Top 8 Reasons to Consider IV Therapy For Optimal Health

We all want to be healthy. You try to eat right, exercise regularly, and take high-quality vitamins and supplements.

But what if something still doesn’t feel…or function…right? 

If this sounds familiar, it’s worth considering this question — Are your cells getting enough of the right nutrients? 

Surprisingly, the answer for many of us is  “no.” 

You see, food and oral supplements are supposed to get broken down and absorbed in your digestive system. But in some people only a very small amount gets from the gut into the blood. . 

This is called “mal-absorption” and there are many potential and sneaky causes for this. 

There’s a great tool to overcome this hurdle — intravenous (IV) therapy.¹

What is IV Therapy?

IV therapy refers to a technique of delivering nutrients, vitamins, medications, or other healing fluids directly into your veins. 

Since it bypasses the digestive system, IV nutrition allows your cells to be exposed to and to absorb much higher amounts of nutrients than it could with oral administration.^{2 3} 

So what are some reasons to consider IV therapy? Can it help those of us with chronic illness? Could it benefit you even if you don’t have a chronic illness? 

Keep reading to learn the top 8 reasons to consider IV therapy for optimal health.

1. IV Therapy May Help Boost Your Immune System 

Living through a pandemic has made us more aware of infections than ever before. 

Apart from protective measures like masks and distancing, there’s quite a bit you can do to improve your immune system’s natural ability to fight infection.

Here are five immune-boosting IV therapies, including how they work in your body: 

High-Dose Vitamin C

When you’re sick, your loved ones might tell you to take vitamin C. There’s some truth to that. Immune cells maintain large amounts of this well-known antioxidant, highlighting its ability to affect your immune response.^{4 5 6}

The concept of using high doses of vitamin C to strengthen your immune system is not new. 

In the 1970s, Nobel Prize winning chemist Linus Pauling and physician Ewan Cameron gave high doses of vitamin C (10 grams/day via IV for 10 days, then orally) to cancer patients. They saw that the patients who received vitamin C lived, on average, about 300 days longer than those who didn’t.^{7 8} TheThe same concentration given just orally failed to have the same effects.^{9 10}  The study of Vitamin C and Cancer has many nuances that include dose, tumor type, hormone status, frequency of treatment, concentration delivered, and more and there is wide agreement more study is indicated (but because it is not patentable there are few funds to make this likely.¹¹ 

High-dose IV vitamin C may also have benefits against some infections. The results from one multicenter study involving 67 patients suggested that IV vitamin C could help with herpes zoster-associated pain, fatigue, and concentration.¹²

Vitamin C can work as a pro-oxidant when given in very high doses and under certain pathological conditions.¹³ Recent research suggests this may be the mechanism by which it helps kill certain pathogens.^{14 15}

It is calculated that to benefit from the therapeutic potential of vitamin C, the doses need to be in the range of 10 to 16 grams per day.¹⁶ Currently, IV vitamin C is the only way to achieve this therapeutic concentration. To put it in perspective, you’d have to eat 30 oranges to get just 3 grams of Vitamin C. That’s a lot of oranges! 

Recently IV Vitamin C has been examined for its usefulness in the hospital treatment of individuals with sepsis and COVID-19. Individuals treated with Vitamin C were shown to get better faster.¹⁷

For an absolutely fascinating read with a large number of references, we recommend the book “Curing the Incurable –  Vitamin C, Infections, and Toxins” By Thomas Levy, MD, JD.  It is a remarkable story and information source. 

IV Glutathione

Glutathione is so important to your immune system, it’s actually known as the “master antioxidant.” Research shows that glutathione acts not only as a potent stimulator of your immune system but also as a modulator of immune cell behavior.¹⁸

AND – while your body constantly makes new glutathione, it is not very effective at getting to the deep cells of your body when taken as a supplement.. Usually your glutathione is recycled after it has been used. But some illnesses – like infections, diabetes, and age-related diseases – can deplete your stores and alter your glutathione metabolism, potentially resulting in a deficiency.^{19 20 21}

Let’s look at infections as an example. Your ability to ward off an infection can be a sign of a strong immune system. 

