an uneven number of electrons — in your body. Free radicals react with other molecules, a process called oxidation, and wreak havoc with your immune system.
Glutathione is an antioxidant that donates electrons to free radicals and stabilizes them — just what your immune system needs.
Vitamin C is another powerful antioxidant, but your body doesn’t make its own. If you don’t get enough vitamin C from your diet to support immune cell functions and keep your body calm, we can add it to your IV therapy. Studies show that vitamin C is an essential ingredient for controlling inflammation and autoimmunity.
When inflammation pervades your body, it prevents the absorption of certain nutrients. A few of the notable micronutrient deficiencies found in connection with several types of autoimmune diseases include magnesium, selenium, and zinc. By adding these to your IV therapy, we can boost your immune system.
Receiving IV therapy is simple. Except for the initial stick of the needle, you won’t feel any pain or discomfort. You can relax as the solution drips into your veins while you watch TV, read, or listen to music.
Depending on your individualized treatment, it may take only 20 minutes, or you may be here up to three hours. After your treatment is over, you can go about your day as usual.
To find out if you’re a good candidate for autoimmune IV therapy, schedule an appointment by booking it online or calling us at 801-676-9876.
