What is Nutritional IV Therapy?

Nutritional IV Therapy is the administration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and/or amino acids directly into the bloodstream to detoxify the body and correct underlying nutritional deficiencies. Patients traditionally consume nutrients in food or pill form. However, circumstances sometimes warrant a more effective delivery of nutrients into the body. Because IV therapy bypasses the digestive system, nutrients are delivered quicker and in optimal concentrations directly to the diseased or nutritionally deficient cells of the body.

Why use Nutritional IV Therapy?

Whether you want to recover from an illness faster, keep an illness from taking hold, or if you simply want to have better endurance or are looking for overall better health, intravenous (IV) nutrition can help. In addition to helping acutely ill or chronically ill people, IV nutrition can also help athletes to improve performances and speed recovery. There are many benefits and very little risk from IV nutrition.

How does a Nutritional IV Treatment work?

IV administration of nutrients can achieve blood concentrations not obtainable with oral (pills or liquid), or even intramuscular (IM) administration. For example, an IV of Vitamin C can raise the blood levels 50 – 100 times higher than what a person can do taking it orally. Because of this, a person doesn't develop diarrhea, and at these higher blood levels, IV vitamin C can exert effects similar to pharmaceutical drugs such as antivirals (e.g. influenza drugs), antihistamines (e.g. Benadryl or Claritin), or smooth muscle relaxants (e.g. asthma and angina drugs).

IV nutrient therapy may be more effective for correcting nutrient deficits inside cells, where they are needed. In certain disease states, the capacity of nutrients to get in and stay inside the cells may be diminished. IV administration helps get those nutrients inside the cell. If cells are repeatedly “flooded” with nutrients, the improvement may be cumulative in their ability to heal, and improve their illness/condition.

As mentioned above, when treating patients with IV nutrition, some patients get progressively better and after a series of treatments no longer require therapy. Other patients need regular injections in order to better control and counteract their medical conditions. In some cases, continued IV therapy may be necessary because a person’s disease state is too advanced to be reversible, therefore ongoing IV nutritional support is recommended.

Common circumstances when Nutritional IV Therapy can be beneficial:

• General Health Maintenance
• Times when one cannot afford to be Tired or Ill
• Prior to important Events, Meetings or Travel
• Enhanced Athletic Performance
• Speedier Athletic Recovery
• Advanced Aging
• Before & After Surgery
• Bacterial, Viral & Fungal Infections
• Colds & Flu
• Sinusitis
• Respiratory Infections
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Gastrointestinal Malabsorption
• Food Sensitivities
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
• Chronic Pain
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Muscle Spasms
• Migraine Headaches
• Tension Headaches

More serious conditions helped by Nutritional IV Therapy can be beneficial:

• Cancer
• Shingles & Chicken Pox
• Hepatitis
• Lyme & Other Chronic Viral Infections
• Crohn's
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Peripheral Vascular Diseases
• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Congestive Heart Failure
• Heavy Metal Toxicity
• Nerve Pain
• Alzheimer's
• Parkinson's
• ALS
• Macular Degeneration

Myers' Cocktail -- What is it and what conditions is it good for?

A Myers' Cocktail is the most common Nutritional IV Therapy injection and is a healing combination of vitamins and minerals consisting of magnesium, calcium, many B vitamins and vitamin C that are all given through a vein. The Myers' Cocktail has been used to treat general fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome/fibromyalgia, relieve acute asthma attacks, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinus infections, seasonal allergies, migraine headaches, muscle spasms, menstrual cramps, as well as to support recovery from endurance athletics. Many relatively healthy patients choose to receive periodic Myers' Cocktail injections because it enhances their overall well-being for variable periods of time.

This cocktail is named after John Myers, a physician from Baltimore, Maryland. He treated patients with IV nutrient therapy for over 25 years. Since then, thousands of patients nationwide have received this cocktail with great benefits.

Click on (Myers' Cocktail) for further reading.

Myers' Cocktail -- Is it right for me if I’m feeling run down, fatigued, or am getting a Cold?

One of the biggest reasons to recommend and administer Nutritional IVs is because a person is run down, fatigued, under moderate to severe stress or is at the beginning of an illness such as flu or cold. Many patients respond to treatment with results lasting days to several months. About 50% of the people who are given an IV Myers' Cocktail for an oncoming flu/cold/respiratory bug get immediate relief and resolution of their illness. Others get a significant reduction in illness severity and length.

Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or fibromyalgia usually improve with weekly or twice monthly injections. In some cases, the improvements are after the first IV, others after 3-4 treatments. Some patients become progressively healthier and eventually stop treatment. Other patients maintain periodic injections to help them function better and restore energy.

The Myers' Cocktail is beneficial for general health maintenance, aiding athletic performance and recovery, advanced aging, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, congestive heart failure, allergies, gut problems, drug withdrawal, and menstrual cramps, among others.

Immune Drip -- What is it and what conditions is it good for?

A strong immune system is essential for survival in our fast-paced lives as we navigate through toxic lifestyles, a toxic environment, and a seemingly endless barrage of viruses, bacteria, yeast and fungi looking to us to set up new colonies. A healthy, disease-resistant body is one that is well nourished, well cleansed, well rested, well exercised, and well balanced.

However, sometimes our go-go, hectic schedule keeps us from our health routines, and our defenses weaken to permit the attack of the latest virus, flu-bug, or bacteria. Let your defenses stay down long enough and more serious diseases like diabetes, fatigue, heart disease, brain diseases, arthritis, and cancer can decline your health.

