Ketamine Infusions

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz

KETAMINE – PuraGraft

 

What is Ketamine?

Ketamine is an anesthetic and analgesic that was FDA approved in the 1960s. It was used in the operating room, on the battlefield, and in many other situations and is listed on the World Health Organization’s list of essential medicines. When working with trained professionals, ketamine is very safe. It is highly effective at helping with severe depression, even in cases where traditional medications or therapies fail to alleviate symptoms. When used as an antidepressant, it is administered in doses much too low to induce anesthesia. Ketamine infusions are safe when administered and monitored by an experienced provider in a clinical setting.

The strongest data supporting Ketamine infusion clinical success in psychiatric disorders is in treatment of major depression episodes without psychotic features associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). 

Anxiety: Over half the people diagnosed with Depression are also diagnosed with anxiety. Women are twice as likely to have anxiety than men. 

PTSD: A trial completed by Matthew (2016), showed 0.5mg/kg Ketamine administered over 40 min. showed a significant reduction in Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) scores, and lasted up to two weeks in some cases. This is just with a single trial, not observing what a regular dosing schedule would do to help decrease PTSD severity in individuals. 

OCD: In 2013, a study by Rodriguez et al., showed 0.5mg/kg Ketamine given over 40 min. rapidly decreased OCD symptoms. There were sustained effects in 50% of people 1 week later. 

Ketamine Prices for Neuropsychiatric Symptoms:

  • $333/Infusion during initial induction phase (first 6 infusions) or $400/session
  • Package price for induction phase: 6 infusions for $2,000, pre-paid (save $400) + Post-infusion support available to all patients
  • 45 min. ketamine infusion
  • Effectively alleviates symptoms in up to 70% of patients (per available data)
  • Rapid relief, oftentimes generating positive results within 1-2 hours of the infusion
  • Recommended protocol is 6 infusions over an initial 2.5 week period, followed by maintenance infusions as needed [This is very dependent on persons clinical situation]

Ketamine for Chronic Pain Syndromes

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the muscles and tissues of the body, causing symptoms of aching and stiffness. Pain can range from moderate to severe, and can affect various parts of the body at various times. This pain can be debilitating and still is not completely understood by the medical community.

Ketamine can successfully reduce patient’s chronic pain symptoms with low dose Ketamine infusions allowing the patient to progressively obtain relief from their symptoms. The effects can be dramatic allowing patients for the first time in years to re-engage in life activities they have missed out on for so long.

*Stephanie, ARNP, recommends anyone with fibromyalgia or other conditions to have a full integrative work-up prior to doing Ketamine infusions. Often, there are pathogens (reactivated viruses, mold, chemical toxicities, etc.) that can heighten these symptoms and need to be addressed. 

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic neurological syndrome characterized by:

  • severe burning pain
  • pathological changes in bone and skin
  • excessive sweating
  • tissue swelling
  • extreme sensitivity to touch

Ketamine provides lasting relief for chronic pain symptoms caused by such conditions as CRPS, RDS, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, diabetic nerve pain, and more

Ketamine Prices for Complex Pain Syndromes: 

  • $750/per treatment (usually lasts 4 hours from start to finish). Series of at least 3 treatments depending on the type of pain syndrome you have, but may require 10 total sessions
  • 10 Pack Special $7,500 
  • Schedule: 5 days on (M-F) off Sat-Sun and then 5 days on (M-F) for 10 total treatments
  • Ketamine infusions may reduce pain for as long as 6-months post infusion
  • Provides lasting relief for chronic pain symptoms caused by such conditions as CRPS, RDS, fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, diabetic nerve pain, and more

Ozone Therapy Infusion – What is Ozone?

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz

Ozone is one of the most versatile forms of healing oxygen on the planet!

What is Ozone

Oxygen, known as O2, is 2 molecules of Oxygen. It is so vital to humans that we would die within minutes without it. Oxygen gives us life and supports nearly all the body’s activities including brain function, energy production, and elimination. Every single cell demands oxygen for proper function, meaning that we cannot live a healthy existence without OXYGEN!

Ozone, or O3, is a ‘high powered’ oxygen. It contains 3 molecules of oxygen instead of 2. You might have heard that ozone can be a dangerous substance in the atmosphere. But, the reality is that it protects us.

Ozone was discovered in 1940 and by 1900, it was used to kill germs on instruments and wounts, sterilize water and in dental surgery. By the 1950’s devices were invented in Germany which allowed for precise amounts of ozone + oxygen mixtures. 

