iv therapy in Edmonton

Our Naturopathic Doctors are leaders for providing IV Therapy in Edmonton.

Our clinic focuses advanced naturopathic intravenous treatments.

We have numerous alternative cancer IV treatments, some of which can be used alongside standard approaches such as chemotherapy and radiation.

Hyperbaric Oxygen is synergistic with many of our IV Therapy treatments - We have two state of the art Hyperbaric Chambers at our new Edmonton clinic. 

Other treatments we work with:

IV Glutathione

IV NAD

IV Amino Acids

IV Phospholipids

About IV Therapy

100% absorption - IV Therapy administration ensures 100% absorption of all substances given. Many nutrients when taken orally have a saturation threshold which limits the amounts that can both be ingested in a single dose as well as absorbed. For instance, both Vitamin C and Magnesium result in diarrhea after their oral thresholds are passed. 

Massive Blood Concentrations - IV Therapy allows us to achieve monstrous blood values of many common natural substances. For instance, the oral threshold for Vitamin C for most adults is about 5 grams whereas our Naturopaths can administer up to 125 grams of Vitamin C IV.

Pharmacologic Actions - The large doses of nutrients that can be achieved with IV Therapy administration allows nutrients to carry out pharmacologic functions, that is, functions that are different from their intended biochemical activities. For instance, although Vitamin C is necessary for immune function and as an endogenous antioxidant, large IV doses also have antiviral, antibacterial, antihistamine, and antitumor effects.

Cellular Repletion - Because IV Therapy produces a marked increase in the serum concentration, it provides an opportunity for cells to take up nutrients against a smaller concentration gradient. Furthermore, if cells are repeatedly “flooded” with nutrients, then the repletion is cumulative. Which is often why the interval between nutritional IV Therapy treatments can be gradually increased, and eventually the injections are no longer necessary. 

IV Vitamin C

IVC can often be administered to cancer patients alongside chemotherapy to reduce side effects and increase efficacy of treatment and also has data supporting use as a standalone treatment.

At high doses, IV Therapy with Vitamin C in a sense acts oxidatively, through hydrogen peroxide production inside of extracellular fluid surrounding cancer cells. Tumor cells lack the enzyme catalase, leaving them vulnerable to the cytotoxic effects of hydrogen peroxide. Because of the oxidative mechanism, synergy is expected between Hyperbaric Oxygen and IV Vitamin C which is a service we offer at our Edmonton office. 

IV Vitamin C can be used concurrently with many chemotherapies (for a complete discussion reference to Anderson 2013) and has a reputation for reducing side effects of chemotherapy. Our Naturopathic doctors often use IV Therapy with Vitamin C alongside or in-between chemotherapy treatments as an Integrative Cancer therapy at our Edmonton office.

Case reports exist demonstrating benefit of IV Vitamin C Therapy in: Breast, Ovarian and Liver Cancer from a group out of Singapore (Raymond 2016) as well as Kidney, Bladder and Lymphoma (Padayatty 2006) as well as Colon and Pancreatic (Riordan 2000). 

In terms of clinical trials, IV Vitamin C Therapy has shown benefit in Lung Cancer with Platin Chemotherapy and in GBM (Schoenfield 2017), Lymphoma (Kawada 2014), Pancreatic (Welsh 2013) and Ovarian Cancer (Ma 2014) and Breast (Anderson 2013) therefore our Naturopathic Doctors consider the concurrent use of IV Vitamin C in all of these Cancers at our Edmonton office.   

For a full discussion of IV Vitamin C and these case reports and trials please see our IV Vitamin C section. 

Reviews by Bazzan (2018) and Takahashi (2012) demonstrated the concurrent use of IV Vitamin C with numerous cancers and chemotherapy and demonstrated improved quality of life. 

In "Pharmacological Ascorbic acid and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Target Tumor Cell metabolism via an Oxidative Stress Mechanism" one group conducted experiments with regards to IV Vitamin C and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy.

Using highly metastatic mouse brain tumor cells treated with a less than cytotoxic concentration of Vitamin C (<0.5mM) and one session of HBOT (100% O2 for 60 minutes at 2.5 ATA) had enhanced cytotoxicity compared to all other treatments (DeBlasi 2017). 

