All about ‘hydration therapy’: The shortcut to wellness for many celebs
From Rihanna to Khloé Kardashian, many celebs favour intravenous drips over regular vitamin supplements. Experts list its pros and cons.
Celebrities are known to opt for bizarre options when it comes to maintaining their beauty and looks. Intravenous (IV) drips are generally resorted to during extreme circumstances, but in Hollywood’s fast life, it is considered normal for jet-setting models and stars to take vitamins and minerals via IV drips.
Recently, reality television star Khloé Kardashian spoke about her preference for IV drips in a blog post. She wrote, “Gotta stay healthy, okkkurr?! Some people like to take vitamin capsules, but I SWEAR by vitamin drips!” Models Chrissy Teigen, Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss, singers Rihanna, Rita Ora, Madonna, Cheryl Cole and Katy Perry, as well as reality television show judge, Simon Cowell are reportedly among the celebs who take this treatment.
Experts closer home, despite agreeing to the apparent positive effects of the treatment, are pessimistic when it comes to safety. Apratim Goel, dermatologist, Cutis Skin Studio, Bandra (W), says, “When administered by experienced, board-certified physicians and registered nurses, the therapy is a safe and effective answer to several ailments as well as self-inflicted nuisances (such as hangovers and jet lag).”
But on the other hand, Dr Soma Sarkar, dermatologist, medical director and dermatologist, Skin Inn, Bandra (W), says, “Since this is a minimally invasive procedure, this cannot be taken lightly at all. The procedure has to be initiated after due consultation with a medical practitioner and only if they recommend it. Additionally, the dosages are dictated and delivered according to the recommendations of the doctor.”
Watch: Hydration Therapy for hangover
When administered by trained professionals, hydration therapy can help with:
* Recuperation: Athletes, martial arts practitioners, etc., look up to this therapy for accelerated and superior relief. IV hydration expeditiously restores natural electrolyte balances and allows them to bounce back in no time.
* Dehydration: As we all keep saying, ‘hydrate for better health’— chronic dehydration is notorious for its role in accelerating signs of ageing such as dryness, wrinkles and blemishes. Moisturising skin from the inside-out does the trick and results in supple, glowing skin.
* Hangovers: Dehydration and certain nutrient deficiencies are the underlying culprits for hangovers, which can be taken care of with an IV mix of medications such as vitamins and fluids for pain and nausea.
* Jet lag: Nutritional deficiencies and dehydration emerge as causative factors for jet lag. Airline cabins are dehumidified, exhausting the bodies of their moisture content. That, coupled with poor nutrition and the possibly infected air in the cabin, can take a toll on health. IV hydration helps people heal in no time.
* Immunity: Fatigue, upper respiratory infections, acute asthma attacks, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergies, migraines and other disorders can also be treated by infusing a customised amalgam of vitamin B-complex, vitamin C, magnesium, selenium, and calcium.
High doses of vitamins and antioxidants help combat cold and flu symptoms and enhance your natural immune response, allowing you to recover much faster. These boost the immune system and help you feel good.
Benefits of hydration therapy
1. The basic advantage this therapy has over oral medication is that it bypasses the gastrointestinal tract and is infused in the blood stream directly. This helps maximise the absorption of nutrients in the recipient’s body.
2. Helps to quickly recover from untimely, unwanted ailments, especially in demanding situations.
3. A severe hangover or jet lag may not just be resolved with medication. This therapy works, and it can be administered even by qualified physicians (specialists are not required).
4. The therapy does not require an elaborate set-up and is effective in a comparatively shorter amount of time.
— With inputs from Dr Pratit Samdani, consultant - internal medicine, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Peddar Road.
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The author tweets @iamsusanjose