How it Works

  • Ozone produces small amounts of hydrogen peroxide and reacts with unsaturated fatty acids in the blood and forms lipid hydroperoxides (aka ozonoids). It produces a phenomenon known as “Hormesis”. It allows for the cells to have heightened protective and defensive processes. 
  • Ozone treatments can prepare the body for greater stressors at a later time. It helps improve the natural defense system in the body, making it more resilient to infections, illness and stress. 
  • When ozone + oxygen is added to the blood, red and white blood cells help the mitochondria produce more ATP (the energy and life of the cell). This helps repair damage, remove pathogens and improve function of nerve cells. 
  • Cells release an increased amount of oxygen carried by hemoglobin to be released in the tissues.
  • Immune cells (lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils) increase their production of cytokines, which help remove pathogens in infected cells. 
  • Ozone helps turn on the genes that program the production of antioxidant enzymes. 
  • Release growth factors to initiate the repair processes in soft tissues, ligament injuries, joints, etc. 
  • Increases release of nitrous oxide which helps more oxygen and nutrient-rich blood reach the tissues.
  • Stimulates white blood cells to make and release TNF-a which the immune system uses to eliminate abnormal cells and infections. 

Ozone Therapy Provides Health Benefits for Dozens of Conditions

What I love about this therapy is that it’s versatile and can be used for so many diseases, both acute and chronic. The list of illnesses is enormous! Here are just a few conditions that may benefit from Ozone treatments:

  • Cancer
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Lupus
  • Candida
  • Hepatitis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Acne
  • Eczema
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Acute infections (ie. influenzae) 
  • Autoimmune Disease
  • Lyme Disease

Ozone not only has the potential to fight infection, it can also help the body to produce its own antioxidant system. It can also re-oxygenate the tissues, bloodstream and organs, making it a great addition for those with cardiovascular disease, circulation problems, mental illness, cancer and inflammatory disorders.

Additionally, it relaxes the nervous system by essentially resetting the nerves. 

We are excited to offer this at Vive IV Therapy. Please call 563.284.2422 to book your appointment, today! 

Resources: https://www.thekarlfeldtcenter.com/ozone-therapy/ 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA

Ozone Therapy

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz
Ozone Therapy

What is Ozone Therapy?

  • Ozone is oxygen, but it’s different to the oxygen molecules you breathe. It’s the molecule you smell in the air after a thunderstorm.
  • High doses of ozone mobilize stem cells which are circulating through the body for weeks providing their powerful healing powers to the cells. Ozone mobilizes immune system and stem cells.
  • Helps strengthen “Helper T cells” Documented 40-60% rise of these cells after 2 high dose ozone treatments.  

What is Ozone Therapy used for?

  • Anti Infective (Lyme Disease, Epstein Barr Virus, Mono, Shingles, Influenzae, SARs Viruses, Herpes Viruses, Parasitic Infections) 
  • Adjunct Cancer | Oncology Therapy
  • Lyme Disease
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 
  • Mold Toxicity 
  • Autoimmune Diseases (IBD, Lupus, MS, Parkinsons, Rheumatoid Arthritis)
  • Anti-Aging 
  • Athletic Training
  • Cellulitis
  • Hair Loss
  • Scar Treatments
  • Joint Pain
  • Prostate Enlargement (BPH)

Ozone can help improve brain function, assist in mitochondria energy production, can help remove damaging gut bacteria and toxic mold, speeds up wound healing, decreases inflammation, and makes your teeth and gums stronger.

“It’s one of the best ways to upgrade your mitochondria — the power generators in your cells — so they produce more energy, especially in your brain. I used ozone therapy years ago to get rid of damage from toxic mold. I still use it today to make my mitochondria stronger” – Dave Asprey 

How will I feel after treatment

  • Feel energized due to mitochondria repair
  • Improve brain function
  • Decreased inflammation
  • Decreased Pain

How long does it take? 

  • There are many routes that Ozone can be administered. Depending on the route, the times can vary.
  • On average each pass takes around 45 min. – A pass is where blood is removed from the body, ozonated, placed into an IV bag and reinfused into the body. There are also ways to injection ozone without infusions. This can be done via injections. 

Frequency of Treatment?

  • Chronic infections, illness or cancer need to have more frequent treatments for a comprehensive treatment plan, this can be 1-2x/week for 8-12 weeks and then re-evaluation
  • Healthy patients can do it once a quarter or prior to travel

*Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA

Treating Viruses – Without Fear

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz
Treating Viruses – Without Fear

The coronavirus has created quite an uproar in the media. Deaths. Infections. Masks…. LOTS OF MASKS. Hysteria. Quarantine. Travel bans. I bought a bubble and decided I’ll live in it for the next few months. 