In the article "Increasing the Effectiveness of Intravenous Vitamin C as an Anticancer Agent" one group suggested "We propose the utilization of hyperbaric oxygen immediate­ly after IV vitamin C therapy to increase its effectiveness as an anticancer agent, in order to increase the formation of hydrogen per­oxide, and therefore enhance the anticancer effect of IV vitamin C" (Gonzalez 2015). Our new facility in Edmonton has two state of the art Hyperbaric Chambers. 

High-dose IV vitamin C can theoretically cause hemolysis and consequent acute renal failure, in people with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Therefore our Naturopathic Doctors screen all of our IV Vitamin C Therapy patients for G6PD deficiency prior to treatment however in 10 years of IV Therapy administration in Edmonton we've never seen a GP6D deficiency. 

High dose IV Vitamin C is monitored at our clinic through blood Vitamin C measurements, with a target range of 350-400mg/dl as in-vitro data from Riordan suggested this is a cytotoxic plasma dose. Our clinic generally uses 1.5g/kg when dosing IV Vitamin C in advanced malignancy for our Edmonton patients if blood Vitamin C testing is not done. Most commonly we see doses between 50 and 85 grams achieve these cytotoxic levels. Vitamin C is also used at our Edmonton office for IV Therapy for immunity as well as acute and chronic infections. 

Our Naturopaths have administered IV Vitamin C Therapy for 10 years with an extremely low incidence of side effects in our Edmonton patients and offer it to those as an adjunctive treatment alongside many chemotherapies and also offer it to those that have exhausted standard treatments.

VISIT OUR IV VITAMIN C SECTION

iv curcumin

IV Curcumin Therapy is an adjunctive cancer treatment that allows our Naturopaths to bypass the poor oral availability of Curcumin reach high blood concentrations. Our clinic has offered IV Therapy with Curcumin to Edmonton since 2017.

We typically ramp the dose up in subsequent infusions, with aim of minimum doses between 300 to 500 mg of Curcumin IV per session. Curcumin is well tolerated intravenously when diluted appropriately.

Curcumin has a wealth of data in numerous cell studies - breast, prostate, lung, gastric cancer, bladder and colon cancer to name a few (see our IV Curcumin discussion).

6 months of treatment with oral Curcumin and Quercetin decreased precancerous polyp number and size from baseline in human patients (Cruz-Correa 2006). In a dose-escalation study of IV Curcumin in 32 patients with locally advanced or metastatic cancer one patient with metastatic colon cancer had a dramatic CEA reduction with IV Curcumin treatment, and one prostate Cancer patient had a large drop in PSA (Greil 2018). For this reason, amongst others, our Naturopaths strongly consider IV Therapy with Curcumin in Prostate and Colon Cancer. 

Numerous trials have demonstrated enhancement of Pancreatic Cancer treatment with Gemcitabine chemotherapy with Curcumin administration despite the use of poorly absorbed oral preparations (Dhillon 2008, Kanai 2011, Epelbaum 2010). Because of other data indicating positive effects from IV Alpha Lipoic Acid in Pancreatic Cancer, our Naturopaths often consider stacking IV Curcumin and IV Alpha Lipoic Acid in Pancreatic Cancer as these are same-day compatible IV Therapy treatments. 

Curcumin was also studied in advanced or metastatic breast cancer with Docetaxel chemotherapy with evidence of an enhanced effect (Bayet-Robert 2010).  Curcumin was also studies as an adjunctive therapy during FOLFOX Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer (James 2015) so our Naturopathic doctors often give oral Curcumin and IV Curcumin during FOLFOX which is frequently used in Colon Cancer treatment in Edmonton, but not FOLFIRI. 

Overally, because the evidence regarding IV Therapy with Curcumin is not as robust as IV Vitamin C or IV Alpha Lipoic Acid our Naturopathic doctors do not often use it in isolation as a monotherapy. Rather, it's most commonly used as part of an integrative protocol and can be done on "off" days from Vitamin C or back to back with IV Alpha Lipoic Acid or IV Quercetin. 

