IV Vitamin Spas are where people go to have an intravenous infusion of vitamin cocktails. These cocktails include combinations of water-soluble vitamins such as B12, thiamin, niacin, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and a host of other vitamins. Physicians typically write prescriptions for these infusions. However, some spas have been able to bypass the physician’s prescription requirement and have been providing vitamin infusions to customers who simply want to get a boost of energy.
The vitamin solutions are prepared by pharmacists and distributed to spas and physician owned clinics. For example, vitamin C infusion has been known to help kill cancer cells. This vitamin therapy is very popular amongst spas and clinicals. Another popular infusion is the Myers Cocktail. The Myers cocktail, also known as a Myers infusion, is an IV drip that initially gained a reputation as a celebrity ‘trend’. Due to their demanding schedules, celebs began getting IV drips and infusions to help maintain their health, because they couldn’t afford to get sick.
Myers’ cocktail is an intravenous nutrient mixture invented by Baltimore physician John Myers containing magnesium, calcium, various B vitamins and vitamin C that is claimed to be beneficial for a broad range of conditions. The treatment is common among naturopathic doctors in the United States and Canada.
Vitamins and nutrients are needed by the body, to help repair or regenerate cellular structures in the body; and produce the hormones that help us deal with stress (like commuting, always being on the go, and intense exercise). Without them we become depleted and may start to notice that we feel run down, tired all the time, or have put on weight.
The downside of IV infusion drip therapy is that the body only absorbs about fifteen percent of the vitamins and excretes the rest. Intravenous drip therapy bypasses the gut. This is a problem with a lot of the water-soluble vitamins which exert their efficacy by being absorbed by the gut. For instance, cobalamin is absorbed in the gut at the distal ileum and needs the intrinsic factor to be properly absorbed. Those individuals who are lacking the intrinsic factor cannot absorb vitamin B12 normally and therefore they would absolutely benefit from a vitamin infusion.
The main question that people have to ask themselves about whether or not to have an vitamin drip infusion, is do they really need it? The best way to find out is to ask a physician.
RN’s and medical assistants can now take advantage of learning the skill of IV Therapy and earn their certification as a IV Technician. Online classes are available through Phlebotomy Career Training. This course also comes with the national exam through the National IV Association along with 16.5 CEU’s.
Nancy L. Kimmel obtained her PhD in Environmental Engineering in 2002, then went on to teach Physics and Mechanical Engineering at Lawrence Technological University, Henry Ford College and Oakland University. She obtained her Associate in Nursing from Henry Ford College and then went on to earn her Master Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner and became Board Certified working as a licensed FNP in the State of Michigan. She then went on to Medical School where she is now in her 3rd year, and is also in the process of obtaining her Doctorate in Nursing Practice through Chamberlin University. She has authored the NET Study Guide, as well a several books on subjects of Math, ECG/EKG and Phlebotomy. She holds a patent on an Air Filter through the U.S. Patent Office.