Fayette’s newest business opened its doors over the weekend. Remedy IV & Nutrition held a grand opening on Saturday, complete with a ribbon cutting by the soon-to-be newly re-commissioned Fayette Chamber of Commerce, and Fayette Main Street, Inc.

Remedy IV & Nutrition offers charged teas, smoothies, and grab-and-go meals. But the main focus of the business is intravenous infusions.

That’s where the “IV” comes in. Business founders Jill Sunderland and Sam Meyer are both registered nurses who work at a dialysis clinic in Boonville.

“We were wanting to do the IV hydration, and we thought about doing a mobile service,” Meyer said. That’s when the building located at 112 S. Main Street came up for sale, and the two decided it would make a great location.

“Jill wanted to do more than just the IVs here. So that’s how the teas and the smoothies and the food got started,” Meyer said. The business’s mission then evolved to become an advocate for healthy living in the community.

“There’s not a lot of options for healthy grab-and-go meals in Fayette. Jill and I lead healthy lifestyles, so as nurses, we feel like we’re doing our part,” Meyer said.

Both are Howard County natives and attended Central Methodist in Fayette. Meyer, who owns a cattle ranch outside Fayette with her husband, Dakota and her 10-month-old son, Sage, was crowned the 2018 Howard County Queen and later went on to be crowned Miss State Fair Queen. 

Sunderland said the idea for the new business came while doing side work at an infusion clinic. Once orders are placed by a physician, she would be tasked by a pharmacy to administer IV antibiotics and other medicines or hydration fluids.

“I loved going into patients’ homes and seeing the effects very quickly,” Sunderland said. 

She also was on the receiving end of a hydration infusion after catching a bug her son brought home from daycare.

“I had to go over to Columbia for IV fluids, and I thought, this should be more convenient for people.” That experience sprouted the idea to offer those services in Fayette. Eventually, Sunderland said, the service could expand to include home visits.

Basic hydration includes a liter of fluids which can be tailored to the patient with add-ons of other nutrients and electrolytes, Sunderland explained. All infusions must be ordered by a physician with whom the business works.

“Our physician writes us orders; we just have all of the inventory,” Sunderland explained. “It’s how healthcare used to be. Personal.”

Sunderland said that she expects to treat local athletes with IV infusions of electrolytes for recovery. Also, dental patients who can’t eat or drink because of severe mouth pain could benefit from infusions rich with vitamins and nutrients. “It’s a good way to not feel exhausted,” Sunderland said.

For those who just need a slight pick-me-up without the invasiveness of an IV infusion, Remedy offers charged teas, along with strawberry-banana, and mango real-fruit smoothies. Add-ons include protein, collagen, fiber, immune boosters, and cranberry extracts. All flavored teas are original recipes concocted by Remedy IV.

The business had a positive reception at the recently held Fair on the Square, which welcomed CMU students to town. Meyer and Sunderland gave away samples of their teas. “That went really well. We had a lot of positive feedback,” Meyer said.

In addition, the business will offer healthy grab-and-go meals, such as light salads and soups, all made in-house, and frozen take-and-bake meals. In the mornings, Sunderland said she hopes to catch those commuters heading to work in Columbia and elsewhere who can stop by for tea, along with protein-rich energy bites. “We’ll have those, so there is some sustenance to start your day,” Sunderland said.

For lunch, soups and salads will be freshly prepared and ready to go.

Sunderland expressed how important healthy eating is to her and her family. She is inspired by her mother, Wendy, who passed away from cancer in 2019. 

When Wendy was undergoing treatment, doctors often recommended a nutritionist. “Cancer thrives off sugar, and we have so much sugar in our lives,” she explained. “That nutritionist really opened our eyes. You feel a lot better when you eat wholesome.”

Starting this week, Remedy IV will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays with IV infusion services by appointment.