Just kidding. What I’ve learned in health is that fear rarely solves problems. It usually makes people act hysterical and with quick, thoughtless judgement. Yes, we have to prepare for a major pandemics, but we should be proactive about it and not reacting when it has already happened. 

The best way to cure a virus is to prevent getting one in the first place. Common hygiene practices go a long way.

  1. Hand washing with soap and water is the single most important thing anyone can do to help spread infection. Hand sanitizer is typically filled with chemicals and does not wash off germs like hand washing does.  
  2. Avoid touching your face and eyes. This can be habitual for some people, but our hands carry a lot of germs and our mucous membranes in our eyes, nose and mouth can be a vehicle for spreading infections. 
  3. Increase your vegetable intake and decrease your processed sugar intake. Sugar decreases your immune function and can actually slow down immune function HOURS after sugar intake. Sodas, frappuccinos, candy,  breads, yogurts and other processed foods contain high amounts of sugar. 
  4. Improve your immune function with high quality supplements. Vitamin C, Organic Elderberry, Vitamin D3 and Zinc are all great supplements to keep the immune system working well. 
    • Vitamin C: Dosing can be as high as your bowels tolerate (we call this bowel tolerance). 3,000-5,000mg divided throughout the day is usually well tolerated. When sick, your body cycles through vitamin C (a potent antioxidant) faster, so your body usually needs more. You can do higher doses and then back down if you are having gas, diarrhea or GI upset. 
    • Organic Elderberry: 1 tsp. twice daily. Can double the doses when sick. 
    • Vitamin D3: Best to have levels checked, typically the Iowans I treat are all deficient and do well with 5,000-10,000 IU daily. Can increase this dose for a few weeks while improving your immune function. 
    • Zinc: 20-30mg daily WITH food

It’s great to know what you can do to prevent viruses (including the coronavirus), but what can you do if you were to get a virus? Typically the treatment requires increasing your fluid intake and resting. If you notice that you have a fever, cough, chest pain or other symptoms, please get checked out by a medical professional and call in to work. We spread infections often in the periods where we are just starting to experience the first signs of illness. Again, this is why hand washing is so important. 

Dr. Andrew W. Saul, an international expert on vitamin therapy states, “The coronavirus can be dramatically slowed or stopped completely with the immediate widespread use of high doses of vitamin C. Bowel tolerance levels of C taken in divided doses throughout the day, is a clinically proven antiviral” 

If infected with a virus:

  • Increase water intake, stay hydrated
  • Take time off work to sleep and rest, allowing your body time to heal
  • Increase vitamin c to bowel tolerance. 2,000mg every 2 hours while acutely ill. If you have too much, you will have loose stools, just decrease dose to lower dose, but keep taking. *If you have ulcers or sensitive digestive tract, go very slow with your vitamin c intake
  • Get a vitamin c (Immune Boost) infusion

Vitamin C has been known to be one of the best natural antivirals around. Professor Victor Marcial-Vega reported, “Given the relatively high rate of success of intravenous vitamin C in viral diseases and my observation of clinical improvement within 2 to 3 hours of treatment, I strongly believe it would be my first recommendation in the management of the coronavirus.” He goes on to state that he has seen vitamin c infusions treat influenza, dengue fever, and chikungunya, for over 24 years. 

Hopefully this can give you practical and helpful ways to prepare for any viral infection. Remember fear increases stress which decreases immune function. Turn off the television and start washing your hands. 

In Health,

Stephanie Grutz, ARNP, FNP-C 

Please see your medical provider if you have any questions or concerns about your health. And remember, always ask “why” and get to the root cause of your symptoms. 

Heavy Metal Testing

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz
Studio shot of urine sample

Heavy metals are all around us – in our water and our environment. Homes built prior to 1978 have increased incidence for lead paint and pipes. Many beauty products are not regulated by the FDA and have a variety of chemical and heavy metal toxicants present. If you have a silver filling in your mouth, it has mercury, silver and other metals. Lastly, mercury has been found in around 50% of all high fructose corn syrup products, due to mechanical processing which uses mercury (see my blog post on Mercury in food to learn more)

Today I’m going to discuss mercury and lead because they are two common metals that are high in the American population.

Heavy metals are naturally found in the environment but cause disequilibrium when inside body above detectable levels. 

