Intravenous therapy is a medical technique that helps deliver fluids, medications and nutrients directly into a person’s vein. IV infusions are typically the fastest way to restore a fluid balance and allow the body to quickly absorb much needed medication or nutrients.

IV vitamin therapy first became popular in the mid 1950’s when Dr. John Myers first served up his development of IV micronutrient therapy. In an attempt to treat chronic conditions such as migraines, fibromyalgia, asthma, fatigue and more; Dr Myers invented his now famous Myers’ Cocktail IV therapy. The basic Myers’ formula соnѕіѕtѕ of a mixture of mаgnеѕіum, Calcium, vіtаmіn C, and an аѕѕоrtmеnt оf B vіtаmіnѕ diluted in ѕtеrіlе water.

His theory was that due to digestive constraints and the body’s internal detoxification system - our bodies were only able to absorb a fraction of vitamins and nutrients when taking supplements. His idea was to bypass the digestive system and introduce nutrients directly into the bloodstream in order to increase the body’s ability to absorb the supplements.

While the concept of IV hydration and vitamin therapy may only be a few decades old, IV therapy has been a medical practice since the 1600s. We have now come a long way in medical advancements and our modern age of IV therapy has become a popular elective option to introduce hydration and nutrition into the bloodstream effectively.

Today, all IV drips are administered with pharmaceutical grade, high-quality supplements. Research has shown as much as 90 percent of the supplements introduced via IV gets absorbed in your body versus nearly 50 percent of nutrient quality being lost through the digestive system.

Generally, the risk of adverse reactions is low with IV therapy. Risks include but are not limited to, infection at the injection site, nutrient overload or allergic reaction. Those with chronic kidney disease or chronic heart failure should always speak with their physician prior to receiving IV vitamin therapy. Some chronic or previous medical conditions may make an individual ineligible for treatment. IV therapy comes in a variety of formulas, all created to help alleviate and treat certain symptoms.

Infusions take roughly 30-60 minutes to absorb and should always be administered by a medical professional. Understanding your labs may be an important step in better comprehending your mineral and nutrient deficiencies. Speaking to your primary caregiver may give you better insight into whether or not IV therapy would be beneficial to your health.