IV Therapies For Immunity, Stress, Detoxification, and Healing

Everyone is talking about IV therapy! But what is it, and how does it work?

Naturopathic intravenous therapies have been used for over 30 years in British Columbia to support patient health and recovery from illness, to remove heavy metals and excess calcium, and as an anti-tumor agent. IV Therapies are not one thing, but rather a variety of therapies, all with a different purpose. The following is an exploration of each type of therapy, and the conditions it treats.

Getting Started: The IV experience

While each type of IV treats different conditions, the IV experience is similar in all cases. After filling out a health background questionnaire, including current health, allergies, and medication/supplement use, you will be settled in a comfortable chair to relax while your IV is prepared. Our IVs contain top-quality, preservative-free ingredients delivered by tiny butterfly needles, reducing pain with a small amount of procaine, a local anesthetic. A “push” is done over approximately 15 minutes, delivering 30 ml of saline and nutrients. A “drip” is done over 45 minutes to one hour, delivering 100 ml of saline and nutrients. We recommend eating lightly beforehand, and bringing something to read or listen to (music, books and magazines are preferred over screens!) for the drip treatments. We will ask you to stay for 10-15 minutes after your first treatment to ensure that you are not having any bad reactions to the IV.

Myers Cocktail Push or Drip

Myers cocktails are a “first-line” treatment, useful in boosting immunity, replacing depleted nutrients, and reducing the stress response. First invented by Dr John Myers, the Myers Cocktail is a combination of high-potency B vitamins, Vitamin C, magnesium and calcium. It has been found to be effective against upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, acute asthma attacks, migraines, fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasm,  cardiovascular disease, and other disorders. By bypassing the digestive system and delivering nutrients directly to the bloodstream, it eliminates problems with poor absorption. Your current state of health determines whether you will need the Push (30 ml over 15 minutes) or the Drip (100 ml over 45 minutes), as the Drip contains higher levels of nutrients.

IV Glutathione Push or Drip

Glutathione is a powerful precursor to SOD (SuperOxide Dismutase), an antioxidant we make ourselves to eliminate free radicals and detoxify our cells. It is crucial to brain, liver and lung health, as well as overall health. Orally, glutathione has extremely poor absorption, so it must be given intravenously as either a Push or a Drip, with the Drip being the preferred option for maximal absorption. Low levels of this vital antioxidant has been linked to a number of diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, Parkinson’s disease, AIDS, Atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, male infertility, pregnancy complications, and cataracts. White blood cells are an essential component of the body’s major defense system. Glutathione is needed to optimize their function and help white blood cells to keep fighting against disease. Intravenous glutathione can be used in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease, dementia, macular degeneration, bronchitis, asthma and other lung disorders, depression, cardiac disease, liver damage and Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

IV Vitamin C (Drip only)

While IV Vitamin C has been used in infections and rheumatoid arthritis, its primary use in adjunctive cancer treatments. IV Vitamin C has been found to combat cancer in multiple research trials, as well as improving long-term outcomes for cancer patients. In IV form, Vitamin C serum concentrations can be high enough to be toxic to cancer cells, concentrate in tumors to reduce size, and improve recovery from treatment, options that don’t happen with oral doses.

IV Chelation Therapy with DMPS (Push), or EDTA (Drip)

Chelation therapy has been found helpful for heavy metal toxicity, and for cardiac disease. DMPS removes heavy metals such as mercury from its hiding places in bone, teeth, and nervous tissues, which can cause a wide range of problems including neurological, joint, and digestive issues. EDTA has been used for lead toxicity, and for removing excess calcium from arteries, improving cardiac and circulatory function. Chelation therapy requires lab testing prior to therapy, also provided at our clinic.

B12/B9 (MTH-Folate) Intramuscular Injection

B12/Folate injections are a quick way to bypass the digestive system’s impaired ability to absorb these nutrients, and provide energy and cellular metabolic regulation to virtually all systems in the body.

Dr. Rebecca is available for consultations if you need more information to decide which IV is right for you.  Click here to book an appointment.

About the Author:

Dr. Handford graduated from the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in 2007 after her previous work in counselling and administration for several the non-profit organizations. Her unique background has given her the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and communities, and she believes that everyone can benefit from the healing power of nature.

Dr. Handford also believes that health is a balancing act that changes from day to day. Health arises not just from our genetics, behaviour and habits, but also from our environment and attitudes to life and life events. She approaches each person who comes to her as an individual with a “life story” unique to them. She spends time getting to know her patients’ personal and family history, their medical history, their habits and patterns of behaviour, and their current state of health, using interviews, physical exams, and lab testing. She creates holistic treatment plans that include dietary suggestions, supplements designed to support the body’s innate healing abilities, physical medicines such as IV therapies or injections, exercise prescriptions, and stress-reduction interventions. She may also write pharmaceutical prescriptions and referrals to other professionals as needed. Dr. Handford is skilled at differential diagnosis and finding the root causes of disease; she is a proactive doctor who supports her patients to be their healthiest, happiest selves, now, and in the future.