Lead is associated with ADHD, decreased neurocognitive function, developmental delays, anxiety, depression and general toxicity. It was banned from gasoline in the 1970s but can still be found in older homes that used leaded paint. Lead can also make its way into water, because of corrosion from old water pipes. Lead is also used in a variety of products like industrial paints, car batteries and wheel weights. In the Midwest, we have a lot of old lead mining towns and most of my patients will have lead off the charts when tested. Slowly getting lead out of a toxic body can have a great impact on the patients overall health and well-being. 

To reduce lead exposure: Test your water for lead. Make sure if you are in an old home you are not exposed to lead paint or old lead pipes.

Mercury is associated with central nervous system effects including personality changes, irritability, fatigue, tremors, ataxia (loss of control of body movements), difficulties with memory and concentration, sleep disturbances and neuropathies. It can also affect the developing fetus and lead to neurocognitive problems after birth (think of maternal heavy metal toxicity as source of exposure to this developing fetus).

The general population is primarily exposed to mercury vapour from dental amalgams (silver fillings) and to organic mercury from fish consumption. Mercury bioaccumulates up the food chain; therefore, large predatory species such as tuna, halibut, shark and swordfish tend to have high concentrations of mercury in their tissue. Thimerosal, is a mercury-containing preservative, and a component of some vaccines. Occupational exposure to mercury is generally to mercury vapour found in industries such as dentistry, mining, and the manufacture of electrical equipment and medical instruments.  Once absorbed, mercury is distributed primarily to the central nervous system and the kidneys. 

To reduce mercury exposure: Limit seafood intake – opt for wild caught fish up to 2-3x/month. Remove heavy metals with safe biological dentist (find one near you: https://iaomt.org), look at vaccine inserts to make sure “thimerosal” is not active ingredient, and complete heavy metal urine testing. 

Remove Heavy metal via Chelation

At Vive IV Therapy we offer heavy metal chelation therapy services. Heavy metal chelation binds heavy metals and removes them from the body. IV chelation is most commonly done by using calcium EDTA. This infusion takes around 1.5-2 hours to receive. It is recommended that a patient get 14 treatments prior to re-testing levels. Depending on labs, patients will get a mineral repletion bag between every 1-3 chelations to replace the minerals that were lost during chelation (EDTA and other chelators like minerals as well as heavy metals). People receiving treatment usually come 2-3x/week for 6-8 weeks.

Who should be tested and treated?

Anyone with cancer (or prior history of cancer), chronic diseases, autoimmune disease and anyone interested for optimal health, should be screened. All my patients exhibiting neurological symptoms are tested for heavy metals. If the patient has a past or current history of heavy metal exposure, I will obtain levels on them as well.

Iron Deficiency – 8 Common Symptoms

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz

Definition of Iron Deficiency:

Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia defined by Mayo Clinic as  “a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells”.  If you can remember back to biology classes, red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s tissues and as the name implies, “iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron”.

Without enough iron, your body is unable to produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen. As a result, iron deficiency can present itself with many different symptoms.

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency:

Iron deficiency anemia is most commonly associate with fatigue and shortness of breath.  With mild iron deficiency, symptoms often go unnoticed. However, as the body becomes more anemic, signs and symptoms often intensify.

  1. Fatigue
  2. Paleness noted to skin, nails and mucous membranes of your inner, lower eyelids
  3. Chest pains,  rapid heartbeat,  shortness of breath
  4. Dizziness
  5. Cold hands and feet, brittle nails
  6. Inflammation of your tongue
  7. Hearing loss
  8. Craving and chewing large amounts of ice!  Pica is a term used to describe craving and chewing on substances that lack nutritional value – such as ice, clay, soil or paper. Craving and chewing ice is often associated with iron deficiency without known cause

Causes of Iron Deficiency:

Iron deficiency anemia is the result of your body not producing enough iron.  The result of this is the body’s inability to produce enough hemoglobin to oxygenate red blood cells.

What can cause iron deficiency anemia?

  1. An Acute Bleed – If you notice rectal bleeding, you should always get this checked
  2. Surgical Procedures
  3. Autoimmune Diseases – crohn’s,  ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, chronic autoimmune disorders and more
  4. Pregnancy – Extra oxygen & nutrient demands required to fetus can leave mother depleted
  5. Heavy Periods –  Iron deficiency is very common in women with heavy cycles and blood loss

Lab tests to run to rule out Iron Deficiency:

While symptoms like fatigue, dizziness and pale skin, etc. are often associated with iron deficiency anemia; it is important to get lab test to check hemoglobin levels.

