In an ideal world, our diets would provide us with the optimal amount of essential nutrients we need to not just to survive, but thrive. Unfortunately, modern living and agricultural practices make it harder than you’d think.
In a time when the average person is truly struggling with the basics such as getting enough fresh air and sleep, eating a balanced diet that is appropriately nutrient dense is challenging, and even when we try chronic stress, environmental pollutants, and nutrient-depleted foods make it nearly impossible for us to get the number of vitamins and minerals we really need.
Additionally, there is mounting evidence looking at the mineral density in the soil being gravely poor due to pesticide use and other modern agricultural practices.
And what of supplements?
Well, of course, there is a role for supplements but issues around compliance and quality often result in people still ultimately being underpowered.
Thankfully, Intravenous Vitamin Therapy (IV Therapy) has emerged as a fantastic way to complement our diets and give our bodies optimal vitamin and minerals levels. This allows essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to go right into our bloodstreams goes right to the cell, bypassing the digestive process, and delivering faster, more effective and efficient results.
At our clinic, we prescribe these often to address myriad health conditions and goals or to amplify the work a patient has already done, and it definitely plays a vital part in how we work to truly optimize our patients.
Vitamin infusions have been proven to help prevent illness, treat infections, treat acute or chronic health conditions and give us energy boosts that make us feel rejuvenated and replenished. And the best part is that there are so many, many subsequent benefits to optimizing our vitamin and mineral levels.
But how exactly do they work, and why are they so awesome?
How IV Therapy Works
In Ontario and in many other jurisdictions, to receive IV Therapy from a naturopathic doctor, you must first become their patient. To perform or prescribe IVs we must have an additional license to do so, and with it comes a lot of specific training, education and… more board exams(!!).
This is done for your own safety. It ensures that someone with high-level training will review your medical history, family history, current health challenges and goals before they prescribe a treatment of any kind. It is also important because there are many formulations (and customization is also frequently done) and success depends on getting the right prescriptions for YOU.
If Dr. Smith determines that IV Therapy is appropriate for you, she will assess your personal needs and customize an infusion to help restore your health.
The infusion is administered through an intravenous drip, and are usually relaxing. We use an angiocath which means you can move your arm and the experience is pain-free. Treatments most commonly take about 30 minutes but may take up to 120 minutes or longer depending on the type of IV prescribed.
Treatment frequency varies and is dependant on many factors. It can range from weekly to monthly or as needed during times of high stress or immune challenge.
When is IV Vitamin Therapy most prescribed?
IV Vitamin Therapy is good for:
- Adrenal Fatigue
- Stress and burnout
- Pre and post-athletic event/ Performance
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Acute viral/bacterial illnesses and colds
- Detoxification
- Anxiety
- PMS
- Anti-ageing
- Parkinson’s disease
- Migraines & tension headaches
- Macular degeneration
- Fibromyalgia
- Depression
- Chronic disease
- Cancer
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Chronic or acute muscle spasms
See our IV Therapy services.
Why should you consider IV Therapy?
Many people with immune deficiencies, chronic fatigue and pain are forced to bounce from doctor to doctor without ever receiving concrete answers as to what is wrong with them. Many of these people suffer from nutrient deficiencies and other imbalances that can be helped through IV therapy. This treatment is a unique and powerful option that is very useful for certain conditions because it achieves better results, faster.
Whether you want to enhance your energy, improve your overall health, treat specific medical conditions, or maintain optimal health and work on preventing future conditions, IV vitamin therapy can replenish the nutrients your body needs for optimal health.
1. Customized, potent treatments for many conditions
Naturopathic doctors who provide IV therapy are highly trained and board certified to identify medical conditions and prescribe appropriate IV therapies that address the nutritional deficiencies and treatment goals of each patient.
2. It’s fast and effective
Most medications including vitamin supplements are taken orally, which means that they go through the digestive system. This process is slow and is entirely contingent on the person having optimal digestion (which sadly is rare these days…), and it limits the impact and access of the nutrients. With IV therapy, we know the vitamins are completely absorbed into your cells so that your body will benefit from them immediately.
In other words, you can begin to feel the positive effects almost instantly. Within several hours to a day, you can feel the effect of the IV nutrients, as you’ll have more energy, be able to think more clearly and enjoy an improved mood.
3. It reduces your pill load
Customized IV therapy allows you to cut back on the supplements reducing cost over time and it’s less of a hassle.
4. It’s safe
Naturopathic doctors who administer IV Therapy have an entirely separate and additional license to do so. To maintain that license they have to do regular continuing education.
Regulatory bodies in Ontario ensure that NDs are trained at the highest level and have the knowledge and skill to assess their patients for candidacy and safely administer the therapies. This is a true area of expertise in the naturopathic medical field.
It is extremely rare that any, even minor adverse reaction or event occurs with IV therapy, however, a full discussion about what to expect and safety occurs at the clinic with a doctor.
5. It’s THE ideal preventative therapy
Modern medicine mostly pivots around reacting to disease but has a little to no use in the prevention of it. This is a sad truth, but you can’t be everything to everyone – so thank god for naturopathic medicine!!
IV therapy is different. When the body receives proper amounts of nutrients, it helps treat disease by helping the body do what it is designed to do which is to attain homeostasis. Additionally, due to research, we know that higher doses of certain vitamins and minerals will have a healing effect in certain situations.
Therapeutic doses of vitamin C have been shown to be toxic to cancer cells and are well-known for their effectiveness in building immunity and at higher doses can act as an anti-viral.
Ask about IV Therapy
If you live in Toronto and are interested in learning more about IV Therapy feel free to call (416) 929-0707 and book a COMPLIMENTARY 15-MINUTE CONSULTATION with Dr. Smith.
Dr. Smith, ND, is a leading expert in the field of Vitamin IV therapy which she has been using in her practice for over 10 years, and she is open to discussing your health goals and any questions you may have regarding this valuable therapy.
