The Myers’ Cocktail is an intravenous vitamin infusion which helps enhance the immune system, reduces fatigue, helps with seasonal allergies, helps with migraines, and can reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia and asthma.
The Myers’ Cocktail was named after the late John Myers, M.D., a Maryland physician who used intravenous injections of nutrients to treat many chronic conditions. Currently, the nutrient cocktail has been popularized by Alan Gaby, M.D., a physician who often writes about nutrition in medicine. He has treated thousands of patients with the Myers’ Cocktail over the past decade.
The Myers’ Cocktail has also shown improvements in treating acute asthma attacks, migraines, fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasm, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergies and cardiovascular disease. Along with all the improvements noted with chronic conditions, he also observed improvements in athletic performance.
The Myers’ Cocktail works by increasing the blood concentration of several essential vitamins and minerals beyond that which can be achieved when supplementing orally. For example, Vitamin C given intravenously has been found to reach blood concentrations more than than what can be achieved when given orally.
The idea is that many illnesses and conditions are associated with digestive disturbances such as bloating, indigestion and food sensitivities and that people with such conditions may not absorb many of the nutrients needed to return them to good health. Also, many diseases and inflammation cause the body to use nutrients at a faster rate, or to require higher amounts for proper healing. When nutrients are given intravenously, the digestion is bypassed.
ADDITIONALLY the levels in the bloodstream are temporarily increased so that the nutrients are “coaxed” into the cells, and frequently into the mitochondria where they are active. This temporary “kick-starts” the cells, so that energy is produced more efficiently in them.
The most common sensations are heat and flushing (a magnesium effect), and the taste of vitamins soon after the infusion begins. The cocktail can be given 1-2 times per week, and beneficial effects are usually felt by the fourth visit. Many patients with chronic conditions choose to continue the infusions every 1-4 weeks or when they feel their energy slipping.
Receiving a Myers’ Cocktail usually takes place in a medical office. The visit takes about 60-90 minutes to complete so bringing a book or laptop to help pass the time may be beneficially. Once the initial paperwork is completed and a consult is performed, a trained professional will insert a small catheter into a vein, and the infusion is given slowly over 40-60 minutes. Side effects are remarkably rare and almost always are limited to local irritation of the vein.
Some patients feel an energy boost that day and others have lasting effects for days or weeks. In the case of fibromyalgia, decreased pain can be observed. In other chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis, because the “leaky” nature of the gut, the infusion helps get necessary nutrients into the cells.