The ‘IV’ league

Having one or too many is something that most individuals do on a regular basis. After all, who thinks twice about downing spirits one after the other till they're utterly sloshed?

By the time you crash after having that one for the road and wake up some hours later, your world is clearly spinning. To avoid ruining your day, try a glass of lime water or some fresh fruit juice. People seem to have gotten over that.
With the party ‘janta’ partying like there is no tomorrow every day of the week, a new fad for beating the brutal hangover blues is quickly gaining traction: IV therapy.

Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy, one of the world's top gastroenterologists, confirms the usage of saline. "Too much alcohol causes dehydration and people, who want to get rid of their hangover real quick, visit the hospital to take saline," Dr. Reddy explains.

So, are they simply given saline injections? He adds that some people take a mixture of saline and multivitamins to counteract the effects of heavy alcohol drinking. "Chronic alcoholics are often vitamin deficient, so a dose of multivitamins is added to saline, which aids in the quick recovery from a hangover," explains Dr. Reddy, Chairman of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology.

He claims that combining IV vitamin therapy and IV hydration therapy will refill, rejuvenate, and detoxify the body faster than drinking water, eating a good diet, or taking medication orally.
"Specially formulated cocktails of nutrients, vitamins, electrolytes, antioxidants, and occasionally even medications are administered via an IV," said Dr. Reddy.

The Therapy

Intravenous therapy (IV therapy) is a way of administering fluid into veins via syringe injection or infusion, sometimes known as a drip. The medical procedure helps to transfer fluids, drugs, and vitamins straight into the bloodstream via the vein. It has been used for decades to treat a wide range of medical ailments.
It is steadily becoming the most popular approach to get over a bad hangover, especially for people who have to leave for work or college the next day.
It provides you more energy, less exhaustion throughout the day, and makes it simpler to get through work without feeling drained.

Quick fix

“Intravenous (IV) drips are a viable option for those with some extra funds. These IV infusions have increased in popularity as a rapid remedy for hangover recovery, according to Dr. Chaitanya Challa is a General Physician, Medical Critical Care and Surgical Critical Care Specialist.
He says they contain saline, vitamins, headache relief, and anti-nausea drugs. "Others doubt their true efficacy and potential risks, while some see them as an opulent and practical solution," explains the general practitioner.

He elaborates by stating that alcohol contains a molecule known as ethanol. "Alcohol consumption stimulates the release of ethanol into the bloodstream, which increases blood flow, a process known as vasodilation. So, when blood flow to the brain increases, it causes a severe headache," explains Dr. Chaitanya.

People react differently to different sorts of alcohol. "But who wants to deal with a bad hangover the next morning? As a result, many people are unable to drink enough fluids or eat since they are already dehydrated, devoid of energy, and sleepy from the previous night's alcohol use. So, this concept of fluids has begun, with rapid benefits," explains Dr. Chaitanya.

He explains that there are various sorts of drops available, including multivitamin drips. "I doubt if all of them are highly useful, but it is definitely being marketed on a large scale," adds Dr. Chaitanya, noting that dehydration is the primary cause of hangovers. There are additional drips containing amino acids and energy boosters.

IV bars !

The west has expanded the potential of IV therapy, with IV bars and lounges sprouting up in malls across the United States in recent months. They refer to it as hydration or vitamin therapy.  According to reports, these IV therapy salons provide a range of vitamin and nutrient mixtures, each claiming to deliver a distinct benefit, such as weight loss, pain relief, and detoxification, all for thousands of dollars. They also give an IV drip to increase your libido instantaneously.

BOX

Celebrities such as Hailey Baldwin and Gwyneth Paltrow have been ardent supporters of this new trend. During a recent podcast, Paltrow revealed her love for intravenous infusion, saying "I love an IV!" and referred to herself as an "early adopter" of the procedure.