Rapid Immune Boost: IV Drip Therapy
IV Drip Therapy can boost hydration, restore key nutrients, support better sleep, and strengthen your immune system for improved overall wellness.
Getting good sleep is one of the most important ways to keep your immune system strong. Studies show that not getting enough rest, or having your sleep constantly interrupted, can make you more likely to get sick, weaken how well vaccines work, and throw off how your body controls inflammation. New research even suggests that sleep is closely linked to gut health, thanks to the way our body’s internal clock and the gut microbiome “talk” to each other.
In this article, we look at what science currently says about sleep and the immune system. We’ll also touch on whether IV nutrient infusions can help with sleep, gut health, and overall wellness. IV therapy can be very useful in certain cases—like fixing vitamin deficiencies or helping with hydration when eating or drinking isn’t enough. But when it comes to routine “wellness” drips for healthy people, the evidence is still pretty limited. Some studies do show benefits in specific situations, such as using magnesium around surgery or high-dose vitamin C for fatigue.
A good night's sleep improves your mood, supports your immune system, and makes for an overall better sense of well-being.
Why Sleep Protects the Immune System
Sleep plays a big role in how our immune system works. It helps both the “first line of defense” (innate immunity) and the more targeted defense (adaptive immunity) by influencing hormones and the nervous system. A 2019 review in Nature found that sleep helps control things like cytokines (proteins that guide immune responses), how T-cells move through the body, and how well we fight viruses. On the flip side, not getting enough rest can lead to ongoing, low-level inflammation.
Research has also shown the real-life consequences of too little sleep. For example, a 2015 study in the journal Sleep found that adults who got 6 hours or less of sleep were about four times more likely to catch a cold than those who slept 7 hours or more.
Sleep even affects how well vaccines work. A 2023 study in Frontiers in Immunology looked at people who got the mRNA vaccine and found that not getting enough sleep around the time of vaccination lowered antibody levels. This means the vaccine didn’t work as effectively in people who were sleep-deprived.
Sleep and GI (“Gut”) Health: The Circadian–Microbiome–Immunity Axis
(Here and below, “GI health” is used in the common sense of gut/microbiome function.)
The gut microbiota and host circadian system are bidirectionally linked. In a Frontiers in Immunology review article published in 2020, researchers found that sleep loss or circadian disruption can:
- Shift microbial composition
- Alter microbial metabolites
- Increase intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”)
Ultimately, researchers found that these three health issues have effects on mucosal and systemic immunity.
Can IV Drips Improve Sleep, GI Health, and Overall Health?
What IV Therapy Can Do (when used in a medical situation)
IV drip therapy is a clinical solution to replenish hydration and nutrients when consuming them orally is not feasible or absorption is impaired. (For example, this could be because of severe malabsorption, active GI fistulas, or perioperative states.)
How IV nutrients Support Sleep (what the studies show)
Magnesium via IV Drip Therapy
In a 2024 randomized controlled trial published in Nutrients, researchers found that patients who received magnesium intravenously “reduced the intraoperative opioid consumption, postoperative pain severity, and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.”
An early 2004 study published in the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia provides additional supporting evidence of this finding. Patients undergoing cholecystectomy with general anesthesia who received magnesium “resulted in better pain relief and comfort.”
While more research is needed, there is strong evidence to support the theory that magnesium supports better sleep.
Vitamin C via IV Drip Therapy
In a double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT), researchers evaluated the effectiveness of a single high-dose vitamin C drip therapy. Published in the Nutrition Journal in 2012, the results show that office workers who received the dose experienced reduced fatigue within hours, with effects lasting up to 24 hours.
A similar double-blind RCT was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of IV drip vitamin C on sleep. Published in the Journal of Nephropharmacology in 2018, researchers reported improved quality of sleep following treatments.
GI health and IV Therapy
For GI integrity, IV therapy’s role is indirect: it bypasses the gut to correct deficiencies and maintain hydration when GI intake/absorption is compromised (e.g., short-bowel syndrome, severe IBD flares). This can help stabilize mucosal immunity and the overall status of patients.
Immune Function and Micronutrients
A 2020 review of micronutrients' impact on the immune system found that deficiencies in vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, and other micronutrients impair immune cell function and barrier defenses. Restoring these micronutrients to their optimal levels supports the body’s natural immune defense.
Practical Ways to Support Your Immune System
1. Prioritize Sleep
Regular, sufficient sleep (generally at least 7 hours for most adults) is directly linked to lower risk of getting sick, stronger vaccine responses, and improved weight management. By prioritizing sleep, you give your immune system and overall health the best chance at optimal well-being.
2. Get on a Schedule
Consistently going to bed and waking up at the same time can improve the quality of sleep and improve your GI health. It is also a huge asset in losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight.
3. Leverage the Super Powers of IV Drip Therapy
Correct any deficiencies your body may be facing as quickly as possible with IV Drip therapy. By rapidly replenishing key nutrients and restoring optimal hydration, you give your body the best defense against infections.
4. Don’t Overlook the Importance of a Healthy Diet
Even the best IV Drip cocktails can’t completely overcome a poor diet loaded with saturated fats and chemicals. While we’re certainly fans of indulging from time to time, we recommend a diet that’s nutrient-rich. Our collection of Paleo-Vegan recipes is filled with so much flavor and texture that you’d even want to share with guests!
Schedule a Consultation
Not every patient is an ideal candidate for IV Drip Therapy. Certain health conditions or medications can interact negatively with IV formulas.
Before beginning any treatment at Premier Integrative, each patient is required to have a consultation with a doctor. In some cases, additional testing may be recommended. These precautions are in place to ensure every treatment is administered safely.
