Vitamin Therapy Is A New Way To Get Your Daily Dose

MIAMI (CBS4) -- Many Americans take vitamins to stay healthy. Now, a new controversial vitamin treatment claims to give tired and stressed out people more of a boost. It's called intravenous vitamin therapy.

It looks like mad science, a lab guru creating a concoction some say could leave you feeling like a new person.

Maria Friedrich swears by it.

"I felt energized after the treatment, probably within six hours, and the next day I felt fantastic compared to how I felt before," Friedrich said.

Intravenous vitamin therapy is a way to get nutrients into the body quickly, using an IV.

"It's intended to give the physiologic system of the person a boost," said holistic doctor Kamau Kokayi. "That might be in terms of energy, immune system it might be because they've been deficient in taking in nutrients or been very stressed."

IV vitamin therapy is a treatment being offered in more and more alternative and homeopathic doctor's offices around the country.

At one time it was only for patients diagnosed with a specific disease. Now, it's for anyone in need of a boost.

"I would recommend IV therapy to individuals who are really stressed, really tired and don't have that named disease but they know that something is wrong," Dr. Kokayi suggested.

Doctors tweak the therapy based on the patient's blood work and a review of their medical history. The concoction typically includes a variety of things, such as: Vitamin B Complex, Magnesium, B5, Calcium, B12 and B6, among other things.

So what makes this any different than popping a handful of vitamins you buy over the counter?

"Because of the concentration you can get of the nutrients. They bypass the GI track, they go right into the blood and into the cells," Dr. Kokayi explained.

The American Medical Association has no policy on this treatment. The FDA does not normally regulate vitamins, or vitamin therapy unless they are being used as a drug to treat a medical condition.

Dr. Kokayi said there are some drawbacks to consider, including time, needles and cost.

"You come in, you have to sit for an hour, you get a little needle stick," he said.

The therapy isn't typically covered by insurance, unless you have an official diagnosis for malnutrition, and it could require several treatments. The effectiveness of each treatment also declines as you start to feel better.