Intravenous (IV) Therapy is a method of feeding vitamins, minerals, and amino acids directly into the bloodstream used to correct intracellular nutrient deficiencies. Oral intake of such high doses is simply not possible due to absorption limitations from the digestive process. Patients can get up to 10 times the nutrients in one treatment as they could get orally in one day.

A good example of this is the use of Vitamin C when trying to overcome a cold due to some sort of virus. The antiviral effects of Vitamin C are seen when blood levels are around 10-15 mg/dL. This level is achievable with IV Therapy but not orally. Oral dosage typically peaks with blood levels around 1.2-4.0 mg/dL vs. IV Therapy of 50-90 mg/dL.