Infection by some pathogens – an influenza virus, for example – induces oxidative stress in your cells by generating an excessive number of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The high amount of ROS can cause injury to your tissues and organs.^{22 23 24 25}

Laboratory and animal studies show that glutathione may be able to protect your cells from damage caused by some pathogens.²⁶ Because glutathione can also stimulate your natural killer (NK) cell activity, it could help ward off additional infections in susceptible individuals.^{27 28 29 30}

In some cases, raising glutathione levels was able to prevent viruses from infecting or replicating.^{31 32 33} 

IV glutathione therapy may be able to help overcome a deficiency and ensure your cells get to enjoy the total delivery of the master antioxidant.^{34 35}

Micronutrient Infusion (Myers)

Our Micronutrient Infusion is a powerful blend of revitalizing vitamins and minerals. It’s our upgraded version of a well-known IV therapy called the Myers’ cocktail – a formula designed by Dr. John Myers. 

The foundational Micronutrient Infusion contains:

• Magnesium to support energy production, help control inflammation and support a strong immune system^{36 37 38}

• Calcium gluconate to help boost calcium levels in your blood and support bone strength and muscle contraction^{39 40} 

• Vitamin B complex to promote cellular energy, healthy skin and hair, support brain health, and help manage stress^{41 42 43 44 45 46}
• Vitamin C to support your immune system⁴⁷

The Micronutrient Infusion delivers just the right amount of each nutrient to boost your immune system and help with nutrient deficits in your cells. 

IV Ozone Therapy

IV ozone therapy uses pure, medical-grade ozone to stimulate the body’s innate anti-oxidation enzymes to be produced as well as shift the types and proportions of immune signaling molecules.  This can have a remarkable effect to support healing. 

In laboratory studies, ozone has been shown to disrupt the cell membrane of many pathogens, effectively inactivating them.⁴⁸

In one case report, a patient made a full recovery from tick bite cellulitis using ozone therapy.⁴⁹

IV UV Light

In IV Ultraviolet (UV) Light, a small amount of your blood is run through a UV light machine before reintroducing it into your system. The UV light kills microorganisms that may be present in your blood by damaging their DNA.^{50 51 52 53}

Results from studies conducted in the 1940s suggest that UV light irradiation of the blood can help with some infections.⁵⁴

In one report by George Miley and his team, it was used to treat 445 cases of acute pyogenic infection. They noted 100% recovery in 56 early cases and 45% efficacy in late stage cases.^{55 56}

In a small clinical trial, 10 patients with hepatitis C were treated with UV blood irradiation. After 5 treatments, 9 of the patients demonstrated an average of 56% decrease in their viral load.⁵⁷

Like ozone therapy, UV light treatment also allows more oxygen to be delivered to your organs and improves circulation.^{58 59} In addition, one 2000 study found that UV irradiation of blood can increase superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase —  two of the body’s most important antioxidant enzymes — in rabbit spinal cord tissues.⁶⁰

At MaxWell Clinic, we offer several types of IV therapy that may help increase the innate power of your immune system. 

2. IV Therapy Provides Hydration to Your Body

Did you know that by the time you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated? 

We all know drinking enough water is important to keep our bodies healthy. But with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it can be hard to remember to drink as much water as you should. And when you lose more fluid than you take in, dehydration occurs. 

Even mild dehydration can affect your energy level and mood. In one study, mild dehydration resulted in lower concentration, headaches, moodiness, and fatigue in women.⁶¹ Similar results were seen among men in another study.⁶²

But guzzling as much water as you can in one sitting can lead to other problems, including stomach irritation. Your body is simply not designed to absorb a high volume of fluid at once. 

That’s where IV therapy is helpful. 

Since IV therapy doesn’t rely on your digestive system, it can rehydrate your body to ensure your vital organs are fully supported. 

You also won’t have to worry about a potential imbalance in electrolytes as you would if you drank too much water. Our Micronutrient Hydration Infusion is formulated to deliver just the right amount of nutrients to provide instant hydration. 

3. IV Therapy Can Improve Your Energy

One of the biggest benefits of IV therapy is more energy. Detoxifying your body and delivering nutrients directly to your cells allows them to work more efficiently. 

To improve energy levels, MaxWell Clinic in Nashville offers the following IV therapy options:

IV Carnitine 

Carnitine is an essential nutrient that we often get from eating red meat.   It is essential for bringing fat into the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) in order for it to be burned to make cellular energy. Carnitine deficiency can contribute to heart failure, fatigue and general mitochondrial dysfunction. It can be replaced via IV therapy. 

Micronutrient Infusion (Myers)

Our Micronutrient Infusion might be the perfect blend of vitamins to revitalize your body. In fact, Dr. John Myers created the formula to help his patients combat chronic fatigue. 