  1. Iron Panel – Iron, TIBC, Ferritin
  2. Complete Blood Count (CBC) – Looking at hemoglobin levels and the size/shape of the red blood cell

Treatment:

Treatment for iron deficiency anemia can be multifaceted and often depending on the degree of iron deficiency you have in your body.

  1. Dietary iron (this is found in two forms):
    • Heme iron – This type of iron is found in lean red meat, poultry, and seafood. Heme iron is easily absorbed into the body.
    • Nonheme iron – Nonheme iron is poorly absorbed into the body. Beans, broccoli, legumes, brown rice, nuts and seeds all contain nonheme iron.
  2. Cookware
    • Cast Iron cookware – Can help provide iron to those in need.
    • Iron Fish – Is an iron block that you can add to water to help infuse water with iron. Make sure you choose a brand that is high quality and highly reviewed.
  3. Supplements
    • Oral iron supplementation – Is great for the people that have well functioning GI tracks. Sometimes even these people aren’t able to boost their levels fast enough. Many people find cheaper brands to be harsh on their stomach, leading to pain and constipation. Not to mention the fake colors and ingredients that are added to most of the products. I love Select Balance Iron – it comes in Single (25mg) or Double Strength and is chelated, meaning it absorbs really well into your body, minimizing side effects like constipation and stomach upset.
  4. IV Infusions
    • When people are having a hard time functioning with severe fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations and constant chewing on ice, IV iron infusions can be warranted. These infusions locally at my clinic (Vive IV Therapy) typically take around 2 hours using Venofer, a high quality iron supplementation. It’s non-painful and results are typically seen within 24-72 hours post infusion. https://viveivtherapy.com/services/iv-therapy/iron-replenish-iv-infusion/ 

Iron Replenish IV Infusion

Definition of Iron Deficiency:

Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia defined by Mayo Clinic as  “a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells”.  If you can remember back to biology classes, red blood cells carry oxygen to the body’s tissues and as the name implies, “iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron”.

Without enough iron, your body is unable to produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen. As a result, iron deficiency can present itself with many different symptoms.

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency:

Iron deficiency anemia is most commonly associate with fatigue and shortness of breath.  With mild iron deficiency, symptoms often go unnoticed. However, as the body becomes more anemic, signs and symptoms often intensify.

  1. Fatigue
  2. Paleness noted to skin, nails and mucous membranes of your inner, lower eyelids
  3. Chest pains,  rapid heartbeat,  shortness of breath
  4. Dizziness
  5. Cold hands and feet, brittle nails
  6. Inflammation of your tongue
  7. Hearing loss
  8. Craving and chewing large amounts of ice!  Pica is a term used to describe craving and chewing on substances that lack nutritional value – such as ice, clay, soil or paper. Craving and chewing ice is often associated with iron deficiency without known cause

Causes of Iron Deficiency:

Iron deficiency anemia is the result of your body not producing enough iron.  The result of this is the body’s inability to produce enough hemoglobin to oxygenate red blood cells.

What can cause iron deficiency anemia?

  1. An Acute Bleed – If you notice rectal bleeding, you should always get this checked
  2. Surgical Procedures
  3. Autoimmune Diseases – crohn’s,  ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, chronic autoimmune disorders and more
  4. Pregnancy – Extra oxygen & nutrient demands required to fetus can leave mother depleted
  5. Heavy Periods –  Iron deficiency is very common in women with heavy cycles and blood loss

Lab tests to run to rule out Iron Deficiency:

While symptoms like fatigue, dizziness and pale skin, etc. are often associated with iron deficiency anemia; it is important to get lab test to check hemoglobin levels.

  1. Iron Panel – Iron, TIBC, Ferritin
  2. Complete Blood Count (CBC) – Looking at hemoglobin levels and the size/shape of the red blood cell

Treatment:

Treatment for iron deficiency anemia can be multifaceted and often depending on the degree of iron deficiency you have in your body.

