Frequently Asked Questions

Healthy eating, and in many cases, the use of oral supplements, is an asset when it comes to maintaining great health and building an anti-aging lifestyle. However, in many cases, oral ingestion is not adequate. This can occur because the vitamins taken by mouth require cofactors for them to be properly absorbed from the gut. In addition, some of the vitamins require a healthy balance of bacteria in the colon and the intestine to facilitate the best absorption. Finally, when things are taken by mouth, they first pass through the liver before being processed by other cells in the body. All these steps can represent barriers to the micronutrients getting to the targeted cells. The use of prescription drugs and antibiotics can further compromise oral absorption. Many drugs interfere with the digestive process, making it harder for the body to break down and absorb micronutrients. A great example of this is drugs known as "proton pump inhibitors." These are drugs such as Prilosec, Protonix, and others that alter the acid level of the stomach. This unnatural alteration of the stomach antacids cannot only interfere with the digestive process but also alter the bacterial health of the colon. It has also been estimated that a significant percentage of people in Western cultures have developed chronic malabsorption syndromes because of highly processed, inflammatory foods. Symptoms such as bloating, heartburn, and irregular bowel movements can all be signs of underlying malabsorption. Ironically, the malabsorption of micronutrients makes it more difficult for the stomach and the intestines to heal itself. Since the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract turn over at a very rapid rate, people can get stuck in a cycle of malabsorption or micronutrient deficiency, which is the production of unhealthy cells that then perpetuates the malabsorption. These cycles can last years, even decades. Over time, they can trigger other medical disorders. Everything from chronic fatigue to fibromyalgia, even heart disease, cancer, and cognitive impairment can be a consequence of prolonged cycles of micronutrient malabsorption.

Vitamin insufficiency can lead to an array of symptoms that include depressed mood, increased anxiety, fatigue, muscle aching, neuropathy, brain fog, and other symptoms that compromise quality of life. Because the symptoms overlap a host of other diagnosed conditions and because most doctors are not thoroughly trained in nutrition and vitamin support therapy, the cause can be overlooked. There are 13 essential vitamins. These are vitamins that your body cannot manufacture and that you must acquire in order to survive. Among the 13 essential vitamins, there are four that are considered fat-soluble: D, E, K, and A. Fat-soluble means that your body has the capacity to store them. There are also 9 water-soluble vitamins, which include 8 essential B vitamins and vitamin C. RDA, or Recommended Daily Allowances, were established approximately 40 years ago.

It is likely that people can benefit from greater amounts. Simply put, there is no better way to achieve high-dose vitamins and deliver them directly to the cell than via direct infusion. Many people are afflicted with conditions that impair the absorption of vitamins. Irritable bowel, leaky gut, and even the use of antacids, antibiotics, and PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) may interfere with nutrient absorption. NYC IV Health & Wellness clients have chosen to use IV vitamin support to help them with conditions ranging from the common cold to headaches, fibromyalgia, or any of the conditions listed above. Other clients without any conditions use infusions of high-dose vitamins as part of their health maintenance routine.

Intravenous therapy is certainly an advancement in healthcare. But we should remember that IVs themselves were thought to be a fad by some when they were first introduced to medicine. They quickly were proven to be invaluable. Dr. Myers first began infusing his patients with vitamins and minerals in the 1950s. Based on their outstanding outcomes, his practice spread broadly and quickly. He is one of the pioneers who established infusion-based healthcare. With the dawning of the internet era of self-directed, research-based health support, we feel that NYC IV Health & Wellness is perfectly positioned to give thoughtful clients a way to receive the advanced health support that they are seeking. The conventional medical approach is to wait for something to happen, then react to the disease state. NYC IV Health & Wellness gives people the opportunity to address their health at a cellular level to preserve vitality and prevent harm. NYC IV Health & Wellness represents a permanent step forward in the field of advanced health maintenance. The therapies offered at NYC IV Health & Wellness will become part of the anti-aging strategies used by many for decades to come.

The beauty of water-soluble vitamins is that they are, in fact, water-soluble. That means it is very difficult to overdose on them and cause harm. However, the fact that they're water-soluble does not mean that the effect on the cells and on an individual's health is transient. When high-dose vitamins are infused through the vein, the cells are washed in super-high plasma levels of the vitamins. This creates an osmotic gradient that helps push the micronutrients into the cells. It is here that micronutrients do their most important work. The vitamins have a restorative impact at a cellular level that can last as long as the cells are alive. Cells have a lifespan ranging from several days, in the case of those lining the gastrointestinal tract, to several months or even years for cells in other parts of the body. It is for this reason that the intermittent infusion of high-dose water-soluble vitamins can have a durable effect. Sometimes, especially when there are malabsorptive issues at play, the intravenous route of administration is the only way to break a negative cycle of unhealthy cell reproduction. Once healthy patterns of cell reproduction have been established, they are much easier to maintain.

NYC IV Health & Wellness does not accept insurance as a form of payment. However, it is possible that a Health Savings Account (HSA or FSA) can be used to pay for your drips. You should check with your insurance to determine if that is the case. NYC IV Health & Wellness can provide you with documentation of the therapy that you can use to put in a claim for reimbursement.