Intravenous (IV) therapy is a method of feeding vitamins, minerals, and amino acids directly into the bloodstream used to correct intracellular nutrient deficiencies. Oral intake of such high doses is simply not possible due to absorption limitations from the digestive process.
A good example of this is the use of Vitamin C when trying to overcome a cold. The antiviral effects of Vitamin C are seen when blood levels are around 10-15 mg/dL. This level is achievable with IV therapy but not orally. Oral dosage typically peaks with blood levels around 1.2-4.0 mg/dL vs. IV therapy of 50-90 mg/dL.
Some research studies have demonstrated that a variety of conditions can benefit from the use of IV nutrition. A few of the conditions that may be helped include:
IV therapies are also useful in nutritional detoxification programs, immune stimulation or, simply, because of the depletion of your body stores. Below is a short list of the unique IV therapies that are offered at Medical Wellness Associates.
IV nutritional therapy infusions that include high dosage pharmaceutical grade Vitamin C found to be helpful for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Lyme Disease, chronic infections, Hepatitis, and Cancer.
Read more information on Vitamin C treatments and Cancer.
Alpha-lipoic acid is an antioxidant that is made by the body and is found in every cell, where it helps turn glucose into energy. Antioxidants are substances that attack "free radicals," waste products created when the body turns food into energy. Free radicals cause harmful chemical reactions that can damage cells in the body, making it harder for the body to fight off infections. They also damage organs and tissues.
Unlike other antioxidants, which work only in water (such as vitamin C) or fatty tissues (such as vitamin E), alpha-lipoic acid is both fat- and water-soluble. That means it can work throughout the body. In addition, antioxidants are depleted as they attack free radicals, but evidence suggests alpha-lipoic acid may help regenerate these other antioxidants and make them active again.
Orally, ALA is used for diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, cardiac autonomic neuropathy, retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Alpha-lipoic acid is also used orally for dementia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), HIV/AIDS, cancer, liver disease, Wilson's disease, cardiovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), intermittent claudication, Lyme disease, and lactic acidosis caused by inborn errors of metabolism.
Alpha-lipoic acid can lower blood sugar levels, and its ability to kill free radicals may help reduce pain, burning, itching, tingling, and numbness in people who have nerve damage caused by diabetes (called peripheral neuropathy). Alpha-lipoic acid has been used for years for this purpose in Europe, and at least one study found that intravenous (IV) doses of alpha-lipoic acid helped reduce symptoms.
Alpha-lipoic acid has been proposed as a treatment for alcohol-related liver disease, but so far there is no evidence that it works. Alpha-lipoic acid has been administered by IV along with silymarin to treat people who have eaten the poisonous mushroom Amanita, which causes liver damage.
Because alpha-lipoic acid can pass easily into the brain, it has protective effects on brain and nerve tissue. Scientists are investigating it as a potential treatment for stroke and other brain disorders involving free radical damage. Animals treated with alpha-lipoic acid, for example, suffered less brain damage and had a four times greater survival rate after a stroke than animals who did not receive this supplement. More research is needed to understand whether this benefit applies to people as well.
High doses of alpha-lipoic acid are approved in Germany for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.
Packer L, Tritschler HJ, Wessel K. Neuroprotection by the metabolic antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid. Free Radic Biol Med 1997;22:359-78.
Ziegler D, Hanefeld M, Ruhnau K, et al. Treatment of symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid: A 7-month, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial (ALADIN III Study). Diabetes Care 1999;22:1296-301.
Sechi G, Deledda MG, Bua G, et al. Reduced intravenous glutathione in the treatment of early Parkinson's disease. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 1996;20:1159-70.
De Mattia G, Bravi MC, Laurenti O, et al. Influence of reduced glutathione infusion on glucose metabolism in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Metabolism 1998;47:993-7.
Samiec PS, Drews-Botsch C, Flagg EW, et al. Glutathione in human plasma: decline in association with aging, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetes. Free Radic Biol Med 1998;24:699-704.
IV nutritional therapy that uses either Calcium EDTA or DiSodium EDTA to remove heavy metals, improve blood flow, and remove artery damaging chemicals from the blood vessels. Some of the health conditions that may benefit from chelation therapy include hypertension, heart disease, memory decline, autism, diabetic complications, and many others.
For more information, check out EDTA Chelation Therapy, Chelation Corner, 30 Years Progress Cardiovascular Health, Chelation Therapy and All About Chelation
NEWS ALERT - Chelation Therapy reduces adverse events in post-surgery heart patients. Click Here to learn more about this groundbreaking news.
IV vitamin and mineral therapy developed in the 1970’s by John Meyer, M.D., a physician at Johns Hopkins University. The “cocktail” is indicated for chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Depression, muscle spasm, Asthma, hives, Congestive Heart Failure, Angina (chest pain), infections, and Senile Dementia.
