Maximizing Benefits While Reducing Risks
By Brian J. Shiple, D.O. & Kelly P. Shiple, PA-C
We live in a world where cancer and disease rates are at an all time high. It is a scary thought that we have yet to learn what hazardous chemicals in our environment could possibly be causing these increased risks. As a result, many patients want to do all that they can to ensure the healthiest lifestyle possible not only for themselves, but also for their families. As practitioners in the rapidly expanding field of preventative health and wellness it is our job to learn about and offer all that we can in order to help our patients achieve their best lives and reduce their risk of illness and disease. In this article we will discuss the benefits of IV therapies such as high dose vitamin C, Myer’s Cocktail, and major autohemolytic therapy (MAH), as well as inhaled platelet rich plasma (PRP).
Humans are unable to make vitamin C so it must be absorbed from our diets. As one can imagine, this means many people are deficient in vitamin C. While vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, many cannot tolerate high doses orally without experiencing gastrointestinal upset. Vitamin C has been studied for over 60 years and has been found to reduce the frequency and duration of the common cold, improve asthmatic symptoms and decrease sensitivity to asthma triggers, prevent oxidative stress caused by exercise, smoking, and second hand smoke, reduce the risks of atherosclerosis, prevent damage to heart valves caused by aortic stenosis, lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, and even offer an adjunct to cancer treatments by easing the toxic effects of chemotherapy and making chemotherapy more effective. We commonly perform high dose vitamin C IV infusions to boost immune system function, aid in detoxification of the body, reduce overall inflammation, and enhance patients’ overall sense of well-being.
John Myers, MD, pioneered the Myer’s Cocktail, an IV infusion of numerous nutrients that much of the population is deficient in. Dr. Myers passed away in 1984 and left no specific formula behind. A colleague of Dr. Myers, Alan Gaby, MD, took over the care of the patients that were left behind and in need of this cocktail to help keep their chronic conditions under control. He developed his own modified IV solution that has been studied over the past 30 years and found to have numerous, dramatic benefits. Patients who responded to the treatment frequently included those who suffer from respiratory problems such as asthma, upper respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, and allergies, as well as those with migraines, chronic fatigue syndrome, and fibromyalgia. Many patients seek out this treatment due to its improvement in energy levels, exercise performance, and mood.
Major autohemolytic therapy (MAH) is similar in efficacy to the above-mentioned treatments, but requires a blood draw into a bag or bottle and infusing your blood with medical grade ozone. The ozone rich blood is then infused back into the patient over the course of 15-20 minutes. Ozone therapy was first used during WWI to treat German soldiers with gangrene infections. IV ozone was introduced in the 1940s and 1950s and is the standard of care in Europe for the treatment of various infections. Ozone has been found to boost the immune system by raising white blood cell and interferon levels which help the body to eliminate all fungal infections, most bacteria, and fight viruses. It also raises oxygen levels aiding in desensitization of allergies, inhibits tumor growth by stimulating production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), prevents cancer cells from multiplying and spreading due to its antineoplastic effects, protects against arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis by oxidizing arterial plaque, and detoxifies the body by degrading petrochemicals in the blood. Despite the decades of research and evidence we have to support the use of MAH it is not as widely accepted in the United States, although it is becoming more popular.
Inhaled or nebulized platelet rich plasma is a new area of preventative health and wellness. This treatment involves preparing PRP from your blood and inhaling it from a home nebulizer unit similar to what an asthmatic would use for their bronchodilator treatment. A hospital nebulizer canister is used that has a charcoal filter built in to the inhalation hand piece that captures all exhaled substances such as unused platelets or germs that the patient may be carrying. This makes it safe to use in the medical office setting or at home around family members. Large randomized control trials have not been completed, yet. However, anecdotally case reports are showing clinical improvement in the areas of overall wellness, asthma control, relieving chronic allergy symptoms, and reducing the severity of COPD and emphysema symptoms. Patients are reporting a dramatic improvement in management of the severity and frequency of their symptoms after treatment.
While there are some risks and contraindications with all of the above-mentioned treatments, they are generally rare and these treatments have been found to be safe overall. Patients may receive these IV infusions multiple times per week to monthly depending on their symptoms, diagnosis, and the strength of the treatment. Whether you are seeking treatment for a specific condition or just want to improve upon your overall health and prevent your risk of disease or illness – give us a call for your free consultation today!
