Winter Wellbeing: Nourish Your Body with Vitamin Injections

In the winter our bodies go into restorative mode. In this mode, the body becomes especially receptive to nourishment. You may feel more tired in this season than usual, as your body sends energy towards recovering and healing from the more active previous seasons. As such, it’s a perfect time to give yourself a nourishing boost by requesting vitamin injections at your next appointment. (Or simply scheduling one on it’s own!) 

While you may be familiar with vitamin B12 — it’s the most common type of injection requested at our clinic — there are seven other essential B vitamins that your body needs for optimal function. As each essential B vitamin either cannot be made by the body — or cannot be made in a high enough quantity — it’s important to eat the right foods and supplement where needed. This is also integral for healing from injury or illness and maintaining your overall wellbeing. 

Below are just a few of the most common vitamins that we work with. 

Vitamin B12 (aka Cobalamin)

The better-known B vitamin, B12 is vital for red blood cell formation, neurological functions, and DNA production. Like other B vitamins, B12 helps the body to digest carbohydrates, fats and protein. It’s mostly found in animal sources like meat, eggs, dairy, and seafood, but it can also in vegetarian sources. These include spirulina, barley grass, seaweeds, and foods that are fortified with B12. Even so, there’s still debate whether vegetarian sources provide adequate amounts of B12. So if you are vegetarian or vegan, it’s important to supplement vitamin B12 to ensure overall health.  

Additionally, some medications can interfere with B12 absorption, while certain health conditions (such as gastritis, Crohn’s, Colitis, and pernicious anemia) can cause malabsorption of B12. 

Curious if you need a B12 boost? Common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are:

• fatigue
• brain fog
• dizziness
• numbness/tingling
• muscle weakness
• blurred vision
• low mood
• shortness of breath with little exertion 

Vitamin B9 (aka Folate) 

Often added to B12 injections, Vitamin B9 works to make healthy red blood cells. It’s also important for making and repairing DNA and other genetic material. You can find folate in many foods such as spinach and other dark, leafy greens. This B vitamin is also found in asparagus, beets, lentils and beans, edamame, nuts, beef liver, and citrus fruits.

Common symptoms of Vitamin B9 deficiency are:

• fatigue
• grey hair
• canker sores
• swollen tongue
• pale skin
• shortness of breath

Vitamin B3 (aka Niacin) 

Niacin may be added to your vitamin injection if you experience high cholesterol, arthritic pain, or suffer from skin conditions or stress. Tuna and meat are especially high in B3 (Niacin), as are portobello mushrooms, peanuts, brown rice, and avocado.

Common symptoms of B3 deficiency are:

• memory loss or confusion
• fatigue
• low mood
• headaches
• skin problems

An interesting, but harmless, side effect of taking Vitamin B3 is called a niacin flush. This is a warm sensation or even redness that spreads across the skin. However, this passes within 15-30 minutes.

Vitamin B6 (aka Pyridoxine) 

Vitamin B6 can improve mood, promote brain health by reducing Alzheimer risk and improve PMS symptoms. B6 can also treat anxiety, reduce inflammation associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and help with insomnia. Foods rich in vitamin B6 include pistachios, sunflower seeds, garlic, fish, poultry meat, potatoes, bananas, beans, nuts, and red peppers.

Commonly low in people with digestive, autoimmune, liver, or kidney diseases, a vitamin B6 deficiency may present as:

• seborrheic dermatitis
• cracked lips
• sore shiny tongue
• irritable mood
• weakened immune function 
• tingling in hands and feet
• fatigue
• seizures

Vitamin B5 (aka Pantothenate)

If you’re low or deficient in Vitamin B5, your practitioner will add Dexpanthenolis to your injection. Dexpanthenolis is a provitamin of B5, which means it becomes vitamin B5 in the body. 

B5 stimulates the adrenal glands to produce corticosterone — this helps manage your body’s stress responses. We find that the addition of this vitamin in your treatment can help a sluggish digestive system move along. Other benefits of B5 include soothing skin inflammation, boosting hydration, and promoting wound healing.    

Instead of requesting the most common B vitamin injection like you’re ordering from a drinks menu, allow us to formulate a vitamin concoction that is tailored to you. 

As you can see, there are so many possibilities in the B vitamins listed above. So the more information you share with your practitioner about your health and wellness concerns, the better we can customize a vitamin mix that meets your individual needs. 

At Acupoint, we offer Vitamin Injections alone, or as an add-on to your acupuncture treatment. Book online here, or contact us — we’re happy to answer your questions!