MAGNESIUM is the second most plentiful mineral in the intracellular fluid and the most plentiful cation in the body. Magnesium is involved with more than 300 enzyme systems. The body contains about 25 grams of magnesium, which is divided in roughly equal portions between the skeleton and soft tissue.
Magnesium is used for treating and preventing hypomagnesaemia. It is also used orally as a laxative for constipation and for preparation of the bowel for surgical or diagnostic procedures. Magnesium is also used orally for treating symptoms of asthma and allergic rhinitis; for cardiovascular diseases including angina, arrhythmias, hypertension, coronary heart disease and hyperlipidemia, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels, mitral valve prolapse, vasospastic angina, myocardial infarction, multiple sclerosis; and as an antacid for symptoms of gastric hyperacidity. It is also used orally for treating attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, pregnancy-induced leg cramps, nocturnal leg cramps, diabetes, kidney stones, migraine headaches, osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, altitude sickness, urinary incontinence, kidney stones, restless leg syndrome, and for preventing hearing loss. Magnesium is also used orally by athletes to increase energy and endurance. Intravenously, magnesium is used for controlling seizures associated with epilepsy, glomerulonephritis, or hypothyroidism when low serum magnesium levels are present. It is also used intravenously in the treatment of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, including torsades de pointes, for preventing arrhythmias after myocardial infarction, and for cardiac arrest.
Intravenous Indications:
PERIPHERAL ARTERY DISEASE Mauskop A, Altura BT, Cracco RQ, et al. Intravenous magnesium sulfate relieves cluster headaches in patients with low serum ionized magnesium levels. Headache 1995;35:597-600.
Mauskop A, Altura BT, CraccoRQ, Altura BM. Intravenous magnesium sulphate relieves migraine attacks in patients with low serum ionized magnesium levels: a pilot study. Clin Sci (Colch) 1995;89:633-6.
Facchinetti F, Sances G, Borella P, et al. Magnesium prophylaxis of menstrual migraine: effects on intracellular magnesium. Headache 1991;31:298-301.
Brodsky MA, Orlov MV, Capparelli EV, et al. Magnesium therapy in new-onset atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol 1994;73:1227-9.
Clague JE, Edwards RH, Jackson MJ. Intravenous magnesium loading in chronic fatigue syndrome. Lancet 1992;340:124-5.
Recent studies at the NIH (National Institute of Health), conducted by Harvard Medical School researcher, Mark Levin, M.D. have demonstrated the anti-tumor effect of high dosage IV Vitamin C. This same effect does not occur with oral vitamin C. This therapy was originally developed by Nobel Prize Winner, Dr. Linus Pauling, expanded upon by Dr’s. Klenner and Cathcart and, more recently, Hugh Rirodan, M.D. Intravenous, high-dosage Vitamin C also reduces the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation for those receiving conventional medical therapies.
(For more information, check out the Moss Reports)
Research Articles
IV Nutritional Therapy used for viral, bacterial and fungal infections. helpful for sinusitis, bronchitis, COPD, asthma, etc. iv nutrients including therapeutic doses of ascorbic acid and pantothenic acid.
IV Nutritional Therapy used for asthma, COPD, pneumonia, respiratory infections and allergies. IV nutrients include vitamin C, magnesium, pyridoxine, etc.
IV Nutritional Therapy used to treat heavy metal exposure that may contribute to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental illness and other degenerative diseases. IV nutrients include calcium edta, vitamin C, etc.
Research Articles:
The services and treatments on this page are not approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) for the treatment of any particular condition. The treatment and therapy on this page have not been evaluated by the FDA. We do not claim these treatments are safe and effective for any listed or unlisted condition, intended or implied.
We do not claim that the services or treatment on this page treat any disease or health condition. We do not claim the services and treatment are comparable or superior to conventional medical treatments in curing, mitigating or treating any disease or health condition. At this point, they are unproven therapies.
There are no randomized, controlled human clinical research testing studies demonstrating the safety or effectiveness of the services or therapy listed on this page. We are aware of preliminary research and anecdotal reports that, in some or many cases, these treatments and therapies have helped some patients improve or alleviate their conditions. Preliminary studies and anecdotal reports of positive outcomes do not necessarily indicate treatment efficacy. Anecdotal experiences cannot be interpreted to substantiate any health-related claim. Research studies referred to on this website are limited and many conclude further evaluation is required from well-controlled clinical trials to verify possible benefits. The treatment and therapy listed on this page do not work for everyone. Results achieved by some patients may not be typical for other patients. There are no guarantees that this treatment will help you. All information on this website including reference to current research journals is for educational purposes only.
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Medical Wellness Associates, PC
6402 State Route 30
Jeannette, PA 15644
Phone: (724) 523-5505
