A number of diabetics and heart patients are finding long-term relief through intravenous therapies aimed at clearing the blood vessels of unwanted heavy metals, calcium and fat deposits, free radicals and other remnants of eating binges.
By clearing the bloodstream using a combination of intravenous supplements including hydrogen peroxide, chelation and vitamins, majority of the patients of Rapha Health have been restored to good health.
Even those free of lifestyle diseases like broadcast journalist and TV host Kata Inocencio make use of the therapies as part of their wellness program. “I’ve not felt this good in a very long time,” she said.
Wellness columnist Cory Quirino, who undergoes intravenous therapy as a preventive measure, attests to the same.
Dr. Jennifer Manalastas, a practitioner of integrative and lifestyle medicine and a diplomate of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, said each patient is prescribed a custom-made treatment protocol that may include hydrogen peroxide, chelation and vitamins.
Bloodstream
Hydrogen peroxide, which is also produced by the body’s white blood cells, is a natural antibiotic, she said. When infused into the bloodstream, hydrogen peroxide will combine with an enzyme in the blood called catalase to release oxygen molecules which flood the bloodstream and eventually kill pathogenic organisms like viruses, bacteria and even cancer cells.
Free radicals are also removed the same way. It is easily acceptable by the body and does not cause any harm to the patient.
Chelation, on the other hand, uses EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid) made of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins, to leach out metabolically active calcium embedded in the arterial walls. Bones, teeth and other parts that are calcium-rich are eventually enriched as bone growth is stimulated by the process.
EDTA also attracts aluminum, magnesium and other metals deposited in the body by smog, and by consuming canned and processed food, and seafood acquired from polluted waters. These pollutants are filtered out through the kidneys which thus need to be in healthy condition.
Patients undergoing IV treatments for the first time may experience headaches or pains that may be triggered as the body adjusts to lower blood pressure and less pollutants resulting from more efficient circulation.
The third treatment relies on mostly vitamins B and C to further help the blood vessels recover from the workout they may receive from hydrogen peroxide and chelation.
Dr. Cris Enriquez, a Yale University-trained member of the American College of Cardiology and head of Rapha Health Institute warned, however, that the IV treatments alone do not represent a silver bullet for diabetes and hypertension.
“They work best with a change of diet and lifestyle, which we also help our patients to adopt. It truly is no longer adequate to rely on medicines alone to restore one’s health,” he said.
Rapha Health Institute is at Greenbelt 5 in Makati. It also has clinics in Quezon City, Antipolo and Batangas City.
