Intravenous Nutrition

At Whole Health MD we use the Tahoma Clinic IV Protocols from Jonathan Wright,MD’s Tahoma Clinic in Renton, Washington.

Intravenous (IV) doses of vitamins and minerals produce markedly higher concentrations of the vitamins and minerals than those obtainable by oral administration of maximum tolerated doses. This involves administering nutrients directly into the bloodstream (intravenously). This delivery system is exceptionally powerful because it circumvents the potential loss of potency due to possible breakdown in the GI tract and poor absorption of some orally administered nutrients. Breakdown of the intestinal barrier and thus poor absorption is known to occur in patients with poor nutrition, chronic stress, insomnia and excess alcohol consumption. Poor nutrient absorption is associated with premature aging, loss of skin elasticity, weight gain, abdominal fat, anxiety/depression, digestive disorders, skin problems, fatigue and illness.

It is impossible orally to attain the high levels of nutrients that IV vitamins are capable of delivering. Oral vitamins often cause gastrointestinal symptoms and diarrhea. IV nutrients go directly into the bloodstream in an unaltered, safe form and very well tolerated, with minimal or no side effects. IV therapy can even be used periodically in healthy people to enhance overall well-being.

What follows are a list of the IVs commonly used in our practice.

IV Multivitamin and Mineral Formulas
IV Nutritional Therapy is used to increase energy, repair enzyme systems and promote optimum nervous system function. IV nutrients include vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, minerals as well as trace minerals,
IV therapy can be beneficial for:

Asthma
Migraines
Hepatitis
Fibromyalgia
Muscle spasm
Chronic Fatigue
Upper Respiratory Infection
Parkinson’s Disease
Malnutrition
Herpes Outbreaks
Coronary Artery Disease
Depression
High Blood Pressure

Myer’s Cocktail – Vitamin and mineral therapy developed in the 1970’s by John Meyer, M.D., a physician at Johns Hopkins University. The “cocktail” is indicated for chronic fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Depression, muscle spasm, Asthma, hives, Congestive Heart Failure, Angina (chest pain), infections, and Senile Dementia.

IV Vitamin C
High dose Vitamin C is used for Cancer Co-Management Therapies, fatigue, fibromyalgia, immune dysfunction and pre and post mercury amalgam removals Intravenous vitamin C is especially effective in fighting viruses and cancer cells, while being completely safe for all normal cells. It is because of this characteristic that IV vitamin C is particularly useful in knocking out the viruses of the common cold, flu, and sore throat. Patients often start feeling better within hours of administration.

IV Glutathione Therapy
Glutathione is a Powerful anti-oxidant found predominately in the brain and liver. When given intravenously it improves liver and brain function. It is often used for memory enhancement, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Neuropathy and Liver Disease. It has shown to be helpful in autism as well.
Scientists still aren’t sure what causes Parkinson’s disease, a debilitating, progressive neurological disorder. They do know it develops when nerve cells that produce a chemical called dopamine become damaged and die.
Our physicians use a remarkable therapy called IV glutathione to help slow the process of nerve cell degeneration. Levels of glutathione, a naturally occurring brain-protecting antioxidant, are significantly decreased in Parkinson’s patients, with the deficiency occurring in the portion of the brain where dopamine-generating neurons are concentrated.
For many Parkinson’s patients, glutathione replenishment has proven to be an effective therapy for halting or even potentially reversing disability. In patients who respond to this therapy, the effects can be almost immediate and dramatic. Within an hour of treatment, patients often experience reduced rigidity, fewer tremors, and improved walking ability.

