Perusing spa menus today, you may come across IV nutrition or vitamin therapy. If hearing ‘IV’ makes you think of something medical, you’re not far off the mark. Sir Christopher Wren crafted the first intravenous device for human and animal blood transfusions in the late 1600s from a writing quill and pig’s bladder. Thankfully, the delivery system had been updated by the time it came into regular use by the medical establishment in the early 1900s and since then the scope of the treatment has widened.

The concept is based on injecting fluids, vitamins, minerals and amino acids directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. Although the method isn’t without its sceptics (see p86), hospitals use it as a quick way to hydrate patients and get them essential nutrients and in the 1960s John Myer, a US doctor, became famous for his ‘cocktail’ of ingredients which help manage the symptoms of many conditions such as cardiovascular disorders, fibromyalgia, asthma and seasonal allergies. The mixture included vitamins B and C, selenium, magnesium sulphate and calcium gluconate and while the exact recipe died with Dr Myer in 1984, it forms the basis for many infusion menus today.

What’s on offer?
As spas extend their menus for differentiation and venture into medi-wellness, IV nutrition therapy has become more available in these settings. It’s customary to see options that promise everything from a general wellness boost and hydration to fat-burning, anti-ageing and immune system benefits, as well as drips that address specific conditions such as hangovers, jet lag and morning sickness.

IV nutrition therapy is offered in a variety of settings, from wellness clinics and spas to chains and franchises such as VitaLounge and The Elixir Clinic. A 1-litre bag infusion typically takes 20-30 minutes and an individual treatment is usually priced between US$104-US$225 (€88-€188, £75-£162).

Training / partnerships
IV therapy is deemed a medical service so regulations require the involvement and/or oversight of a physician or healthcare practitioner. Spas in the medi-wellness domain typically employ nurses to administer it and in some cases have medical teams to create their own IV ‘recipes’.

Those that don’t have medical personnel can form partnerships with existing clinics or providers. Mandarin Oriental in Dubai, for example, offers IV therapy in conjunction with The Elixir Clinic.

The Elixir Clinic has nine locations worldwide and specialises in VitaDrip® infusions. Other spa partnerships are with Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi and ESPA Life at Corinthia in London.

When a client requests an IV treatment at a spa, a local Elixir Clinic physician will send a nurse to administer the drip in either a treatment room or a relaxation area.

Why should spas offer it?
At Mandarin Oriental Dubai, senior spa director Sara Codner reports that guests enjoy the ability to have a clinical infusion in a spa setting. Customers having a mani/pedi service will often request a drip, which can be received at the same time, or the spa can provide an anti-ageing vitamin infusion to complement a facial.

Codner says they’re great for last-minute small group bookings. If five guests book and there are only four therapists available, a drip can be offered to the fifth person – and then “everyone wants it”! Since COVID-19, guests have also been very responsive to having immunity-boost drips, she adds.

In Thailand, the Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel has partnered with local healthcare provider Verita to create VIVID Bangkok which it describes as a “vibrant IV drip bar, anti-ageing and aesthetics hub”. And the duo is set to launch another two in the country. VIVID offers IV infusions alongside other regenerative treatments such as ozone therapy and injectables.

Hotel PR manager Camilla Coburn Davis says many VIVID clients are new guests who’ve sought out the facility after seeing it on social media, or from word-of-mouth recommendations. “We’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the IV therapy and we’re particularly proud of the glowing reviews of our qualified nurses,” she says.

The most popular package is an off-the-shelf infusion delivered once every two weeks for optimal results. However, one-off IVs can be personalised to suit the lifestyle needs of individuals.

First-person experience
I tried IV therapy at City Hydration, a clinic owned by a physician, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The studio is a natural, light-filled space with six comfy seats, in a small office building in the city centre.

I was the only client when I visited at 1.15pm, although they said they’d been busy earlier. I was greeted by the only employee present, an emergency room nurse who works a few shifts a week, and presented with the menu. I opted for the US$155 (£111, €128) Health Maintenance and Energy drip, which was basically a Myer’s cocktail – 1 litre of saline with b-complex, magnesium, calcium and vitamin C.

I settled into my recliner and a needle was expertly and quickly inserted and I rested my arm on a disposable pad on top of a pillow. The nurse told me the drip would take about 30 minutes and using my free hand to scroll through Instagram and play a few games on my mobile, the time went by quickly.

I was advised that the treatment would make me feel more energetic that afternoon and the next day, and that no, I wouldn’t have to use the restroom more than normal!

Later that evening I’d forgotten about my visit until I saw the plaster on my arm and, in honesty, I can’t say I felt any different. If I was at a spa for an entire day, this might be something I’d try in what would otherwise be downtime, but for the money required, I’d likely opt for a more physically enjoyable treatment.