Fluid fitness: Why some people are turning to IV therapy

Liz Leon lives a hectic life.

The 46-year-old Palm Beach Gardens resident is a mother of three, grandmother to twins and makes her living in finance as a private banker.

Because she’s on the go from sunup till sundown taking care of other people’s needs, she concedes that she doesn’t always prioritize her own well-being.

“I hardly have time to focus on myself,” she explains. “But after my recent annual physical exam during which I learned I have low vitamin D and high cholesterol, I decided to change this. I vowed to live a better, healthier life.”

Last month, while out walking her 3-year-old Yorkie, she noticed that a new business ― Prime IV ― would soon be opening in her neighborhood.

Intrigued, she went home, researched intravenous therapy in general and Prime IV specifically, and decided that its offerings might benefit her.

“I’m not great at drinking water or staying properly hydrated so I thought I’d give it a try.”

A few weeks ago, she had her first session at Prime IV and had high praise for the experience (more on that momentarily). Leon is now part of a growing number of people nationwide who are undergoing IV therapy in boutique spa-like establishments as part of their overall health and wellness plans.

Celebrities lead the way

As with many fitness trends, celebrities are usually among the early adopters. Reportedly, A-listers ranging from Adele, Rihanna, Chrissy Teigen and husband John Legend to Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber have regularly undergone the treatments.

Proponents of IV therapy believe that the treatments can benefit users in the following ways:

• Increased energy

• Reduced symptoms of stress

• Immune system boost

• Decreased symptoms of chronic disease

• Improved symptoms of depression

• Enhancement of weight loss

• Shortened post-training recovery time

• Improved endurance

• Reduction in headaches

• Improved skin texture

• Reduction of alcohol hangover symptoms

It should be noted that the industry is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and clinical studies have yet to back up the above claims.

Last year, a report by AARP noted “one of the few controlled clinical studies that looked at IV vitamin therapy compared to a placebo found that patients with fibromyalgia reported less tenderness and pain after receiving a specific infusion called a Myers’ cocktail, a mix of magnesium, calcium, and vitamins C and B … [But] patients in the study who were injected with just saline solution reported the same positive results — a sign of “a strong placebo effect,” the study’s authors wrote.

Experts also caution that people with heart and kidney disease should probably avoid these types of treatments, and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding should talk to their physician before considering them.

According to Mark Nolan, owner of Prime IV at Legacy Place in Palm Beach Gardens, IV therapy “delivers vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants directly to the body and provides immediate results with maximum absorption. When vitamins are taken orally, only 10% to 20% of the vitamins are actually absorbed by the body. With IV therapy, it’s 100%.”

He explains that every customer’s first visit includes “a consultation with one of our medical professionals to review their health and wellness goals as well as get an understanding of their medical history. We then we develop a personal wellness plan that will help them achieve their goals.”

The initial consultation and session usually last around an hour — and subsequent ones take about 45 minutes.

Nolan says “we always have a registered nurse on the premises and IVs are applied by a staffer with a medical license and extensive experience applying IVs.”

Depending upon the treatment(s), a variety of pricing and/or membership options are available. There’s currently a $99 introductory offer for new customers.

Why a local liked her IV therapy

Leon says that after her initial consultation, she decided “my focus was to hydrate and have better looking skin. I have a lot of dryness on my chin and cheeks. I also do not sleep well, so I often lack energy.”

She went with a Taurine-infused treatment designed to both improve her complexion and give her more energy.

Leon says she especially enjoyed being in Prime IV’s massage chair during the treatment.

“The chair was incredible,” she recalls. “It hugged my feet, my calves, hips, pulled my shoulders back and massaged my neck. I didn’t even look at my phone. It definitely felt like a ‘one-hour vacation,’ which is how they promote it.”

As for how she felt immediately after the treatment, Leon explains that while “I wanted a boost of energy, the chair was so therapeutic that I just wanted to go home and take a nap — which was much needed.”

The next day, however, was a different story for Leon: “I felt a difference the very next day. I had a good night’s sleep and felt full of energy in the morning.”

She says that she gave her two-story home a full cleaning: vacuuming, mopping, sweeping and more.

She also “did laundry, cleaned three bathrooms, manually washed my car, took my dog on two walks, meal-prepped and rode my Peloton for 35 minutes. I felt great!”

Her overall positive experience is why she decided to buy a membership to Prime IV.

While other folks may or may not derive the benefits that Leon believes she has, she wants others to know that “it’s okay to take time to pamper yourself — especially when it means you will be living a healthier version of you.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Inside the intravenous therapy trend for health and wellness