We’re often reminded that there is no “quick fix” for most of what ails us in life. That may be true, but with IV therapies, that fix may be a bit quicker in coming—and highly tailored to your specific needs.

“What IV therapy does, is we’re taking nutrients and delivering them straight to the cells,” says Dr. Stephen Benchouk, of Hawaii Natural Medicine (hawaiinaturalmedicine.com).

“[IV treatments] can be incredibly helpful for anyone needing to replete or optimize their nutrient status, such as an athlete, a person under high stress or someone suffering from an illness,” says Dr. Allison Gandre of Hawaii Natural Healing Center (hinaturalhealing.com).

The range of IV treatments is vast. There are treatments for athletes and those dealing with addiction; there are chelation treatments to remove heavy metals, treatments to beautify the skin and even treatments aimed at sharpening your mind.

Gandre adds that the most common treatments at her clinic include mitochondrial support IVs “useful for an array of health issues, and high dose vitamin C IVs for adjunct cancer care.”

Benchouk, who has recently added mobile services and an expanded clinic, treats cancer patients as well. “It’s becoming so popular now that we’re getting people earlier, which is much better,” he says. “We’re getting people when they’re first diagnosed. That gives us a better chance for what we do to work better. That’s one of the main things we do.”

Have a cold or flu? Not feeling like heading to urgent care? IV treatments can help with that.

For Dr. Michael Pasquale at Infinity Life Center (infinitylifecenter.com), that’s one of his most popular treatments—the Immunity Boosting Formula for colds and the flu. His mobile service brings him to the client. The Jet Lag or Hangover IVs are popular with those needing a quick recovery from a long flight—or a long night.

The process depends what’s being treated. Benchouk points out that for those with acute symptoms, such as a cold, flu or jet lag, the intake is pretty quick—patients answer questions and the IV drip is customized to provide the quick infusion of nutrients they need. “For more complicated cases, we’ll do an office visit first,” he says. This would involve getting a medical history and running tests.

All three doctors stress that these treatments are tailored to fit the client’s needs.

The patient is then placed in a reclining position—it could be a bed or a lounge chair—and the IV is inserted into a vein in the patient’s arm. If you’ve ever had an IV at the hospital or given blood, it’s a similar set-up.

Frequency of treatments also depends on the case. Acute cases are usually cleared in one visit. For others, say, cancer or even maintenance of a beauty IV regimen, patients may receive treatments on a schedule—that’s determined by treatment protocols—of several times a week over several weeks.