A Texas company, which opened in 2015, promised a new treatment for a number of conditions. Simply coming in and subscribing to a routine of IV treatments could treat cancer, multiple sclerosis, and certain forms of heart disease. The contents of the IV were a variety of vitamins and specific herbs deemed medicinal. This form of therapy, known as IV therapy, has gained some traction popularly even though no scientific evidence stands behind it. Now the Federal Trade Commission has decided to weigh in. Keep reading to learn more, or follow the original story here for more information.
IV Therapy
IV Therapy goes by a number of names. Intravenous micro-nutrient therapy, intravenous vitamin therapy, and hydration therapy may all refer to the same method of treatment. According to the FTC these methods of treatment have become increasingly popular in the United States. Health websites, such as those run by celebrity Gwenyth Paltrow, regularly advocate for them. And yet, the injection of vitamins through IV has not only lacks tested benefits, it may actually be less effective than taking oral vitamins.
A 15 minutes treatment at one location costs about $200. A month of vitamin C pill costs roughly $9. The pills are deemed more effective, but doctors say that people who really need additional nutrition and vitamins should first consider altering their diet.
Health Claims?
In Addison, Texas, iV Bars is the leader in IV Therapy. They are also now one of the primary interests of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) look into the industry. Though no fines have been given, the FTC made clear that any future violations of policy will be met with hefty penalties.
This is to discourage the spread of misinformation. Patient health, and medical treatment are serious areas– not only of business, but of safety. Companies are not, under FTC rules, allowed to make “unsupported promises” about a therapy’s effectiveness in treating disease. Scientific evidence is the metric by which these claims must be measured and supported. The Meyers Cocktail (an iV Bars treatment, priced at a steep $125), for example, promises to treat cancer, angina, cardiovascular disease, forms of heart failure, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes to name a few.
No comment has been issued by the company regarding the FTC notices and regulations. An email to customers, however, since clarified that the company’s curative claims are not supported by scientific studies.
