Ringer’s Lactate Solution May Be Just What You Need This Holiday

Originally published on phlabs.org

 “It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” according to singer Andy Williams, but it’s also a very dehydrating time of the year. Due to holiday parties and extremely hectic schedules from trying to cram in as much as possible in the last few days of 2022, you may find that you are drinking a lot of alcohol and coffee and not getting enough water.

Many people do not even realize they are dehydrated until they feel thirsty. Being dehydrated can lead to poor circulation, hypertension, hunger pangs and overeating, headaches, fatigue, lack of moisture in the skin and more. And, of course, in very severe cases dehydration can lead to death.

Although I am a major advocate for drinking plenty of water throughout the day, I acknowledge that it can be difficult at times.

In mild cases of dehydration, drinking water can help to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes. It is important to drink enough water to meet your body's needs, which can vary depending on factors such as your age, sex, weight and activity level. 

Certain cases of dehydration may require more than just water. This may include the use of intravenous (IV) fluids, such as saline solution or lactated Ringer's solution, which can be administered directly into the bloodstream to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.

Lactated Ringer's Role in Addressing Hydration

Also called Ringer’s lactate solution, and known as sodium lactate solution, this “cocktail” is administered intravenously and is essentially a hydration and electrolyte bomb.  

Ringer’s lactate consists of:

• Sodium

• Chloride

• Potassium

• Calcium

• Lactate (in the form of sodium lactate)

Doctors may use lactated Ringer's solution in a variety of situations, including but not limited to:

• Dehydration: Ringer's solution can be used to treat dehydration by replacing lost fluids and electrolytes. It is often used for mild to moderate dehydration, particularly when the patient is unable to drink fluids orally.

• Electrolyte imbalances: Ringer's solution contains electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, which are important for maintaining the balance of fluids in the body. It can be used to treat electrolyte imbalances caused by conditions such as diarrhea, vomiting or excessive sweating.

• Blood loss: Ringer's solution can be used to replace fluids and electrolytes lost during blood loss.

• Shock: Ringer's solution can be used to treat shock by increasing the volume of fluids in the circulatory system and maintaining blood pressure.

• Surgery: Ringer's solution may be used to maintain hydration before, during and after surgery.

Saline Solution Is Also Used For Hydration 

Saline solution and lactated Ringer's solution are both sterile electrolyte solutions that are used for intravenous (IV) infusion. However, there are some differences between the two solutions:

• Composition: Saline solution is made up of sodium chloride in water, while lactated Ringer's solution contains sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride and sodium lactate in water.

• pH: Saline solution has a neutral pH of around 7, while lactated Ringer's solution has a slightly basic pH of around 7.4.

• Uses: Both saline solution and lactated Ringer's solution can be used to treat dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, but lactated Ringer's solution may be preferred in certain situations due to its slightly higher pH and the presence of lactate, which can be converted to bicarbonate in the body, potentially making it more effective in correcting acidosis.

Both Saline solution and lactated Ringer's solutions are referred to as crystalloid solutions. They are fluids that contain small molecules that can easily pass through the walls of blood vessels.

 The OASIS IV, 500 ml of Lactated Ringer’s Solution may be the perfect “cocktail” for your fluid and electrolyte replenishment. It produces diuresis (increased urination) which may reduce blood pressure. It also acts as an alkalizing agent by reducing acidity in the body.  

People with liver disease and lactic acidosis (having too much lactic acid in the body) need to be especially mindful when it comes to getting Ringer’s solution. pH Drip Lab will go over your health history with you and make sure you receive the appropriate vitamin infusion or injection.

Have a healthy, happy and hydrated holiday!

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor or another competent healthcare practitioner to get specific medical advice for your situation.         

Are Vitamin Infusions Worth All the Hype?

Originally published on pHLabs.org

Las Vegas is America’s adult playground, but it can definitely take a toll on you if you overdo it. We’ve all been there!

If you happen to be in Vegas and desperately need a cure for a hangover, dehydration or exhaustion, paying a visit to REVIV, an IV drip spa, may be just what you need.

IV drip spas, where people can get a cocktail of nutrients injected directly into their bloodstream via an IV, are actually all over the United States. Also called vitamin infusions, these vitamin injections are sometimes simply given as a shot (like if you were to walk in and get a flu shot at your local drug store).

These treatments reportedly offer:

• Relief from jet lag
• Relief from pain due to fibromyalgia
• A boost for the immune system
• Cure for a hangover
• Clearer skin

Some even say these injections will improve sexual function.

If you were to visit one of these IV drip spas, it would be pretty comparable to ordering at a smoothie or juice bar.

