Floating, injecting and detoxing. Non-traditional treatments are gaining popularity in the new year.
Sensory deprivation tanks at Sacred Floats and Gems in Seminole Heights each hold about 150 gallons of water and 1,000 pounds of dissolved Epson salt.
"You get rid of all outside stimulation so for the first time in your life you're giving the sensory receptors in your brain a break," Jared Roa, owner of Sacred Floats and Gems, said.
The tanks are light proof and you wear earplugs to block out sound. You float in ten inches of water at the same temperature as your skin. Professor of Neurology Dr. Juan Sanchez-Ramos with USF Health said the tanks can provide a sense of well-being.
"The brain doesn't like absence of input so it makes its own, so often times people have transcendental experiences," Dr. Sanchez-Ramos said.
He said a float could help people with extreme pain, depression or PTSD. A session is $50 an hour.
"Helps boost your immune system. It's got a lot of vitamin C in it," nurse Jill Dillenburg said.
Christian Carasa has been getting monthly infusions for more than two years in place of taking vitamins.
"With this I actually walk out of here and I feel a difference like right away," Carasa said.
Dillenburg said your body will only absorb the nutrients it needs so you can't overdose. She said it's good for fighting off a cold or even just curing a hang over.
It's $45 for a bag of the standard cocktail and takes 20 to 30 minutes for your body to absorb.
A new treatment is using your own platelet rich plasma to stimulate hair growth and improve your hairline.
"We're using things from your own body for your treatment. We're not using a medication. We're not using an outside substance," Dr. Justin Saya, medical director at Defy Medical, said.
Doctors spin your blood in a centrifuge and then inject only the platelet rich plasma into hair follicles.
But it's not an overnight cure. Doctors say it takes multiple sessions to see results. The first session is $1,200 and each one after that is $795.
For more information on sensory deprivation tanks, visit: http://sfgcompany.com/
For more information on the IV drips and platelet rich plasma treatments, visit:
http://www.defymedical.com/