  1. Dietary iron (this is found in two forms):
    • Heme iron – This type of iron is found in lean red meat, poultry, and seafood. Heme iron is easily absorbed into the body.
    • Nonheme iron – Nonheme iron is poorly absorbed into the body. Beans, broccoli, legumes, brown rice, nuts and seeds all contain nonheme iron.
  2. Cookware
    • Cast Iron cookware – Can help provide iron to those in need.
    • Iron Fish – Is an iron block that you can add to water to help infuse water with iron. Make sure you choose a brand that is high quality and highly reviewed.
  3. Supplements
    • Oral iron supplementation – Is great for the people that have well functioning GI tracks. Sometimes even these people aren’t able to boost their levels fast enough. Many people find cheaper brands to be harsh on their stomach, leading to pain and constipation. Not to mention the fake colors and ingredients that are added to most of the products. I love Select Balance Iron – it comes in Single (25mg) or Double Strength and is chelated, meaning it absorbs really well into your body, minimizing side effects like constipation and stomach upset.
  4. IV Infusions
    • When people are having a hard time functioning with severe fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations and constant chewing on ice, IV iron infusions can be warranted. These infusions locally at my clinic (Vive IV Therapy) typically take around 2 hours using Venofer, a high quality iron supplementation. It’s non-painful and results are typically seen within 24-72 hours post infusion. https://viveivtherapy.com/services/iv-therapy/iron-replenish-iv-infusion/ 

Iron Replenish IV Infusion

 

Natural Weight Loss Support with Nutrients

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz

What are lipotropic weight loss support injections?

Weight loss support injections are natural injections administered via IM to help directly absorb into the body and bypass the GI system. When people have weight difficulties, a lot of the time, they have difficulties absorbing nutrients as well. This combination of B12 and MIC (explained later on) delivers a powerful addition of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to help aid in the weight loss process.

What are the Ingredients in the Lipotropic injections?
As mentioned above, these weight loss support injections contain natural ingredients (vitamins, minerals and amino acids) that play important roles in the body’s use of fat. They help decrease fat deposits in the body while speeding up the metabolism of fat and its removal. The lipotropic shots at Vive IV include:

Vitamin B12: known as the “energy” vitamin. It helps prevent fatigue and suppress your appetite.

Methionine: an amino acid that helps prevent fatigue and works as an antioxidant to help remove toxins in the body.

Inositol: part of the B vitamin family, it helps break down fat, promote healthy hair and skin, and regulate insulin.

Choline: part of the B vitamin family, it breaks down fat, keeps cell membranes healthy and helps prevent gallstones.

How Often Do You Need Lipotropic Injections? For maximum results, we recommend weekly injections, as you are on your weight loss journey. Every person is different so we say start with 4-8 weeks and re-evaluate.

This injection combined with oral multivitamins and minerals, a gluten/dairy free diet and light exercise, has been shown to be effective in many individuals desiring to lose weight the healthy way.

Weight Loss Support Injection

Winter is Here: Keep your Immune System Strong

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz
Winter is Here: Keep your Immune System Strong

It’s the time of year of year where we spread more than holiday cheer…

Winter is here, the beautiful bluffs glittered with snow and fireplaces glowing an amber hue. Oh the beauties of the Iowa seasons! What might not be so beautiful, are those illnesses that can accompany the cold and winter months. In the winter, we are typically indoors more often, running to holiday parties and family gatherings with other people that are ill, and the cycle of never ending coughs and colds pursue. Most winter illnesses can be managed with TLC and sleep, but ailments like the flu, shingles and other viruses, can really knock someone down hard. Taking preventative measures now, can help keep you striving throughout the seasons.

Immune Boost IV Infusion

The definition of Influenza aka “Flu”: 

Web MD’s definition of influenza is “a viral infection. People often use the term “flu” to describe any kind of mild illness, such as a cold or a stomach virus, that has symptoms like the flu. But the real flu is different. Flu symptoms are usually worse than a cold and last longer. The flu usually does not cause vomiting or diarrhea in adults. The flu causes a fever, body aches, a headache, a dry cough, and a sore or dry throat. You will probably feel tired and less hungry than usual. The symptoms usually are the worst for the first 3 or 4 days. But it can take 1 to 2 weeks to get completely better”.

Since the immune system is most likely suppressed, prior to ever having flu or shingles, sometimes other opportunistic infections such as ear infections or pneumonia can come about adding insult to injury.

The easiest way to avoid illness is to improve and maintain your immune system! Typically when our immune system is not functioning (which can be due to stress, disease, everyday toxin overload, decreased exercise, increased sweets/decreased nutritious foods) we are highly susceptible to illnesses, as our body is working hard to process all of the other stressors in the body.