Here’s how it works:

• Vitamin B complex works to support energy production in your cells.
• Vitamin C helps produce carnitine, a molecule needed to make energy.
• Magnesium works in every cell of your body. Among its many functions, it helps convert food into energy.
• Calcium is also vital in energy production. Its importance goes beyond keeping your bones and teeth healthy. Cells depend on calcium to communicate with one another and for proper function.⁶³

Mitochondrial Boost in a Bag™ NAD IV

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a coenzyme that supports the cellular processes that make life possible — including energy production.⁶⁴ In its two forms – NAD+ and NADH – it can influence cellular functions like DNA repair, immune cell function, and healthy aging.^{65 66}

In other words, we need NAD to live.

But NAD doesn’t stick around forever. As you age, your supply of NAD+ diminishes. That’s when we start feeling the effects of aging, including low energy. 

IV NAD is a great way to ensure that you get the most out of this molecule. Patients often report feeling a “spring” in their step after IV NAD therapy. They also have reported feeling younger and clear-headed, as if a mental fog has been lifted.

4. IV Therapy May Help Reduce Inflammation

Is joint pain or muscle soreness holding you back from your favorite activities? Or do you suffer from an autoimmune condition, fibromyalgia, allergies, or chronic fatigue?

There’s one thing these conditions have in common – inflammation.^{67 68 69 70 71 72}

Despite its bad reputation, inflammation plays an important role in your body. It helps you heal from injuries and protects you from pathogens and foreign invaders. 

Normal inflammatory responses last a few days. But sometimes inflammatory cells don’t get the memo to stop fighting the pathogen or tending to the wound. This is when inflammation becomes chronic. 

Chronic inflammation can last for weeks, months, or even years. Since chronic inflammation increases the risk of diseases – including Alzheimer’s and even some cancers – reducing chronic inflammation is vital to good health.⁷³

There are several IV therapies that can help manage inflammation in your body:

Energy- AntiOx Alpha-Lipoic Acid (ALA) IV

ALA is an antioxidant found in every cell of your body. Antioxidants like ALA can block the cellular process that leads to inflammation. 

Your body produces a small amount of ALA on its own. But even eating ALA-rich foods isn’t likely to give you the dose needed to see anti-inflammatory benefits. Evidence from research studies suggest doses up to several hundred milligrams are needed for anti-inflammatory effects.⁷⁴

What does this mean for you? ALA can be great at keeping inflammation down. 

A review of 18 trials showed that ALA supplementation can decrease inflammatory markers in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders.⁷⁵

Achieving adequate doses is no problem for IV ALA. Since IV ALA delivers the antioxidant directly into your bloodstream, it becomes immediately available for your body to use. 

But ultra-high doses of ALA (90 to 100 mg/kg) may be harmful to your health. One animal study suggested that excessive doses of ALA may damage the crucial membranes of mitochondria.⁷⁶ If IV ALA is determined to be right for you, we will ensure the dose prescribed is safe and effective.

Detox-AntiOx Glutathione IV

Glutathione reduces inflammation by scavenging for reactive oxygen species (ROS). These are molecules that, at excessive levels, are correlated with many human diseases. 

But glutathione doesn’t just quench ROS — it protects proteins from oxidative damage through a process called S-glutathionylation. 

S-glutathionylation is the process of adding glutathione to certain protein residues. This process occurs in response to oxidative stress.⁷⁷ Studies show that s-glutathionylation  can help mitochondrial function and cell survival.^{78 79 80}

Because of this, supplementing with glutathione or its precursors and/or byproducts may help correct glutathione deficiency and protect against damage from oxidative stress.^{81 82 83}

Could IV glutathione help chronic illnesses resulting from inflammation? 

It’s still early, but disruption in glutathione homeostasis does appear to be linked to many chronic diseases, such as:

• Cardiovascular disease^{84 85 86}
• Lyme disease^{87 88}
• Alzheimer’s disease^{89 90 91}
• Parkinson’s disease^{92 93 94}
• Seizures^{95 96 97}

As with IV ALA, you need to exercise caution before supplementing with glutathione. Careful dosing is important as excessive lowering of ROS can also be detrimental to your cells. Talk to an MWC staff member to see if IV glutathione therapy is right for you.

High-Dose Vitamin C

Vitamin C is one of the most well-known nutrients. It is a potent antioxidant that fights inflammation and supports the immune system. Vitamin C is also a cofactor — a helper molecule — to many cellular processes that are essential for maintaining proper function and balance. 