For example, this IV spa in California has a pretty big menu offering items such as: 

• “Brain Boost” - to help with your ability to concentrate. Treatment delivers taurine, an amino acid that may play an important role in creating new brain cells. The injection also includes B vitamins and vitamin C, which may stimulate and balance neurotransmitters. 

• “Party Prep” - offers 11 nutrients that will keep you hydrated and energized before you attend a big event. 

These treatments are not cheap. On average, they cost about $100 to $175.

Depending on what spa you visit, vitamin IV drips can take anywhere between 15 to 90 minutes.

Reportedly, “[f]or an infusion, vitamins are added to a solution containing the same salt concentration as your blood to aid absorption and take about 20 to 30 minutes. Infusions are relatively painless.”

Some celebs, including Rihanna and Gwyneth Paltrow, swear by vitamin drips for boosting immunity.  

Even widely popular celebrity Dr. Oz said they are “cutting edge.”

One woman spent thousands of dollars on these drips, despite some medical experts saying they are a waste of money in her case.

Do they work?

Well, we know IV delivery of nutrients and medication is utilized in the hospital setting for treating patients. Intravenous fluids may contain potassium, glucose, and sodium, which are electrolytes your body needs to function normally.  

And medical professionals may use IV lines to deliver drugs directly into the veins, which helps them reach the bloodstream more quickly than they would if you took a capsule or tablet. IV drugs are also useful for treating people who are vomiting and cannot take oral medications.

Some medical doctors have been successfully using a “cocktail of intravenous vitamin C, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and corticosteroids” to treat sepsis with “no consequential side effects.”

However, other medical professionals are waiting for hard science to decide whether this method of treating sepsis is effective.  

“That evidence could come from two large studies now underway in the United States. Both are being conducted according to the gold standard of medical science: Some patients get the treatment, others get a placebo, and neither the patients nor doctors know who gets what.”

Some people against vitamin IV drips argue it is useless, because infusing vitamins through your veins bypasses the GI system.

According to some doctors, circumventing your digestive system may put your health at risk. That’s because your digestive tract has several layers of defense—from antibodies in your saliva to your liver— that filter out potentially harmful molecules that could cause an allergic reaction.

But others believe that skipping the GI system is the reason why these treatments can be so effective.

“With vitamin C, for example, it’s immediately available for cellular use when you infuse it directly into the veins. But the same amount would cause G.I. upset if you tried to take it by mouth,” according to one medical doctor.

It is important to note that these vitamin IV drips should not be a viable long-term solution to any medical problems you may be having.

If you’re hungover in Vegas, it may be a quick fix. But if you are someone who has chronic fatigue or always getting sick, you need to get to the bottom of why you have these symptoms and perhaps make appropriate lifestyle changes, like exercising more and eating healthier.

Are these treatments safe?

There is always a risk of infection with needle use, but it’s likely no more riskier than getting a flu shot or having a regular IV at the hospital.

If you take too much of a certain vitamin or mineral, this can be toxic. One doctor says he doesn’t use anything that could reach toxicity levels quickly. And since these treatments use water-soluble vitamins, any excess would be filtered by the kidneys and eliminated through your urine.

Model and member of the Kardashian clan Kendall Jenner was not long ago hospitalized due to a bad reaction from a vitamin IV drip.

(These treatments are not FDA endorsed or regulated).

There are not many details on what exactly happened to Jenner, but she recovered pretty quickly. What you really have to be mindful of is the person giving you the drip. These treatments are often done in spa type environments, and not your doctor’s office, so in some cases you are kind of like letting someone else play doctor.

You have to do your research and make sure you are going to a reputable place.

“More serious complications of an IV treatment can include a blood clot or inflammation of the vein. Although very rare, improperly inserted IVs can create a stroke-causing air embolism or cause the fluids to leak into nearby tissue,” according to the doctor in this report.

Of course if you have any existing health issues or are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak with a competent healthcare professional about whether vitamin drips are appropriate for you.

And always remember, being healthy is about your day-to-day care: what you are eating, not smoking, exercising, drinking in moderation, managing stress and visiting your doctor on an annual basis.

So are infusions worth the hype?

I have benefited from infusions of Vitamins C and B because I have such difficulty absorbing enough of these vitamins from food or supplement form. There is enough evidence to suggest that infusions may indeed be worth the hype and the benefits may far outweigh any risks associated with them. So if you have confirmed that you are deficient in certain nutrients and want to experience quick results, this may very well be one avenue you want to consider as a short term fix until you figure out a long term solution.  

Enjoy your healthy life!

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.