IV Therapy with Curcumin is well tolerated if the preparation if sufficiently diluted and its given in moderate doses. Highly concentrated Curcumin causes vein irritation and phlebitis and is more likely to cause digestive distress and a sensation of heat during infusions. 

 
VISIT OUR IV CURCUMIN SECTION

iv therapy
ingredients we use

Vitamins

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide)

Vitamin B5 (Dexpanthenol)

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)

Vitamin B12(-cobalamin)

Vitamin C (Ascorbate)

Folic Acid (5-MTHF)

Minerals 

Zinc 

Magnesium 

Selenium 

Iodine 

Chromium 

Manganese 

Copper 

Amino Acids 

Trypthophan

Lysine

Glycine

Taurine

Carnitine

Proline

Aminosyn

Anti-oxidants 

Glutathione

Curcumin

Alpha Lipoic Acid

PolyMVA

Quercetin

iv alpha lipoic acid 

IV Therapy with Alpha Lipoic Acid, a naturally occuring anti-oxidant is a cornerstone metabolic cancer therapy. 

ALA is a natural inhibitor of aerobic glycolysis, a common mechanism for energy production in cancer cells. The mechanism is said to mirror the action of DCA (dichloroacetate). This action is thought to be strongly synergistic with Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy.

As with many natural substances, IV Therapy with Alpha Lipoic Acid can reach much higher plasma levels than the oral form.

A 2014 Journal Article “Metabolic Treatment of Cancer: Intermediate Results of a Prospective Case Series" and its follow up article in 2016, discussed IV Therapy with Alpha Lipoic Acid. Ten patients with chemoresistant advanced metastatic cancer with life expectancy estimated to be between two and six months. 600 mg racemic Alpha Lipoic Acid, 500 mg hydroxycitrate three times daily (Garcinia) and low-dose naltrexone  were given showing appreciable benefit in Lung, Colon, Ovarian, Uterine, Gallbladder, Parotid and Prostate Cancer (Schwartz 2014).  

The follow up article showed appreciable benefit in Glioblastoma and described demonstrated benefit of ALA, LDN and Garcinia in Lung Cancer (Schwartz 2017). Our Naturopathic doctors strongly consider the use of IV ALA Therapy in Brain and Lung Cancer as these seem to be more responsive to metabolic treatment approaches. 

Some of the most compelling evidence for ALA and LDN is in pancreatic cancer. Berkson (2006) and (2007) describe 4 Pancreatic Cancer patients using IV Therapy with Alpha Lipoic Acid and doing remarkably well.  Berkson (2018) described a Kidney Cancer patient that also did remarkably with IV Alpha Lipoic Acid therapy in conjunction with IV Vitamin C. 

Metabolic Updated Protocol – 2020 Anderson is an article published by Paul Anderson ND discussing "Metabolic Therapies in Advanced “Salvage” Cancer Cases."

Dr. Anderson discusses the synergy between *DCA, Retinoids, PolyMVA, Alpha Lipoic Acid and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (*note our office does not offer DCA).

PolyMVA is palladium bonded to alpha-lipoic acid with additional Vitamins and Minerals added.

Benefits were seen in this combined metabolic approach in Lymphoma, Leukemia, Multiple Myeloma and GBM and CLL. We do have experiencing using PolyMVA IV Therapy but for the most part we tend to use high dose R+ Lipoic Acid at our Edmonton office as it is dramatically more cost effective.

Anderson's Combined Metabolic Oncology Therapy – Protocol:

1. Dietary Intervention

2. Use of supplemental retinol (Vitamin A). 

3. Use of intravenous Poly-MVA and DCA

4. Addition of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) - two HBOT dives per week are optimal.

The reality of Anderson's Combined Metabolic Oncology Therapy, is that there is strong mechanistic synergy between metabolic treatments like IV Lipoic Acid Therapy (or PolyMVA) and other metabolic treatments like Hyperbaric Oxygen and Ketogenic diets. 

Our clinic offers Edmonton state of the art Hyperbaric chambers. There is reported synergy between Hyperbaric oxygen and other metabolic supports like IV Alpha Lipoic Acid in the context of Alternative Cancer Care.

