IV drips are the latest health trend to move from hospitals to boutique clinics.
IV drips have been used in hospitals since the 1970s, but today's brands give health-obsessed clients a quick boost of vitamins, minerals, and supplements by using IV drips.
The global market for IV therapy is expected to reach $54.5 billion by the year 2023.
I wanted to find out if IV drip therapy is worth the hype. I visited Restore, a brand that offers a variety of IV drip therapies that it says can help with weight loss, hydration, energy, inflammation, and aging.
Several clinicians at Restore made sure I was ready to go for my IV therapy.
Restore offers high-tech therapies like cryotherapy and hyperbolic chambers.
Allana Akhtar is anInsider.
I went to Restore's location in New York City at 1 pm. Two others were receiving IV drips while on their laptops, and a third received compression therapy to reduce muscle pain.
I had to fill out a few forms when I got to the center. The forms had a lot of questions about my history of problems with my brain, heart, lungs, eyes, mental health, and more.
After filling out the forms, a nurse set me up on a call with a nurse to review them. The wait to talk to a nurse was about five minutes, and the call lasted about five because I had no history of medical conditions.
I chose the supplements, acids, and vitamins I wanted. Restore claimed that the "Recharge" drip would help with energy, muscle repair, and excretion of waste.
Non-members pay $209 for the drip. Patients can choose to add extra shots and supplement boost for $35 to $39, and the prices ranged from $139 to $339 for non-members.
The four ingredients in the "Recharge" recovery therapy are proline, a building block of proteins, taurine, an anhydride, and vitamins C and glutathione.
I needed to recover from a high intensity workout. I could feel weakness in my muscles a couple hours after leaving the gym because I usually feel the most soreness in my muscles the day after heavy weight exercises.
The experience of receiving the drip at Restore was pleasant and I enjoyed watching other customers use innovative health-wellness technology.
IV drips can be used to help with hydration, energy, aging, and muscle repair.
Allana Akhtar is anInsider.
I had to choose between a recliner or a massage chair to sit on. The nurse at the center brought over the IV and needle after sitting down.
The last time I got my blood drawn, the nurse couldn't find my veins, so I had to get poked four times. Wood inserted the needle with ease, despite being nervous that the same might happen again.
As I got my IV drip, the general manager at Restore's Chelsea location talked about other therapies that are offered at Restore.
Customers have used hyperbaric chambers, which increase air pressure to allow your lungs to breath more oxygen, for recovering from surgery, treating COVID-19 brain fog, and sleeping.
Mota, a former Nike coach, said Restore's various therapies have helped him recover from exercise much faster than before. Mota said he can work out everyday and sometimes twice a day, because of the time he spends in recovery.
I quickly felt hydrated but didn't feel the effects of the IV for long. I can't afford the $200 price point for more IV drips.
Allana Akhtar is anInsider.
The therapy took 35 minutes. I was advised to sit for five minutes by the nurses after I felt lightheaded and nauseated.
I asked Rammal and Wood if they were working at Restore. Most of the nurses work at Lennox Hill and Restore part-time.
During the height of the disease, New York City was the epicenter, savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay savesay Helping healthy, fit people at Restore gave them a break from treating sick patients.
I started to feel more alert after having a cup of coffee, as I was recovering from the drip. It was like I hadn't even worked out that day, as my muscle soreness was gone entirely.
I was curious to see if Restore could help with my DOMS the next day, but unfortunately my muscle soreness came back. It would be great to get another IV, but I can't afford another $200 treatment.