As discussed in the previous section, High-Dose IV Vitamin C can give you a dose that triggers anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation benefits.

In one study of 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, treatment with IV vitamin C helped reduce inflammation.⁹⁹

Another study involving 45 patients with various types of cancers found that IV vitamin C modulated inflammation. This modulation correlated with decreases in tumor marker levels — substances produced by your body in response to cancer cells.¹⁰⁰

Just imagine — a faster recovery time from workouts or being able to pick up your child or grandchild again…

What could lower inflammation mean for you? 

5. IV Therapy May Help Your Body Detoxify

Your body is bombarded with hundreds of toxic chemicals every day. Whether it’s in the air you breathe or the water and food you consume, every little bit adds to your total exposure.

Even if you think you’re good at leading a clean life, you can’t fully escape all the toxins in today’s world. 

Your body has natural detox mechanisms, including:

• Lungs – to filter out airborne toxins, gasses, and fumes
• Skin – to keep out pathogens and toxins, and remove toxins that have found their way inside
• Kidneys – to filter your blood and remove toxins through urine
• Digestive system – to remove undigested food from your body through bowel movements, and to eliminate toxic foods through vomiting or diarrhea
• Liver – to change the chemical nature of many toxins before eliminating them from the body
• Lymphatic system – to help rid your body of toxins, waste, and fluids

But unless we take specific measures to support our natural detox pathways, these systems can become overwhelmed. The toxins start accumulating in your body, leading to what functional medicine practitioners call “toxic burden.”¹⁰¹

Think of your toxic burden as a bucket. Each toxin you’re exposed to is a water drop added to that bucket.

Because toxin accumulation is a slow process, many people aren’t aware that they have a high toxic burden. Symptoms are often non-specific and vague, including:^{102 103 104 105 106}

• Digestive upset
• Skin issues (acne, eczema, redness)
• Nasal/sinus congestion
• Brain fog
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Bloating
• Excessive urination
• Heartburn
• Memory difficulties
• Depression

If the root cause of these symptoms isn’t identified and addressed, a high toxic burden can lead to serious health conditions.¹⁰⁷

When your body’s detoxifying organs need a boost, IV therapy can help. IV detoxification works at the cellular level to help safely neutralize and purge toxins from your body. 

At MaxWell Clinic, we offer several options for IV detoxification support, each described below. 

Ozone Therapy 

Ozone is a form of oxygen (O2). Unlike oxygen, ozone consists of 3 oxygen molecules. The third oxygen atom makes ozone interact easily with other substances. 

When ozone enters your body, it may help to neutralize pollutants and may increase your cells’ oxygen supply.^{108 109} Ozone also boosts your immune system, strengthening your body’s natural detoxification processes.¹¹⁰

High-Dose Vitamin C

IV vitamin C can help clear your body of infections. It also acts as a chelating agent, which means it binds heavy metals and removes them from the body. In one animal study, administration of high-dose vitamin C led to faster excretion of lead than low-dose vitamin C.¹¹¹

Glutathione

This “master antioxidant” plays a critical role in nearly every cell of your body, including the removal of heavy metals.¹¹² IV glutathione allows higher concentrations of the antioxidant to be delivered directly to your cells. 

EDTA

EDTA is an FDA-approved chelating agent that helps remove toxic heavy metals from your body. When EDTA is delivered into your bloodstream, it helps to grab minerals and certain heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and arsenic and safely usher them out of your body. 

6. IV Therapy Can Improve Gut Health

Your gut isn’t just where digestion occurs. It plays an important role in keeping you healthy. 

Gut problems go beyond stomach aches, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation.  When your gut lining is damaged by poor diet, stress, and toxins, it can become “leaky.”  This is a problem because a “leaky gut” allows harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxins to enter the bloodstream. 

Mounting evidence connects poor gut health to the development of chronic conditions, such as:

• Colorectal cancer^{113 114}
• Obesity^{115 116}
• Type 1 and 2 diabetes^{117 118 119}
• Gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease^{120 121}
• Cardiovascular disease¹²²
• Allergies^{123 124}
• Neurological disorders^{125 126}

When your food isn’t digested properly, your body can’t absorb and use the nutrients the way they should. No matter how good your diet is or how many supplements you use, you may not see any benefits if your body can’t absorb them. 

