IV Therapy: Facts vs. Fiction

Intravenous (IV) therapy is known to be the fastest way to deliver any kind of fluid or medication to the body, yielding a bioavailability absorption of 100%. This practice has also demonstrated quantifiable benefits in the realm of healthcare and wellness, particularly regarding nutrition: IV nutritional therapy, in which vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are delivered directly into the bloodstream, has been documented to increase energy, enhance the strength of the immune system, counter anxiety and stress, and ultimately act as a preventive aging measure.

While modern IV therapy is less than a century old, it was known that medications could be injected into veins as early as the 1600s. In 1831, Dr. Thomas Latta’s studies on the symptoms and diagnostic treatment of the cholera epidemic led him to discover the use of IV saline infusions. More than a century later, in the 1950s, the modern intravenous drip technique was further developed and made more widely accessible—eventually established as routine medical practice.

The idea that IV nutritional therapy can restore and rejuvenate the overall body originated with the Myers cocktail, created by physician John Myers—a technique that is still commonly used. This vitamin therapy combines a mix of minerals like magnesium, calcium, zinc, and a host of other vitamins that collectively ‘recharge’ the body within a matter of minutes.

Because IV administration of nutrients can achieve blood concentrations that are impossible to obtain orally, it offers a variety of meaningful health benefits, in addition to therapeutic and preventative effects. As our bodies are often dehydrated and malnourished due to lack of exercise and poor eating habits, IV vitamin therapy can help offset many health drawbacks. Moreover, for patients with digestive or malabsorption issues, IV nutrient therapy can be effectively life-changing, as the body can successfully and efficiently utilize the nutrients that support the major bodily systems.

IV therapy does not only help alleviate stress and boost energy but can also be used for more serious and chronic diseases. Research has shown that vitamin C infusions prolong survival times, and improve quality of life, in cancer patients.

While IV therapy has its detractors and critics, it cannot be denied that it has been a successful form of treatment for a wide array of health conditions. As more people incorporate IV therapy into their lifestyles, it will likely become a progressively more routine practice from which patients can see immediate benefits.

A4M/MMI will be hosting an IV Training Symposium in Dallas, Texas from October 19-20. Experts will cover the fundamentals of intravenous nutritional therapies and chelation, and expand on the use of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other unique parental compounds. Upon completion, clinicians will have a thorough understanding of IV therapy, and be equipped to immediately implement various IV protocols into their practices. Register now.