Intravenous therapy is touted as a quick fix for hangovers, and centers are popping up all across the country.
Companies that offer "cures" for hangovers and exhaustion often offer clients a mix of B and C vitamins. These same nutrients found in food take longer to metabolize when eaten, and vitamin supplements are only partially absorbed. With IV therapy, a concentrated vitamin solution is completely absorbed by the bloodstream.
Practitioners claim IVs work wonders after a rough night out, but also help hydrate professional athletes and people with chronic pain.
Rachel Freedman suffers from stage 2 kidney disease. She began IV therapy to treat her medical condition, but says the procedure works miracles for hangovers.
"I thought I was going to have a horrible hangover--and I did it actually right before I went drinking--and I woke up better than I've ever felt, after a night of drinking," said Freedman.
Drip Dr. is an IV therapy center based in Denver. The IVs range in price from $25 to $200, and promise a boost in energy. Users can even have the IVs delivered to their door. CEO Zach Bauer says the procedure is not as scary as it sounds.
"Basically, what we do is take a 1000 milliliter bag of saline, and we do it intravenously through your vein using a catheter and a needle," said Bauer.
Bauer says many clients use IV to treat chronic pain--like migraines--and that his therapy center uses registered nurses, and follows OSHA and HIPPA protocols.
There are potential dangers with using an IV to rehydrate. If improperly administered, it can cause bruising, infection and inflammation at the injection site.
Some doctors say there's no evidence that IV therapy has meaningful effects in the long run, and won't prevent liver damage from excessive drinking.