Nutritional IV therapy is the sterile administration of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids directly into the veins, when ordered by a physician and administered by nurse or medical doctor. IV therapy “cocktails” are prepared in sterile water or sterile saline solution bags, and dripped slowly over the course of several hours. Since the nutrients flow directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive tract, this type of therapy is especially indicated with patients who have impaired digestive function. Even with healthy digestion, however, a percentage of nutrients that are consumed orally simply don’t make it into our blood stream. Therefore, patients that need increased amounts of specific nutrients may benefit from nutritional IV therapy.

This type of treatment has shown to be beneficial in a number of difficult illnesses, even cancer. “Megadoses” of Vitamin C with other antioxidants, have been clinically shown to reduce the growth of some cancers. This type of nutritional IV therapy has also shown benefit in cases of impaired immune function, heavy metal toxicity, chronic and acute infection, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, asthma, inflammation, depression, post surgical wound healing and others.

Nutritional IV therapy can be prescribed by any MD, though most often it is by those in the field of integrative medicine who have acknowledged the health benefits of nutritional IV therapy and use it regularly in their practice.