IV therapy: a unique approach to health

Receptionist Jazmine Bailey answers calls in the IV lobby. Grace Crandall

All IVs are made on site in a separate room. Grace Crandall

Patients are invited to recline in chairs with different relaxation settings while receiving IVs. Jenn Ekpo

By Grace Crandall
Staff Writer

With gray winter days officially set in, many people are seeking a way to give their health a boost. More time indoors means less time in the sunshine, a natural source of Vitamin D and immune system support. Amongst the decade of pandemics and mental health is a search for efficient supplementation. The answer may lie in IV therapy.

Intravenous therapy, commonly referred to as IV therapy, is a way to directly deliver fluids and nutrients through veins in the body. It is the fastest way to deliver nutrients to the bloodstream, according to Cambridge College of Healthcare and Technology. It remains one of the most efficient sources of hydration as well.

While perhaps not the most well-known form of supplementation, IV therapy has been a standard procedure at hospitals for many decades. It’s the shift to independent businesses that is creating attention in many cities.

For Jenn Ekpo, co-owner of InfusIV Hydration in Ann Arbor, it was important to bring IV therapy to more people. When she and her husband, Timothy, along with business partner Adam Page, opened their IV lounge three years ago, there was nothing like it in the area. After Ekpo and her husband had seen the benefits of the therapy, they decided to bring it to Ann Arbor.

“We knew this was a great benefit because we had experienced it,” Ekpo said. “We knew there was a need for it and we knew Ann Arbor was the best place because the people are very health driven.”

InfusIV Hydration is a wellness company in downtown Ann Arbor that offers a variety of vitamin-infused IVs. The foundation of most IVs is B-complex, which helps to restore energy and overall health. This basic B-complex IV, referred to as “The Classic,” is what Ekpo recommends for newcomers.

Another popular IV infusion, called “The Hangover”, combines Zofran, for anti-nausea, and Toradol, for anti-inflammation, along with vitamins B and C. Other infusions provide nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, and glutathione. The ultimate goal, however, remains the same: 100 percent nutrition absorption.

“When you take something orally, your body may retain 30% of it,” said Ekpo. “When you’re doing it through IV therapy, it delivers essential vitamins, nutrients, and supplements directly into the bloodstream for maximum potency, and has faster health benefits.”

When a supplement is taken orally, it must pass through the digestive system, thus losing some of its effectiveness. An IV is able to bypass this process and go directly to the bloodstream, improving hydration and nutrition absorption.

Ekpo commented on how the COVID-19 pandemic increased people’s awareness of health and began to discover IV therapy. People have received infusions specifically to help with the brain fog that may be a side effect of COVID. One infusion, NAD+, helps rebuild cellular energy production and revitalize the immune system.

InfusIV Hydration takes both scheduled appointments and walk-ins. A standard appointment includes filling out a client intake and medical form. From there, the client chooses which infusion they would like.

For first-time customers, a 25% discount is applied. There is also a 30% student discount for every visit. The company offers a new monthly deal as well.

Ekpo encourages people of all ages to try IV therapy: “IV hydration is essential for everyone…once people do it, they will notice a positive change in their bodies.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, go to infusivhydration.com.