'Banana Bags' - A Wellness Craze
Zoe Robinson
There have been many health and wellness crazes over the past few years, from vampire facials to blood detox diets to lemon water. The wellness industry has continuously proven that there is nothing off the table when it comes to our health and what we can or should be willing to do for it.
As of late the most recent craze to grace the industry is vitamin IV injections. Also known as IV therapy and nicknamed ‘Banana Bags’ due to their yellowish colour, they have been endorsed by the likes of Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber on The Kardashians on Disney+. The pair were seen receiving nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (also known as NAD) in their own homes to boost energy and aid recovery from chronic fatigue left by Covid-19. Hailey stated, “I’m going to NAD for the rest of my life and I’m never going to age.”
Adele has also been known to receive a $220 IV concoction when on tour, which helps to prevent throat infections and irritants on her vocal cords. Rihanna has also spoken about their use of IV therapy when on tour to aid recovery and boost their stamina.
What is it?
IV therapy is the delivery of vitamins and minerals directly into a person’s veins. It can be used for a variety of reasons and can be tailored to each specific patient’s needs. It is most commonly used to boost energy and quicken recovery, either from a virus, injury, or for the lucky few, to ease a hangover. According to IV Boost UK, it can also relieve stress, migraines, enhance athletic performance and even slow aging.
It is thought to be more efficient than taking vitamin pills, which must be broken down and absorbed into the blood stream, which not only lowers the amount of vitamins you are obtaining but also requires more energy. This supposed increased efficiency comes at a much steeper price, with a one-off treatment costing between £200-£500 depending on which treatment you choose - a significant increase from a £6 container of multivitamins.
This is not a new concept. Drips have been used in hospitals for years to restore patient hydration and nutrient levels. However, Dr Joshua Septimus, Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at Houston Methodist Research Institute in Texas told Buzzfeed News when discussing their use outside of hospitals; while something may seem “biologically plausible”, it doesn’t mean it actually works.
Does it work?
Despite the growing popularity of IV therapy, there are limited studies proving their so-called benefit. One study has suggested that the reported “improved state” some users have claimed is a mere placebo effect. In this experiment, a group of 34 patients were randomly assigned weekly IV therapy or a placebo for eight weeks. The outcome showed it was still uncertain whether the treatment itself was effective due to a high number of placebo patients also noting improvements.
Many professionals urge against the use of IV therapy unless you are suffering from a vitamin deficiency. For many, multivitamin pills will be effective and are more cost-effective for patients. A 2020 study concluded that there was little evidence supporting IV therapy use outside of a hospital and that more research was necessary.
Intravenous therapy carries risks just like any other procedure, such as damage to blood vessels, clotting and even reactions to other medications. It is also possible to overdo it and cause vitamin toxicity known as Hypervitaminosis, which Jean L. Bolohnia MD says, “most commonly occurs in individuals seeking potential (and unproven) antiaging or antineoplastic effects.” This was even seen with the avid supporter Kendall Jenner, who was reportedly taken to hospital after suffering “a bad reaction from a vitamin drip” which she had used before her Vanity Fair Oscar Party.
Takeaway
While there are those in higher society who swear by the treatment for their health troubles, the reality is there is simply not enough research backing it up. While it is used in hospitals for people suffering from severe dehydration and vitamin deficiency, it appears unnecessary to have at-home treatments, and if you think you’re at the stage where you need one, you would be better off receiving the treatment in a hospital rather than a clinic. Or, as Dr Septimus says, “Don’t waste your money.”
Cover image courtesy of Unsplash.
Zoe Robinson is a Health & Lifestyle reporter at The Scoop and a Law student at Queen’s University Belfast