Demetrius Warren has experience with IVs.
"When I was in the military, we had a class called 'combat lifesaving.' So basically what we had to do is we had to do IVs on ourselves when we're out in the field,” Warren said.
Today, he's trying something different: a vitamin drip IV. He’s part of a growing trend of customers who pay to get an IV bag filled with saline and a combination of vitamins.
It’s for hydration and health, and all treatments are administered by an APRN.
The FDA regulates the compounds, and spas order them via pharmacies. Crystal Body Revision in southwest Omaha, where Warren goes, just started offering the service.
“We work with a lot of athletes and they're asking for it,” said Steve Gries, co-owner of Crystal Body Revision.
“A little stick, and then it just drips into you,” said Tom Adams, who is trying IV hydration.
Live Hydration Therapy nearby just opened. They offer different combinations for the IVs for everything from hangover cures to immune boosters.
”I do everyone's history and physical before you come in here. You don't just get to come in and get an iv. I have to make sure it's safe for you,” said Felicia Janovich of Live Hydration Spa.
Results are mixed.
A 2011 study in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found widespread use of IV hydration in the NFL, but found no evidence it works better than oral hydration.
Experts say up to 75 percent of us are dehydrated and don’t know it.
Warren said the treatment is providing him some relief.
“It's nice, cool going in,” he said. “It feels good."
If you don’t have anything to lose, this option could wet your body’s appetite — or rather, its thirst.