Winter Wellness Package

How to keep healthy

  1. Decrease stress. Realize that the stresses of holidays and don’t overdo it. Take “me-time” so can unwind, relax, meditate and focus on what is really important to you in your current life. Holidays sometimes mean we aren’t able to avoid the people that are what I call “energy zappers”, but we can try to limit our exposure to them.
  2. Decrease toxins. As I emphasize throughout all my articles, decreasing toxins in our lives will help enhance our immune system. Choose organic when possible, avoid chemicals – including artificial scents/products (perfume, laundry detergent, body wash, lotions, candles). Use essential oils to diffuse throughout the house, some specific essential oils (I use one called Thieves), can actually eliminate spores and other toxins from the air. Do the magnificent detox baths 2-5x/week with 2 cups epsom salt + 1/4 cup baking soda.
  3. Take supplements. Vitamin C and zinc are my go-to supplements when I’m feeling rundown. Vitamin C 1000mg three times daily and Zinc 25-30mg daily can really help perk up the immune system. I always recommend purchasing supplements that do not have fillers or a lot of “other ingredients”, they won’t perk you up as well as high qualities brands will. Use Select Balance for all your supplement needs! 
  4. Get IV Nutrition! Say what? IV nutritional therapy loads your body with high dose vitamins and minerals, bypassing the GI system and going straight into your bloodstream. Delivering powerful nutrients & antioxidants directly to your cells, will get you on your feet faster! Vive IV Therapy in Dubuque is a great place to utilize for this purpose. Vive IV has an infusion called the “Natural Flu shot” where there are high doses of VItamin C, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals infused in an IV bag to help give that needed boost when people are feeling the start of an illness coming on.
  5. Vitamin D3 Injections! 50,000 IU injections we recommend doing once weekly x6-8 weeks to help your immune system. Optimal (between 60-80) Vitamin D levels have been shown in studies to be more effective than the flu shot. In addition, you can also take 5,000IU (or more depending on your levels), during the winter month to keep your levels optimal.

Being proactive and helping your immune system stay at the top of its game, will get you through this winter and all other seasons, in a breeze!

Vitamin D3 Special

How to Ease Holiday Hangovers

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz

Happy Holidays to you all! As I flip on the radio each December, I hear a few songs that claim this <Winter> is “the most wonderful time of the year”. I agree that celebrating is extra special when the nights are long, days are short, and colder temps fill the air. These holiday traditions indeed make the transition from Winter to Spring easier. During the holidays, it can be easy to overindulge in food and libations. Alcohol and processed foods/sugar can be inflammatory to the body so it’s best to truly enjoy these in moderation. But, if you are indulging in a glass (or two) of your favorite spirits, I have given a few pointers to get you through the holidays (or any special occasion) feeling your best.

First let me tell you the scientific equation for that hangover you might experience. Hangovers = Dehydration + VItamin/Mineral/Nutrient Loss. The liver is an amazing organ in our body. It  tries to filter out the toxins from our blood as efficiently as possible, but when our liver is overworked and taxed from alcohol, it can have a harder time filtering and breaking down toxins in the body. This is typically where people start feeling the negative effects of alcohol.

ReVIVE IV Infusion – Everyday Health Boost

Here are pointers to help get you through before, during, and after a night of consuming alcohol:

  1. Keep Hydrated:  Have a glass of water in between every alcoholic beverage consumed. This will give your liver more time to process and remove toxins.  Grab some coconut water (natural electrolyte booster without all the sugars and chemicals that most electrolyte sugar drinks contain), and drink this just before going to bed to help hydrate cells.
  2. Eat a Meal with Healthy Fat: Fat can help slow down absorption of alcohol in the body. A meal cooked with coconut oil or olive oil, fatty fish, organic tree nuts (not peanuts), and avocados are some great ideas to help get good fats into your body.
  3. Choose Alcohol Carefully: Choosing a liquor that is lighter in color and higher quality can be the best route to go when picking your drink. Alcohol has particles (called congeners if we want to get technical) that are impurities if not filtered out. Usually the high sugared alcohol or the alcohol with color contains a lot of these particles which overburdens the bodies ability to cleanse and increases overall inflammation in the body.
  4. The Morning After: After a night indulging in alcohol, make an omelet with organic eggs. Eggs contain an amino acid called cysteine, which helps create antioxidants in the body and helps the liver function better. Eggs can also help stabilize blood sugar in the body, making you feel better overall.  For the vegan options: Use legumes, sunflower seeds, and whole grains like quinoa, teff or couscous to help replenish the cystine in the body.
  5. For those stubborn hangovers: The dreadful lingering headaches that can be coupled with the winter seasonal illnesses, can be cured faster by taking supplements like a good quality B-Complex Multivitamin + Vitamin C. For the fastest recovery, get an IV “Revive Infusion” to quickly help you hydrate and receive powerful amounts of multiple B vitamins, Minerals and Vitamin C directly into your veins to nourish your cells. You can find IV infusions at Vive IV Therapy right here in Dubuque!

