For those living with chronic pain or a debilitating illness, an extra boost beyond standard treatments can sometimes make a difference in their healing journey.
The DRIPBaR offers over 20 different IV Vitamin Therapies that support health and wellness beyond traditional medicine, diet, or exercise. For one of their IV therapies, High-Dose Vitamin C, research suggests that it can fight cancer cells and alleviate symptoms of chronic illness.
Dr. Veena Chandrakar, a local oncologist and owner of The DRIPBaR Houston Heights, opened DRIPBaR after discovering research that revealed how high doses of Vitamin C can serve as potential treatment for cancer and help relieve the side effects of chemotherapy and remission. “It's really hard for some patients, particularly my pancreatic cancer or my breast cancer patients, when they’re trying to do chemotherapy that is particularly curative intent. They experience much harsher side effects,” Chandrakar said. “When they get that High-Dose Vitamin C, they're able to tolerate the chemotherapy better. They have more energy so that they can get through the next treatment.”
High-Dose Vitamin C Therapy works by administering a high concentration of the nutrient into the bloodstream. When administered in high doses, Vitamin C can create a toxic environment for cancer cells, leading to cell death. While it should not be used as a standalone treatment for cancer, it can serve as a piece of a comprehensive treatment plan to support the body’s healing process.
Along with benefits for cancer treatment, High-Dose Vitamin C can also help manage cold and flu symptoms, chronic fatigue, inflammation, healing and recovery from surgery, anti-aging, among other benefits. “People think ‘oh, I drink enough water, or I take my supplements, so that's good enough.’ The thing is, less than 20% of oral vitamins are absorbed in our body,” Chandrakar said. “Because there's no regulations on the production of oral vitamins, they could be sitting on the shelf for years and have no efficacy whatsoever.”
While often viewed as a cure for hangovers after a long night out, Chandrakar explains the IV Therapy offers several other infusions that support health or wellness concerns. Other therapies include nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to help fight aging, memory, and fatigue, and glutathione to support antioxidant defense, detoxification, cardiovascular health, neurodegenerative diseases, and more. “It’s not just about hangovers, and that's what's so interesting, because there's so many benefits,” she said. “We have ones for people who have menopausal symptoms or for people who have anxiety – each drip has a benefit for a variety of different conditions, and so it could work for almost anybody.”
The DRIPBaR splits their services between lifestyle drips and health support drips. They require clients to receive lab testing and a medical consultation before starting the health support drips, including High-Dose Vitamin C.
When it comes to IV Vitamin Therapy, maintaining a consistent program is key to experiencing max benefits. “We have programs that we've created, and we can also specialize in a program for people,” she said. “The key is to always have them come back so that they continue to maintain their health.”
A research team of pharmacy and medical experts oversees DRIPBaR at the corporate level to ensure that each location administers the appropriate dosage for IVs as well as meets safety standards. The DRIPBaR Houston Heights receives their vitamins from a Texas-certified pharmacy. Each drip is mixed on site under sterile conditions and administered by registered nurses or nurse practitioners. “Everyone is a candidate for IV vitamin therapy, and we have so many options that we can always tailor it for them when they come in; or if they call, we can always guide them,” she said.