More disease-specific formulations from Tahoma Clinic Protocols such as for Glaucoma, Migraines, Macular Degeneration, Shingles and Trace Minerals can be made to order. Ask your provider for the list of available IVs.
IV Infusions for Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, and Retinopathy
Deterioration of sight is one of the most common health problems of aging. Around age sixty, the likelihood of serious ocular disorders—macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetic retinopathy—accelerates.
Fortunately, these vision problems can be slowed and even reversed in many cases. Because free radical damage is a significant contributor to these problems, antioxidants have a strong protective effect. Over the past 15 years, several studies have shown that the risk of macular degeneration, retinopathy, and cataracts can be greatly reduced using antioxidant supplementation.
We offer specialized therapies to prevent, treat, and reverse vision loss. IV administration of high doses of antioxidants, fatty acids, carotenoids, amino acids, and minerals (sometimes in conjunction with chelation therapy) can dramatically enhance nutrient delivery and arrest degeneration of vision.
IV Therapy for Heart Attack, Heart Failure and Hypertension
If you’re ever rushed to the hospital with a heart attack, intravenous magnesium could save your life. In a 1995 study, researchers found that the in-hospital death rate of those receiving IV magnesium was one-fourth that of those who received standard treatment alone. In 2003, a follow-up study of these same patients revealed an enduring effect of magnesium treatment. Nearly twice as many patients in the standard treatment group had died compared to those who received magnesium, and there were considerably more cases of heart failure and impaired heart function in the placebo group.
IV Therapy for Arrhythmia, Asthma, Diabetes,Migraines and More
In addition to increasing survival after heart attack, IV magnesium also smoothes out arrhythmias and improves outcomes in patients undergoing angioplasty with stent placement. It is also beneficial for acute asthma attacks, often working to relax airway spasms when drugs do not. Magnesium supplementation is crucial for diabetics; too, because it improves insulin sensitivity, helps blood sugar control, and reduces risk of retinopathy.
The list goes on: Magnesium can also reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches, help prevent kidney stones, boost immune function, and protect DNA from carcinogens. Magnesium can even help you sleep. It not only relaxes the muscles, but it also increases the length of restorative slow-wave sleep.
IV Diabetic Nutritional Therapy used to improve glucose metabolism, improve neuropathy, and vascular disease assoc with diabetes includes IV alpha lipoic acid, folic acid, b12, and thiamine.
IV therapy for Immune Enhancement
Your immune system is on constant guard to protect against viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens. This system keeps you free of not only serious infections but also cancer and such as lupus and rheumatoid , in which the immune system attacks healthy cells. Unfortunately, the older we get, the harder we are hit by these immune-related conditions.
As with all disease, a number of nutrients play well-defined roles in the immune response, and chief among them are antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. For patients suffering from immune disorders—or anyone who just needs an immune boost—we offer immune drip therapy. Our unique IV cocktail contains high doses of B-complex vitamins along with vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, selenium, and zinc, all of which are vital for a healthy immune system.
IV Therapy for Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia
The fatigue, pain, and depression from chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia are real, and they have a cause. More importantly, help is available. At our center, we don’t just treat the symptoms of these disorders—we take a comprehensive approach that has the potential to reverse these conditions, alleviating pain, increasing energy, and boosting immunity.
People suffering with fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue are believed to have impaired cellular function—particularly in the way muscle cells handle calcium and phosphate. This, in turn, stimulates painful contractions and muscle spasms. To address these problems, we prescribe a full regimen of therapies, including IV doses of B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C, and other nutrients proven to boost energy, improve tissue repair, and relieve stress.

IV EPL or essential phospholipids- is specially formulated for IV administration. Phospholipids are primary constituents of the membranes that surround each of our cells, protecting and controlling what enters them. Among the most essential phospholipids is phosphatidylcholine (PC), which is the backbone of Plaquex. As we age, our production of PC and other phospholipids falters, which has adverse effects throughout your body. Plaquex therapy replenishes your supply of these crucial building blocks, and has demonstrated the ability to:

Decrease plaque deposits in arteries
Improve exercise tolerance
Reduce angina attacks
Lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Boost circulation
Increase male potency
Improve kidney function

Anyone with heart disease, diabetes, arterial blockages, sexual dysfunction, high cholesterol, or lipid problems can greatly benefit from Plaquex therapy.