Intravenous Vitamin C treatment |
Brief History of Vitamin C |
According to biochemist Irwin Stone, human beings lost the ability to make their own Vitamin C approximately 60 million years ago. Most other mammals still have this ability under times of stress and injury. We do, however, constantly require this vitamin in our body.
In the Middle Ages when sailors were dying of scurvy (Vitamin C deficiency) on long voyages, it was found that specific fruit or drinks prevented such deaths. Vitamin C was later identified as the nutrient involved.
Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling PhD first introduced the broad concepts of Vitamin C therapy about 20 years ago.
Mild symptoms of this deficiency are fatigue, depression, muscle pain and bleeding gums. |
Where do we get vitamin C from? |
We obtain Vitamin C from food such as fruit and vegetables. Many factors in our environment today deplete our body’s supply. These include smoking, alcohol, caffeine, cooking, eating produce that is not fresh, and stress.
|
The role of vitamin C |
Vitamin C is an antioxidant. It helps neutralise free radicals. These are produced by pollutants and man-made chemicals. They are responsible for many diseases and degenerative conditions by allowing metabolic products to leak through cell walls and alter the cells’ abilities and functioning. The damage these free radicals do is increased in times of stress.
Antioxidants attach to the free radicals and render them harmless. Antioxidants also include Vitamin E, Zinc, Copper and Selenium. Because Vitamin C can be safely used in megadoses, it is especially popular and useful.
Vitamin C is required for the body in helping deal with inflammation, thrombosis, ischaemic damage, heart and brain functions. It is essential for healing and plays a profound role in the immune system. Our daily requirements for optimal function while still in good health has been calculated to be between 2000-4000mg. In illness states much higher levels can be used to try and speed the healing process.
In illness and disease requirements for ODA increase enormously. |
Health conditions |
|
What happens when we take oral vitamin C |
Small amounts of Vitamin C are very beneficial. Studies have shown that it reduces the risk of cancer, premature death and heart disease if taken regularly. It also assists the body in dealing with minor illnesses such as colds, flu, infections etc. High doses may cause diarrhoea.
|
Differences between oral and intravenous
vitamin C |
Oral Vitamin C is a gut irritant so only a limited dosage can be used. To achieve tissue levels of Vitamin C much higher than this requires IV application.
|
| |
|
| |
|
