IV or intravenous therapy is a procedure the physicians of East Valley Naturopathic Doctors offers for many of their patients. Simply put, it is the giving of liquid substances directly into a vein, and it is useful for safely delivering vitamins and medications that can be quickly and efficiently absorbed into the body. It can be beneficial for numerous purposes including:

Natural detoxification General health maintenance using vitamins and minerals Diabetic neuropathy Arthritis Injuries with muscle pain and inflammation Migraine headaches Viral infections such as sinusitis and rhinitis Immune system deficiencies

How does IV therapy work? Your doctor will prepare an IV formula specifically for you based on your individual health needs. The entire treatment is done in the office and takes approximately one hour. A treatment regimen may require 1-4 IV sessions depending on the purposes of the therapy and the results the patient obtains. There are several reasons why IV therapy can be more effective than administering vitamins and medications orally. First, absorption into the blood stream is complete and bioavailability of the substances is immediate. Second, there is no "first pass" effect in the liver, thus the procedure lessens the workload on the liver. Another thing to consider is that the absorptive capacity of the bowel may be decreased with age, and this along with a decrease in the natural production of hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes can result in nutritional deficiencies because the body is no longer properly breaking down and absorbing nutrients from the foods we eat. IV repletion leads to a rapid increase in nutrient levels in the blood, meaning that the nutrients are able to get into the cells as needed and increase cell metabolism. Homeopathic remedies can also be used in IV therapy to treat many conditions. Homeopathic solutions often work as well as conventional medicines in the treatment of pain, viral infections, immune deficiencies, and other conditions but with the added benefit of little or no side effects. After an IV session some patients may feel mild symptoms of detoxification such as temporary headache, mild gastrointestinal symptoms, or muscle aches, while other patients feel very energized. In any case, IV therapy will "jumpstart" your metabolism and cause most patients to feel good and see excellent results within a short time after treatment. PLEASE NOTE: IV therapy should only be administered after a patient has given a complete medical history interview and has received a physical examination from the administering physician. Some lab tests may also be required before treatment. Individuals who are not established patients of Dr. Marcantel or East Valley Naturopathic Doctors will need an initial admission to our services before receiving IV treatments.