I hope everyone has an amazing Holiday Season! The Winter Solstice was celebrated and now the nights are turning shorter and the sun is hanging around longer. This could really be the most wonderful time of the year! Cheers to a happy and healthy 2019!

Wintertime Blues: Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder

Posted on by Stephanie Grutz
Wintertime Blues: Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder

Winters can be brutal no matter where we live. In Iowa, we get the opportunity to witness unseasonably warm temps one day, and then  -30 degrees the next. These varying temps can change our clothing layers and our mood. Up to 20% of Americans are diagnosed with “Seasonal Affective Disorder” or SAD for short.

What is seasonal affective disorder? 

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a seasonal change in mood, which is often seen as increased depression. SAD is 4x more common in women and usually doesn’t appear until after 20 years of age. The seasonal changes where nights get longer and days get shorter, can trigger this. Having less light exposure can change the circadian rhythm (sleep-wake cycles) in the body, which can also trigger SAD.  Some common signs can look like:

  • A change in appetite
  • Weight gain
  • Fatigue/ lack of energy
  • Increased tiredness (but can experience insomnia)
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Irritability
  • Avoidance of social situations

Are you SAD or is it something else? 

Symptoms of SAD can closely correlate with other common health issues such as recurrent depression & subclinical hypothyroidism (low thyroid function). 1 in 8 women have low thyroid function and typically are not diagnosed or get misdiagnosed with depression. This can lead to the start of long term medications such as antidepressants, without considering thyroid function. Most thyroid symptoms typically occur year round, unlike SAD, which can help determine the cause. Hair loss, fatigue, low mood, weight gain, anxiety, fertility problems, high cholesterol, bowel changes, and the other symptoms listed above, can be common with thyroid issues. If symptoms don’t go away after the winter months, then you should be looked at further for other underlying health conditions. If you are really struggling with these symptoms, I recommend getting checked out and not waiting until Spring to see if you’re body and mind will turn the corner. Always better to be safe when it comes to your health!

Treatment of SAD

  1. Getting Outside: Doing this every morning or at least exposing yourself to the sun for just 20 minutes can decrease levels of SAD. Even just having your office desk facing a window can be effective in a short amount of time.
  2. Light Therapy: I use a “HappyLight” box that I purchased locally at Body & Soul Wellness Center. Sitting in front of a light box that has 10,000 lumens for 30-60 min. daily can help decrease SAD in less than 2 weeks. If you don’t have time to use it while getting ready in the a.m., plug it in at work for a great alternative.
  3. Circadian Rhythm Sleep Cycles: See my older post in the Telegraph Harold from July, 2017 where I chatted about the circadian rhythm & how to enhance this cycle. Install the “FLUX” application on your computer/phone to help with blue light, avoid caffiene in evenings, have regular bedtime routine, and more.   Circadian Rhythm – Warning, this is Not a Dance Move
  4. Eating Healthy Fat and High Quality Proteins: This can help balance blood sugar which therefore helps decrease inflammation and controls mood. Looking at a Keto-type diet will give you good ideas of healthy fat/protein. Here’s our Pinterest page if you’re looking for ideas: Select Balance Pinterest
  5. Getting your Vitamin D3! I typically recommend 5,000 IU daily throughout the winter. Most people have decreased serum Vitamin D3 labs which can be a cause of depression. Always get your lab checked if you’re not sure where your levels stand. 
    To get that powerful boost, get IM injections! We recommend doing 50,000 IU injections weekly x6 weeks at our clinic- Vive IV Therapy.And to support orally, we recommend Select Balance Vitamin D3.
  6. Adding Omega 3 Fatty Acids: 2,000mg of DHA/EPA daily can help boost mood and lower inflammation. Select Balance Fish Oil
  7. The Power Of Curcumin! Curcumin acts as an antidepressant, anti anxiety and anti inflammatory herbal supplement. I recommend 600mg-1000mg daily. Make sure when you are purchasing curcumin it has bromelain and/or black pepper to help with absorption, otherwise take with high fats. Select Balance Curcumin

Hopefully this Winter you can enjoy the sunshine and stay cozy! I’m going to go get my light therapy by jumping on my powder skis! See you all next month!