Be Well: Drink Up

Writer: Amelia Jeffers

My first experience with intravenous (IV) therapy was when my daughter was babysitting for a friend’s weekend getaway, and the hosts hired a mobile hydration service for Saturday brunch. At the time, my first thought was that maybe it was a little over the top as a hangover cure - but I quickly embraced the brilliance of it. I know I am not alone in my futile attempts to drink enough water daily. In fact, according to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, forty-three percent of adults drink less than four glasses of water a day - far short of the long-recommended eight. And dehydration brings a variety of uncomfortable symptoms: fatigue, muscle cramps, headache, and brain fog are just a few.

IV therapy is gaining steam in the rapidly-growing wellness sector. Once reserved for hospital stays, IV therapy is readily available from dedicated and mobile outlets like Hydrate Me Columbus as well as an a la carte service from large, established medical practices including Columbus Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery (CAPS). All providers offer an array of “cocktails” to boost not only hydration, but to address many health and wellness concerns including boosting the immune system, relieving stress anxiety, reversing the effects of aging, and (of course) addressing a hangover. Prices for single sessions range from $75 - $150 on average, with party packages available.

When curiosity got the best of me, I scheduled an IV therapy session at the CAPS Upper Arlington location inside their relatively new Wellness Center. That Friday afternoon, my usual end-of-week-exhaustion was setting in, and I welcomed an energy lift that didn’t involve a drive-thru window. My practitioner reviewed the menu of solutions available: Alleviate is touted to relieve the symptoms of PMS - reducing bloating, abdominal discomfort, and lower back pain; Inner Beauty delivers a concoction of ascorbic acid and biotin to fortify hair, skin, and nails, reduce wrinkles, and quench tired skin; and Quench rehydrates and combats fatigue with a signature mixture from Olympia Pharmaceuticals, a national compounding pharmacy and leader in IV therapy technology. After a brief consultation, we agreed that the Myer’s Cocktail was a good choice for me: comprised of essential multi-vitamins and other nutrients, this mix helps to alleviate chronic pain, restores balance, and improves immunity.

The procedure was painless and quick (thank you, mom, for these healthy veins), and throughout the infusion, the nurse explained each step and what I could expect. As she had described, my energy level (and trips to the bathroom) started picking up the next morning - and I noticed greater clarity and better skin tone almost immediately. Somehow, the experience also just motivated me to reach for a glass of water more frequently. Though a single treatment won’t solve chronic dehydration, IV therapy is a great way to get quick, safe results and jump-start that commitment to better hydration.

For more central Ohio providers, check out Drip Hydration and Hyperbaric Therapy.