The Immune Drip is a vitamin and mineral therapy that includes virus and bacteria killing, immune boosting, sinus-clearing doses of Vitamin C, mega-doses of energy-giving B vitamins, tension busting magnesium, and critical trace minerals to help balance and kick the immune system into high gear. This drip is great for those who have important imminent events such as meetings, travels, surgery or athletic events and who cannot afford to be fatigued or ill. Additionally, is good for respiratory infections, sinus infections, acute and chronic Mono (Epstein Barr Virus), shingles, hepatitis and other chronic infections, cancer, nerve disease, sunburns, fatigue, fibromyalgia, asthma, allergies, hives, and arthritis. This therapy is especially useful for patients with viral illnesses for which antibiotics are useless or potentially injurious.

The Immune Drip was created based on the healing legacy of physicians like Dr. Klenner. This therapy is generally well received with few, if any, significant side effects and takes about 45 minutes to complete the first time and can often be given in as little as 20 to 30 minutes thereafter.

Patients known to have G6PD, a genetic deficiency of red blood cell enzymes, should not take large doses of IV vitamin C. G6PD is seen mostly in people from Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. If necessary, a simple blood test can determine whether you have G6PD before taking an Immune Drip.

The impressive results of IV vitamin therapies cannot be duplicated with tablets and capsules. The intestinal tract is designed to accept only a specific amount of vitamins and minerals at a time and cannot be forced to absorb more therapy than it can tolerate. The gut expels unabsorbed nutrients through vomiting and diarrhea. High dose vitamin therapy is sometimes necessary to achieve the blood levels necessary to kill viruses, bacteria, and cancer cells. Additionally, sometimes a sick cell is too weak or diseased to absorb nutrients from the blood. IV therapy allows needed vitamins to wash into diseased cells and rehabilitate them back to health.

Megadoses of vitamins are not typically found in natural settings, but neither are off-gassing plastics, diesel fumes, and chocolate ice cream. Sometimes in medicine you need to fight fire with fire; we use unnaturally high, but safe, doses of vitamins to meet the health challenges created by an unnaturally toxic lifestyle.

Glutathione

Glutathione is one of the most powerful natural antioxidants and immune boosters in the world. Glutathione also reduces inflammation, acts as an anti-aging element, increases energy and concentration levels, detoxifies heavy metals and enhances liver function. Additionally, it improves general health, allergies and is beneficial for more serious conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and heart disease, among others.

Vitamin C -- What are the benefits of IV Vitamin C?

Click on Vitamin C to learn more about the benefits of IV Vitamin C.

B Vitamins -- What are the benefits of IV B Vitamins?

B1 (thiamine): edema, “burning feet,” cardiovascular disease, diarrhea, ulcerative colitis, vomiting during pregnancy, decreased gastrointestinal movement (hypotonia), alcoholism, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.

B2 (riboflavin): carpal tunnel syndrome, stress, skin problems, muscle cramps, cheilosis (fissuring and scaling of lips and angles of the mouth), sickle cell anemia, cataract, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, decreased immune function, free radical damage.

B3 (niacin): osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Type I diabetes, hypoglycemia (usually precedes Type 2 diabetes), heart disease (with vitamins A & E), schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, various mental illnesses, insomnia, alcoholism, carpal tunnel syndrome.

B5 (pantothenic acid): fatigue, depression, migraine headaches, digestive problems (eg. Vomiting, abdominal cramps), hypoglycemia, loss of nerve function (eg. tingling and/or burning hands or feet), depressed immune function (eg. recurring infections), muscle cramps, skin problems (eg. psoriasis), rheumatoid arthritis, rejuvenates skin and hair, increases stamina, decreases symptoms of allergies and asthma.

B6 (pyridoxine): PMS, irritability, depression, confusion, stomatitis, glosssitis, cheilosis, (fissuring & scaling of lips & angles of the mouth), anemia and neuritis due to drugs, nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, carpal tunnel syndrome.

B9 (folic acid): candidiasis, constipation, prevent birth defects, heart disease and stroke, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, cervical dysplasia, cervical, lung, and colon cancer, depression, mental illness, acne, AIDS, infertility, headaches, cataracts, sickle cell anemia, macrocytic anemia, functions with B12 in many bodily processes.

B12 (cobalamin): fatigue caused by megaloblastic anemia or pernicious anemia, paresthesias (prickling, tingling, and burning) of the hands and feet, weakness, low white blodd cell and platelet counts, unsteadiness, confusion, loss of memory, moodiness, psychosis, reduces the risk for cardiovascular disease (along with B6 & B9).

What are the side effects?

Does feeling better and having great stamina and energy count as a side effect? Nutritional IV Therapy is generally very safe and poses minimal if any negative side effects.

Though rare, the most common side effects are a transient lowering of blood pressure which may cause warmth, dizziness or faintness. The only known allergic reaction to IV nutrients has been when using those with preservatives, and these reactions are quite rare (we only use preservative-free nutrients!).  Some patients may experience burning at the localized IV site.  As with any injectable treatment, there is always a risk of infection or phlebitis, although it is also very rare.

How much does IV Nutritional Therapy treatment cost?

Click on the Cash Fees link for prices. Insurance does not cover the cost of Nutritional IV Therapy at this time.