By: Frances Turk ND
As a Naturopathic doctor, we have been educated to have many “tools” in our toolbox in order to provide treatments for many different kinds of health concerns. The basic seven modalities taught to all naturopathic doctors include:
- Hydrotherapy
- Homeopathy
- Traditional Chinese medicine
- Botanical medicine
- Lifestyle counseling
- Nutrition
- Physical medicine
At Absolute Health Science, we utilize a couple of other modalities that are extra courses and extra certifications. These extra modalities include
- Intravenous therapy
- Bowen Therapy
- Live Blood Cell Analysis
The primary topic today is on Intravenous therapy.
Q: What is it?
A: Intravenous (IV) therapy is actually a way to hydrate, medicate or administer nutrients to patients by injecting a substance directly into their bloodstream via the venous system (by your lovely veins!). The solution can be a simple as a saltwater (Saline) solution or it can have added solutions or nutrients to provide care to a patient who may be suffering from an illness of sorts.
In this article, my intention is to answer some frequently asked questions in regards to what IV is, and what it is good for. If you have any further questions about this modality that we use at Absolute Health Science, I recommend that you book a free 15 minute meet and greet appointment where we can discuss any of your inquiries.
Q: Why use IV therapy?
A: The greatest reasoning in using IV is that we are able to administer nutrients that enter your cells directly, bypassing the gut. Therefore, should you have any gastrointestinal concerns where absorption may be a challenge, IV therapy is a great way to start getting your cells the nutrients it needs in order to start to facilitate the body to heal itself. The secondary reason that we use it in our clinic is to use large doses of nutrients such as vitamin C in particular health concerns such as adjunctive cancer care or chronic long term illnesses, to boost the immune system or supercharge chemotherapy and reduce some common side effects.
Q: What types of health concerns are typically treated with IV therapy?
A: To be clear, IV therapy is not necessarily the “cure” to health conditions. The point is that this form of therapy is able to allow a patient to absorb a large amount of nutrients they may have been unable to achieve via oral administration (either by food or by supplement). This process may help facilitate healing to the body by providing much needed nutrients. Some nutrients, such as Vitamin C, are able to be dosed at much larger levels than the body can achieve by orally dosing. Vitamin C has an osmotic laxative effect when taken in large doses orally (translation – liquid poops!!), this does not occur with high doses of intravenous Vitamin C as it bypasses the gut. For certain conditions, we are able to dose Vitamin C in a patient as high as 50g (50,000mg) to 100g (100,000mg)! I don’t think I would want to even try that orally…..ahem…..for sake of explosive diarrhea….not exactly a desirable effect!
Q: What kinds of health conditions benefit from IV therapy?
A: There are so many conditions that I have noticed having great benefits to IV therapy. Some of the many conditions that achieve benefit include:
- Asthma
- Migraines
- Fibromyalgia/polymyalgia rheumatic
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Cardiovascular disease
- Upper respiratory tract infection
- Sinusitis
- Seasonal allergic rhinitis
- Narcotic withdrawal
- Chronic hives
- Athletic performance – recovery
- Hyperthyroidism
- Chronic fatigue
- Hormonal imbalance
- Insomnia
- Adjunctive/Complementary cancer care
- Anti-aging
Q: Are there any side effects or precautions to be aware of?
A: Absolutely. You need to be aware of certain interactions or contraindications just as you would for other types of interventions, including your diet! There are things that need to be assessed in order to ensure that IV therapy is the right treatment for you. Blood labs would need to be performed to ensure that your kidneys and liver are functioning properly, as well as measuring some other key indicators. Some medications may interfere with the nutrients used in an IV bag, thus there is always an initial assessment that is performed in order to ensure that you are able to safely receive this treatment.
Q: How do I prepare for an IV treatment?
A: The only thing that I generally ask a patient to do ahead of time is ensure they had a good amount of fluids prior to coming and that they have consumed a nutritious meal 1-2 hours prior to their appointment. Eating prior to an IV treatment helps to eliminate the possibility of a blood sugar drop when having an IV, which could happen if there is a large amount of vitamin C in the infusion. Vitamin C has a molecular structure that is very similar to the glucose molecule and thus the body believes it to be sugar. When that occurs, insulin levels may rise, contributing to a drop in blood sugar. Eating a meal helps to prevent blood sugar levels from going too low.
IV therapy is an incredibly amazing tool that we have found useful for many patients. Most patients notice improvements from their very first infusion! If you are interested in learning more, please contact us and book an appointment to speak with Dr. Frances Turk ND regarding how IV therapy can help you!
Telephone: 519-827-9519
Email: drturk@absolutehealthscience.com
Written by: Dr. Frances Turk Naturopathic Doctor
Absolute Health Science
21 Surrey Street West, Suite 202
Guelph, ON
N1H 3R3