New Delhi, Sept. 26 -- 'Kamjori ho rahi hai. Doctor sa'ab, paani chadha do.' ('I am feeling weak; please give me an IV infusion.') These are familiar words to many doctors, especially in rural settings and smaller towns. Patients often arrive with their own expectations of treatment-frequently requesting intravenous fluids.

This is not limited to rural or low-income populations. In urban settings and in high-in-come groups, the same phenomenon appears in a more sophisticated form: medicated IV drips. Intravenous therapy, once reserved for dehydration and critical care, is now marketed as a wellness trend. These drips-often administered with fancy names-promise hydration, glowing skin, recovery, immunity and even anti-ageing benefits. Whi...