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Hydrochloric Acid for IV therapy: Our Toronto Clinic Features Its Benefits

POSTED ON OCTOBER 23, 2022 BY TORONTO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE CENTRE

Most of us have heard about the benefits of taking oral HCL (hydrochloric acid) – but if you spoke to a healthcare provider about IV therapy in Toronto, you might’ve learned about hydrochloric acid being delivered intravenously. The delivery method of HCL can be used for different wellness purposes.

Hydrochloric acid is a muriatic acid made from the stomach cells in the human body, and it’s amalgamated with other gastric fluids. HCL helps break down food into energy; it also supports your stomach’s acidic atmosphere and assists with warding off harmful microbes and bacteria.

When your body doesn’t have enough of this acid, this could trigger numerous digestive symptoms, while lowering your absorption rate of nutrients. Furthermore, lacking it could be the root cause of skin issues (i.e. acne or eczema), nutritional deficiencies, gastrointestinal reflux, gut bacterial overgrowth, and more.

So why should we consider HCL for additional support? How can we increase it in the body? Read below to learn more and how to get IV therapy from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre.

Beneficial Effects of Oral Intake

Taking HCL orally might be considered because hydrochloric acid naturally declines with aging. It may also be inhibited by acid-reducing medications, H pylori bacteria, excessive alcohol use or autoimmune disease.

Hypochloridria is a condition in which your body has low stomach acid levels. Symptoms may include indigestion, as well as: 

  • Abdominal pain
  • Gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation
  • Acid reflux
  • Heartburn
  • Undigested food in feces

When hypochlorhydria is persistent, this could trigger nutritional deficiencies and even the symptoms below:

  • Fatigue, weakness
  • Memory loss, headaches
  • Tingling or numbness in hands and feet
  • Hair loss
  • Brittle nails
  • Pale appearance

Therefore, taking oral HCL might instill these beneficial effects:

  • Shown to support digestion: As we explained, HCL breaks down the food we consume. It even helps with absorbing carbohydrates, fats, and essential vitamins. Some scientists have found that the acid might split allergens up into reduced molecules, which could lessen negative reactions from autoimmune disease.
  • Might help improve skin health: Skin health conditions (rosacea) have been connected to low stomach acid. In fact, some past studies have shown that a combination of B vitamins and oral hydrochloric acid could help relieve skin inflammation.
  • Could increase your nutrient absorption rate: If you need to alleviate nutritional deficiencies, please speak to a healthcare provider about using this oral supplement; this is because the acid naturally aids in absorbing nutrients. Actually, B12, calcium, iron and folate must be absorbed when your stomach’s acidity is high, so oral HCL might facilitate your gut health to optimize nutrient absorption.

Beneficial Effects of Intravenous HCL

Intravenous drips with hydrochloric acid might offer different advantages from oral intake. HCL IV therapy was frequently used before antibiotics (the 1920s and 1930s) for various health issues, such as tonsillitis and sinusitis.

Some scientists continue to praise “the simplicity of this remedy, its low cost of preparation, its availability, its wide range of usefulness, and its absence of toxicity, even when given intravenously,” The Medical World has confirmed. The health effects of intravenous HCL might include the following:

  • Could act as an immunostimulant: HCL intravenous therapy is suitable as adjunct support for immune function, especially for seasonal infections (i.e. cold and flu). One study on ICU patients even showed that IV hydrochloric acid could be a substitute for sodium or potassium chloride jabs when treating severe metabolic alkalosis. Metabolic alkalosis is a condition in which there’s an imbalance in the body’s pH levels, which could hinder the immune system.
  • Might offer additional support for chronic illness: It’s currently considered as adjunct support for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. But this particular drip cannot be taken with immunosuppressive drugs. That said, we suggest working with an IV therapist/functional medicine provider for guidance if you’re interested in HCL IV vitamin therapy (vitamin drip therapy or intravenous therapy), as dosages may be individualistic.

Intravenous infusion therapy naturally fights oxidative stress and DNA damage, increases blood cell production, and helps boost energy levels. It allows nutrients to enter the bloodstream and bypass the digestive tract, which is why it’s appropriate for patients with dysphagia or malabsorption issues. IV therapy with hydrochloric acid is available at the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre in a buffered and diluted manner of 1:1500.

The Process for Getting IV Nutrient Therapy in Toronto

IV therapy from our health facility is freshly compounded on a daily basis, with safe ingredients and no added preservatives. Our IV treatments come in a variety of key ingredients, including high-dose vitamin C, glutamic acid, major antioxidants, histidine with a medley of amino acids, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD IV therapy) and other intravenous drips. 

