After jet lag sets in or a heavy-hitting work day gets the best of you, do you ever feel like you could use a shot of energy, straight up? Us too. And medi-spas from New York to L.A. are ready to give us just that.
Celebs like Chrissy Teigen, Madonna, Rihanna and Cindy Crawford are are all big proponents of IV vitamin therapy and are giving this decades-old practice a fresh turn in the spotlight. We recently visited Epithereal Skincare here in L.A. to hook up, hang out, and see firsthand how it made us feel.
While those with needle phobias might well chose other methods, IV therapies have been around since at least the ’70s and show great promise for a wide variety of health needs. Spas, holistic doctors, and vitamin bars across the country promise a boost in energy, immunity, and general well-being after just thirty minutes attached to an intravenous drip bag.
IV drips can be found hooked up to just about every patient in a hospital, right? That’s because dripping medicine directly into the blood stream is a powerful way to get an intense dose of support to the body with little digestive exertion. As a preventative therapy, even alternative medical practices have used drips with everything from hydrogen peroxide to chelating agents.
Never ones to pass up a wellness therapy with this many gorgeous and glowing fans, we tried the classic Myer’s Cockail therapy at Epithereal, along with an added does of “master antioxidant” glutathione. The Myer’s Cocktail is designed to provide an ideal blend of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, calcium, minerals, b vitamins, and vitamin c, to kick things up for your immune system, making it a perfect pick-me-up for people who are feeling run down or preparing for an intense schedule. We found the therapy energizing – not in a buzzy, caffeinated way, but in a deeply fortifying way. The high dose of vitamins provided a lift, and we’d definitely consider coming back during the more intense seasons of the year (think fall’s cold and flu blitz or the pre-holiday rush).
Interested in getting your IV on? Here are a few of the most popular IV therapies:
IV Vitamin C: Asorbic Acid is an antioxidant which can prevent oxidative stress. This can also be a standalone therapy and is popular due to its skin brightening effects. Perfect for when feeling fatigued, onset of cold or flu, helpful in supporting immune function, wound healing and detoxification.
IV Myers Cocktail: In the 1970’s, Dr. John Myers developed the Myers Cocktail. This therapy is used generally for preventing a variety of illnesses and infections, such as, fatigue, cold and flu, migraine headaches, decreased mood, depression, asthma and seasonal allergies. A powerful blend of magnesium, high dose of vitamin C, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin B5 and calcium. This is generally a 20-minute treatment.
IV Glutathione: This powerful antioxidant is used to protect against oxidation of free radicals and can be added at the end of a Myers Cocktail or as a single therapy alone. Glutathione can be used to treat chronic fatigue or infections, inflammation, depression, asthma and more.
B12 / B12 Complex Injection: If you’re not one for an IV, a quick prick may be just the trick. The B12 injection offers a quick boost in energy and offers the vitamins needed for healthy hair, nails and skin! B vitamins also aid in preventing premature gray hairs and wrinkles by ensuring proper cell production and RNA / DNA synthesis.
