Oral Rehydration Solution and the Origins of Liquid I.V.
Liquid I.V.’s Hydration Multiplier is not a medical product--the breakthrough electrolyte stick was created for active people who have trouble hydrating properly day-to-day. But did you know that Liquid I.V. has its roots in a simple and highly effective medical formula called Oral Rehydration Solution, or ORS?
In 1978, the World Health Organization, or WHO, made a discovery that would change the hydration game: a simple formula with precise ratios that allowed severely dehydrated patients to absorb the water and salts they needed to stay alive. No biggie. Best of all? It was relatively simple for clinicians to make. ORS quickly became the WHO’s answer to severe dehydration across the world.
But what is an Oral Rehydration Solution? How does it work? And what does it have to do with Liquid I.V. and our nutrient delivery system Cellular Transport Technology? Check out our slightly geeky ORS cheat-sheet below.
A New Way of Doing Things
Before the Oral Rehydration Solution was launched, dehydrated patients were often given intravenous solutions to replace electrolytes. This was all well and good, but it often required the presence of medical professionals and equipment to administer, so people who had no access to doctors often died untreated. Soon, people in the medical field began experimenting with drinkable solutions of potassium, sodium, glucose, and water—and ORS was born. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, the effectiveness of Oral Rehydration Solutions was proven once and for all during a series of cholera outbreaks in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, the WHO has lauded it as a highly effective treatment, using it to this day in cases of extreme dehydration.
The Truth About Hydration
A little-known fact about the human body is that we can drink all the water we want, but very little of that water actually gets absorbed and used by the body. A lot of it turns into waste. Hydrating properly is more a matter of increasing the absorption rate than it is about chugging glass after glass. That’s where ORS comes in. According to Rehydrate.org, “The glucose contained in ORS solution enables the intestine to absorb the fluid and the salts more efficiently.” This combination of nutrients is like a hydration hack, making every sip count.
The LIV Difference
Liquid I.V. follows the guidelines set down by the World Health Organization for Oral Rehydration Solutions, but we’ve changed the game—and we've taken it to a whole new level. The breakthrough science of Cellular Transport Technology (CTT)®, utilized in all of our products, is based on an optimal ratio of ingredients designed to enhance rapid absorption of water and other nutrients into your bloodstream. We’ve also added Vitamins B and C for an extra wellness boost, and we’ve worked with the best beverage scientists out there to make sure your hydration solution comes in delicious flavors. But we haven’t forgotten our roots. With every purchase of Liquid I.V., we donate one serving to a person in need of hydration around the world. We know the power of CTT and the legacy of the Oral Rehydration Solution, and we’re going to continue to use it to change the world!
