NBC News
The flourishing industry of the Spas of intravenous hydration operates practically without supervision or data that supports their statements, according to the first exhaustive national analysis of hydration clinics.
In clinics from all over the country, people pay hundreds of dollars to administer intravenous vitamins and minerals as supposed detoxification therapy, to relieve headaches or reinforce the immune system, “almost without any evidence”, according to Dr. Peter Lurie, president of the Center for Science in the public interest and co -author of the study, published on Monday in Jama Internal Internal Medicine. “As a result, there is a real danger to consumers.”
Hydration clinics, together with the growing number of Spas Doctors who offer intravenous leaks of vitamins, skin care and cosmetic procedures, have become a well -being industry of 15,000 million dollars in recent years, according to the American association of Spas Doctors
The group represents the Spas Doctors, who often offer intravenous treatments, throughout the country. Alex Thiersch, Executive Director of the American Association of Spas Doctors said that some suppliers of intravenous hydration clinics do not realize that they are actually practicing medicine and can lack adequate training.
“We have had people who have been surprised by that”said Thiersch. “They thought: ‘I’m just putting an intravenous. It’s different. They are vitamins.”
“If you put a needle in the vein to someone,” he said, “that’s 100% medical practice.”
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There are no federal health regulations or national standards for medical spas procedures. Instead, these facilities are under the authority of each State.
According to the new study, in June 2024 no state or jurisdiction had promulgated specific legislation to regulate the Spas of intravenous hydration.
Thirty -two states had some type of policy that addressed the Spas of intravenous hydration, including rules for prescription or preparation of medications or how clinics should dispense medications.
Four states —Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Vermont – had the most complete supervision.
“It is a medical system that exists largely outside conventional medicine,” Lurie said. “We are concerned that people spend their money on these services without having reasons to wait for benefits. We are also worried that there are adverse effects related to this.”
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The risk of injuries is real: the products or equipment could be contaminated, or the supplier may not have adequate training to administer an intravenous route safely.
There is no official count of the number of people injured in Spas doctors Infections and allergic reactions are usually not notified to health departments.
New research cited an previous NBC News report on the Spas Doctors as proof of “the growing concern for their safety, with reports of contaminated infections and products.”
Of the 255 Internet sites of analyzed clinics, more than half offered intravenous hydration therapy and promoted treatments such as magnesium for headaches and muscle cramps, glutathione as an immune system enhancer or other substances announced to increase energy.
Only two of those Internet sites They included tangible sources for these health statements. None mentioned potential risks, such as infections or allergic reactions.
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An aspect of the investigation consisted of an investigation with secret buyers, in which the researchers called 87 Spas chosen at random.
Only around one in four demanded a previous medical consultation. More than 85% recommended specific intravenous cocktails when the people they called mentioned symptoms as a headache or cold, often without verifying the patient’s medical history.
Less than one in four warned about possible side effects, such as bruises or infections.
Food and medication administration has warned consumers about the possibility of serious infections and cutaneous deformities due to unauthorized injections that are promoted to dissolve fat in Spas doctors