If you’re suffering from a chronic illness, your gut health may be further compromised. For example, researchers have found evidence that suggests that patients with chronic Lyme disease have an unbalanced microbiome. The imbalance may help explain some of the GI symptoms observed among patients with Lyme disease. 

Simply put, if your gut isn’t well, you cannot achieve optimal health. 

The good news is that gut health is at the core of functional medicine. An experienced functional medicine practitioner can help you restore your gut health. 

One way is with IV therapy. Our Restoration IV provides amino acids and vitamins that help bring balance to your gastrointestinal tract and enhance your metabolism.

7. IV Therapy May Help Slow Down Signs of Aging

Some researchers believe NAD – specifically, a high NAD+/NADH ratio – is the source of longevity.^{128 129 130 131}

Among the many theories of why we age, one of the most prominent is that mitochondria – your cells’ energy source – lose their function over time. 

As we discussed in the previous section, NAD+ plays a huge role in your cells’ energy production. Without NAD+, mitochondria would simply cease to function. 

But NAD+ levels decrease with age. There’s even some evidence that your body destroys NAD+ as you age.¹³² And some researchers believe that this decline may be the root cause of mitochondrial dysfunction.^{133 134 135}

The Mitochondrial Boost in a Bag ™ NAD IV delivers NAD+ directly to your bloodstream, bypassing your digestive system. An IV administration allows your cells to use the NAD+ immediately.

You may be wondering why you wouldn’t just get the same benefits from an oral NAD+ supplement. 

That’s because pure NAD+ can’t survive digestion. According to a study done with rats, enzymes produced in the digestive tract break down NAD several times. In the end, nicotinamide – a precursor to NAD+ – is what is actually absorbed into your body.¹³⁶

It’s possible to supplement your diet with nicotinamide or the other precursors of NAD+, including:^{137 138}

• Tryptophan
• Nicotinamide mononucleotide
• Nicotinamide riboside
• Dihydronicotinamide riboside
• Nicotinic acid

Nicotinamide riboside supplementation has been shown to elevate NAD+ levels in studies.^{139 140}

But oral supplements are certainly not the only way. IV NAD+ is the only way to ensure your cells get the high levels of NAD+ they need for optimal function. In one study of 11 subjects, researchers were surprised to learn that IV NAD+ was completely shuttled into tissue during the first two hours of administration.¹⁴¹

8. IV Therapy Can Help Support Brain Function

Did you know your brain consumes more energy than any other organ in your body – approximately 20% of your total energy supply, to be more exact?

This means your brain relies heavily on mitochondria to carry out its functions. But it also means mitochondrial dysfunction can lead to debilitating neurodegenerative diseases. 

But there’s good news. 

Research has shown NADH has potential neuroprotective properties. In one study, patients with early Alzheimer’s disease were given a form of NADH supplement. After 6 months, these patients showed no evidence their disease had progressed. They also performed significantly better on a cognitive exam than the control group. The control group (who didn’t receive the NADH supplement) also showed a trend for greater decline in verbal memory.¹⁴²

You don’t have to wait until you start experiencing age-related issues to experience the power of NAD. IV NAD can help maintain the health of your mitochondria, which could help delay the effect of aging on your brain. 

Our Mitochondrial Boost in a Bag™ NAD IV may help replenish your NAD+ levels. After receiving IV NAD+, many patients have reported improved:

• Mental clarity
• Focus
• Anxiety
• Memory
• Mood
• Energy

Since NAD+ cannot survive the digestion process, IV therapy is the most efficient way to increase your NAD+ levels.

Why Choose MaxWell Clinic in Nashville for Your IV Therapy?

Many IV clinics today target the latest health fads and often use diluted IV solutions. 

At MaxWell Clinic, where we have been providing IV therapies since 2004, your safety and wellness are our top priorities. We use FDA-approved equipment and supplies, and 100% pure, undiluted, medical-grade ingredients. 

We take the time to get to know you so you receive the right IV therapy for your needs. And we do the appropriate testing before administering certain IVs to ensure they are truly the right fit for your body.

Our founder and medical director, David Haase, MD is double board certified by Vanderbilt and trained at Mayo Clinic, and has taught thousands of physicians across the world how to use nutrition to support healing.

Are you ready to see how IV therapy can help you? 

Perhaps you’ve been feeling fatigued or simply unwell for a long time and thought it was due to normal aging. But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

IV therapy can help bridge the gap between where you are  and where you want to be in your health journey.

If you’d like to learn more about IV therapy at MaxWell Clinic, schedule your free Discovery Call today.