Prior to your first administration of IV therapy, a complete diagnostic session is mandatory. This appointment will discuss beneficial ingredients for your therapy drips and whether or not you have allergies to the drip contents. Functional medicine programs or lab testing might be recommended. After lab tests have been analyzed, we can customize your drip therapies with key vitamins or a combination of ingredients.

About Our Functional Medicine Practice and IV Menu

Are you finally ready to stick to your health goals? Then let’s see how we can help! Our clinic is accepting new patients, especially those who are intrigued by integrative health care.

The Toronto Functional Medicine Centre is located in the Yorkville neighborhood. Our health care providers adhere to integrative and functional medicine treatments, as well as allopathic medicine, naturopathy, herbal medicine and more. Our personalized service to patients may be applied to several health issues, such as mineral deficiencies, cellular damage, athletic recovery, tissue repair, immune function, autoimmune conditions, premature aging, thyroid conditions, and much-needed energy.

How can we revitalize your body for optimal functioning? Book your initial consultation to discuss your health needs and possible therapies. Contact us for IV therapy in Toronto today.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. Consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website.

 

References:

Barbaric D, Curtin J, Pearson L, Shaw PJ. Role of hydrochloric acid in the treatment of central venous catheter infections in children with cancer. Cancer. 2004 Oct 15;101(8):1866-72. doi: 10.1002/cncr.20562. PMID: 15386305.

Beasley DE, Koltz AM, Lambert JE, Fierer N, Dunn RR. The Evolution of Stomach Acidity and Its Relevance to the Human Microbiome. PLoS One. 2015 Jul 29;10(7):e0134116. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134116. PMID: 26222383; PMCID: PMC4519257.

Guffey JD, Haas CE, Crowley A, Connor KA, Kaufman DC. Hydrochloric Acid Infusion for the Treatment of Metabolic Alkalosis in Surgical Intensive Care Unit Patients. Ann Pharmacother. 2018 Jun;52(6):522-526. doi: 10.1177/1060028018754389. Epub 2018 Jan 23. PMID: 29359573.

Guilliams TG, Drake LE. Meal-Time Supplementation with Betaine HCl for Functional Hypochlorhydria: What is the Evidence? Integr Med (Encinitas). 2020 Feb;19(1):32-36. PMID: 32549862; PMCID: PMC7238915.

InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. How does the stomach work? 2009 Dec 31 [Updated 2016 Aug 21]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279304/

INTRAVENOUS HYDROCHLORIC ACID IN THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE. JAMA. 1934;102(7):534–537. doi:10.1001/jama.1934.62750070003010

Ito T, Jensen RT. Association of long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy with bone fractures and effects on absorption of calcium, vitamin B12, iron, and magnesium. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2010 Dec;12(6):448-57. doi: 10.1007/s11894-010-0141-0. PMID: 20882439; PMCID: PMC2974811.

Korkmaz A, Yildirim E, Aras N, Ercan F. Hydrochloric acid for treating metabolic alkalosis. Jpn J Surg. 1989 Sep;19(5):519-23. doi: 10.1007/BF02471657. PMID: 2593388.

Naglik JR, Fostira F, Ruprai J, Staab JF, Challacombe SJ, Sundstrom P. Candida albicans HWP1 gene expression and host antibody responses in colonization and disease. J Med Microbiol. 2006 Oct;55(Pt 10):1323-1327. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.46737-0. PMID: 17005778; PMCID: PMC3244616.

Parodi A, Paolino S, Greco A, Drago F, Mansi C, Rebora A, Parodi A, Savarino V. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in rosacea: clinical effectiveness of its eradication. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jul;6(7):759-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2008.02.054. Epub 2008 May 5. PMID: 18456568.

“Three Years of HCL Therapy” as recorded in articles in The Medical World, with Introduction by Henry Pleasants, Jr., AB, MD, FACP, Associate Editor, Published by W. Roy Huntsman, Philadelphia, PA 1935, A Republication of The Arthritis Trust of America/The Rheumatoid Disease Foundation, Projects of The Roger Wyburn-Mason and Jack M. Blount Foundation for the Eradication of Rheumatoid Disease, Inc.

Walter Bryant Guy. Hydrochloric Acid & Mineral Therapy, Health Research Books, Published April 8, 2010.

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