Our office has significant IV Therapy experience with Alpha Lipoic Acid as we have been regularly administering it in Edmonton since 2015. We are able to give high dose R+ Lipoic Acid which is well tolerated even with relatively rapid infusions. Occasional dizziness or headaches have occured, most likely related to the blood sugar lowering effects of Lipoic Acid. 

We always include Intravenous and oral metabolic therapies like ALA as part of our Integrative Cancer Protocols as we have seen appreciable responses in numerous cancers at our Edmonton office using this approach. 

VISIT OUR IV ALPHA LIPOIC ACID SECTION

Mistletoe injections

Mistletoe is extremely cost effective and although it is an injectable product we teach patients and their family members to self-administer it at home.

Mistletoe strickly speaking is not an IV Therapy but an injectable therapy that we have offered in Edmonton since 2010.  Our general preference is in conjuction with other standard immune supressive treatments like chemotherapy. It is our position that it's less efficacious as a monotherapy. 

From Grossarth-Maticek (2001) looking at 1668 patients treated with Mistletoe with Rectal, Colon, Breast, Stomach and Lung Cancer and it was found that mean survival time in the Mistletoe groups was roughly 40% longer than in the control groups. Grossarth-Maticek (2006) re-analyzed previously published data of randomized and non-randomized studies on mistletoe therapy with breast cancer and found appreciably reduced risk of dying in all groups analyzed. Our Naturopathic doctors always consider concurrent Mistletoe injections with chemotherapy but prefer it in these cancers specifically. 

Cazacu 2003 compared the post-surgery results for patients with stage III and stage IV colorectal cancer who, beside surgery, received either only 5-FU chemotherapy or 5-FU chemotherapy combined with Mistletoe. After surgery patients treated with chemo and mistletoe had median survival significantly better than the patients receiving only postoperative chemotherapy.  

A clinical trial by Bar-Sela (2013) patients with advanced Lung Cancer found an improved median time to progression was 6 months in the Mistletoe arm when combined with chemotherapy.

A clinical trial by Troger (2014) suggested that Mistletoe can be used in pancreatic cancer patients after standard treatments have ended to improve quality of life.

Mistletoe injections are usually given three times per week however, that may lessen depending on individual responses. IV vitamin C Therapy and Mistletoe are complimentary non-competing therapies and we can administer the Mistletoe intravenously at on days of IV Vitamin C infusions. 

VISIT OUR MISTLETOE SECTION

hyperbaric oxygen

In 2020, our Naturopathic Doctors added Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment to our Edmonton Clinic services.  IV Therapy can synergize with Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment.

In a webinar presentation from Anderson (2017) who has significant experience using Hyperbaric Oxygen as part of Integrative Cancer treatment suggests "in our experience, the addition of HBOT to any IV protocol improves efficacy." He goes on to say "this is due to known mechanisms of HBOT and increased pressure gradient flowing from the plasma to the cell and mitochondria." He suggest administration of IV Therapy immediately before a Hyperbaric Oxygen treatment or within three hours after "in order to maximize therapy synergy." 

As discussed above, both IV Therapy with Vitamin C and IV Alpha Lipoic Acid have mechanistic synergy with Hyperbaric Oxygen. Hyperbaric treatment can increase oxygen as a substrate for hydrogen peroxide production which is the proposed mechanism of IV Vitamin C. DeBlasi (2017) was able to show this synergy with subcytotoxic Vitamin C (<0.5mM) and one session of HBOT enhancing the Vitamic induced cytotoxicity compared to all other treatments 

Hyperbaric Oxygen can also drive oxidative phosphorylation which is a mechanism of IV Alpha Lipoic Acid and other metabolic cancer treatments.  

We've offered Edmonton a massive range of IV Therapy since 2010 with a special interest in Integrative IV Therapy Cancer treatment. IV Therapy allows us to administer doses and achieve clinically meaningful blood levels of various Natural substances.

IV Therapy treatments can be given after Hyperbaric Oxygen dives. Hyperbaric Oxygen is thought to increase outcomes of IV Therapy treatments.

Questions about IV Therapy?

Call Us 780-757-8378