Push IV therapy technically refers to the way that vitamins, fluids, medications, or nutrients are administered to patients — they are injected directly into the bloodstream using a small needle attached to a syringe. This means that push IV therapy encompasses a number of different individual infusions designed to support an array of biological functions. In fact, the benefits of push IV therapy are so numerous that it can seem a bit confusing at first. 

To help you understand this therapy and why it is useful for so many different things, we’ve broken down the most important factors to know if you are considering push IV therapy. In this article, we’ll explain what push IV therapy is, what makes it unique, and discuss some of the many ways it helps patients.

What Is Push IV Therapy?

Push IV therapy is a method of delivering vitamins, minerals, and sometimes medications directly into a patient’s bloodstream through a small needle. Treatments begin with a sterile needle inserted into a vein, either on the back of the patient’s hand or at the top of the forearm. Once the needle is appropriately placed, it is attached to a catheter. A single dose of nutrients, fluids, or medication contained in a syringe is connected to the other end of the catheter and delivered into the patient’s bloodstream by a doctor, nurse, or trained medical professional. Treatments typically last no more than 15 minutes, and patients can return to their normal activities immediately afterward.

How Does Push IV Therapy Work?

Push IV therapy is a particularly effective method of administering nutrients, fluids, and/or medications to patients because it circumvents the digestive system. When we consume supplements and vital nutrients orally, they must first pass through the stomach and gastrointestinal tract before being absorbed into the bloodstream. Because of this process, a significant percentage of them are unusable by the body.

Push IV therapy delivers nutrients directly into the bloodstream, ensuring the entire dose can be used by the cells in the body that need them. Intravenous administration not only ensures that more of the nutrients are usable by the body, but it also speeds up the process. Because the nutrients get where they need to go faster, patients see the effects much more quickly.

How Is Push IV Therapy Different from IV Drip Therapy?

Push IV therapy and IV drip therapy both deliver nutrients, fluids, and/or medications intravenously using a small needle attached to a catheter. The difference is that doctors use a syringe to inject nutrients into the other end of the catheter for push IV therapy, whereas IV drip therapy relies on gravity to allow nutrients to slowly “drip” into the catheter. Both vitamin therapies offer advantages, and there is some overlap in the specific vitamin infusions that can be delivered through each of these methods.

Push IV therapy is faster, taking approximately 15 minutes, whereas IV drip therapy can range from 30 to 180 minutes. Not all vitamin infusions are available as an IV push, however. Some vitamins, nutrients, and medications need to be administered more slowly to mitigate side effects, such as nausea or lightheadedness. Your doctor will be able to provide a specific list of vitamin infusions that are available in each form, and recommend the best therapy to help you reach your health and wellness goals.

What Are the Benefits of Push IV Therapy?

Two of the most significant benefits of push IV therapy are that treatments are fast (approximately 15 minutes) and patients can resume their normal activities immediately afterward. Push IV therapy can be scheduled over a lunch break, before work, or in preparation for a big event. 

When the specific nutrients or infusion is tailored to the individual patient, there are an untold number of benefits that can be obtained. Below are outlines of just a few of these many benefits.

Push IV Therapy for Health and Wellness

There are many ways that push IV therapy can help patients achieve their health and wellness goals. For example, IV’s containing antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. This alone boasts a wide range of benefits, such as lowering a patient’s risk for certain diseases and even helping to repair DNA. 

Whether you’re looking to boost your ability to focus in preparation for an exam, want to strengthen your immune system before cold and flu season, or want to increase your energy while starting a new fitness program, push IV therapy can likely help. Some of the many health and wellness benefits associated with push IV therapy include:

• Boosting the immune system
• Reducing chest congestion
• Reducing inflammation
• Boosting cognitive function
• Boosting energy
• Reducing oxidative stress
• Improving overall mood
• Improving sleep

Push IV Therapy for Anti-Aging

Push IV therapy can be used to deliver a variety of vitamins and minerals that have shown to rejuvenate hair, skin, nails, and more. Some of the anti-aging benefits of push IV therapy include:

• Improving skin elasticity
• Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
• Strengthening hair and nails
• Reducing the appearance of blemishes
• Repairing sun spots and skin damage caused by UV light exposure
• Slowing certain aging processes

Push IV Therapy for Athletic Performance

Push IV therapy can help athletes before, during, or after physical exertion. Depending on the desired results, this therapy can be incorporated into a regular training program or used as a single treatment to boost performance in preparation for a specific competition. Some of the ways push IV therapy can benefit athletes include:

• Speeding up recovery time after workouts
• Supporting muscle tissue repair
• Flushing free radicals produced during exercise out of the body
• Reducing oxidative stress
• Maintaining hydration
• Boosting energy
• Boosting cognitive function

Push IV Therapy for Acute and Chronic Conditions

In addition to the many benefits available to mostly healthy patients, push IV therapy can be used to alleviate symptoms of certain acute and chronic conditions and ailments. Push IV therapy can be used to reduce certain symptoms after they start, as well as used before symptoms begin as a preventative measure. Some of the conditions and ailments push IV therapy can aid in the treatment of include:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Hangovers
• Jetlag
• Insomnia
• Fibromyalgia
• Certain Autoimmune Conditions
• Heavy Metal Toxicity
• Parkinson’s Disease

If you would like to learn more about the many benefits of push IV therapy, visit the Aspire Regenerative website or book a consultation at our San Diego, California wellness center. Our doctors and clinicians will be able to make personalized treatment recommendations based on your medical history and unique health and wellness goals.