Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/460267
photography by Conor Doherty I.V. League Dr. Daniela Winston is determined to improve Bostonians' immune systems. and she's not the only one rolling up her sleeves. by lisa pierpont Dr. Daniela Winston is not one to follow trends. Nary a stitch of makeup graces her f lawless freckled skin. And while she can slay Christian Louboutin stilettos like a cover girl, medical scrubs are more her style. These days—along with working overnight shifts at Stoughton Hospital—she's spearheading a health movement that's all the rage with Tinseltown's brightest (reportedly including Rihanna and Cindy Crawford) and bringing it to Boston. "Wellness on the inside translates into beauty on the outside," Winston says. She means this quite literally. Last May, she opened Daniela Winston MD Medspa, a wellness and beauty center on Newbury Street. In a sparse, spotless room framed by bay windows, Winston escorts clients to a come- hither chaise long ue, where she preps them for her exterior and interior turbo - clea nse: a hydrofacia l a nd int ravenous nut r it iona l t herapy. "The hydrofacial maintains the quality and hydration of your skin," she says. "The IV infusion nourishes your immune system with an inf lux of vitamins and nutrients." K nown in hospitals as the Myers cocktail, the IV infusion con- tains an array of important vitamins and minerals, including all the Bs (B1 through B6, as well as B12), C, calcium, magnesium, selenium, and zinc, plus amino acids. "Vitamins keep our bodies running," she explains. "They help build muscle and bone, capture energy, and heal wounds." Such non-acute procedures are new for Winston, who graduated from the Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Romania to become a doctor. The multilingual Winston moved to New York to pursue her medical career, but after meeting her husband-to-be, Alex Winston (of the Winston Flowers dynasty), she relocated to Boston. For almost 15 years, she treated patients at UMass Memorial Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, and other local hospitals. "I have always loved what I do, but I have realized that there are plenty of good physicians who can take care of you if you're ill. We don't have enough people to coach you not to get ill." The Myers cocktail "has been around for a very long time," Winston says. "Many people who come into an emergency room get an IV with minerals and vitamins, but a regular person is depleted of nutrients because of daily living. By administering minerals and vitamins on a monthly basis, you would only optimize your wellness." The procedure, which costs $250 to $300 per treat- ment, is not without its risks: A llerg ic reaction, infection, and low blood pressure are rare but possible side effects. Yet it can also increase energ y, improve clarity of thought, reduce depression, and provide relief from the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other diseases. "Coming from LA, where alternative health options are abundant, it was a challenge to find them in Boston," says animal-rights activist Amber D'Amelio. "I've been doing vitamin IVs for years, maintaining my strong immune system and health while making me feel amazing." As Winston would say, just what the doctor ordered. 135 Newbury St., 617-391-0551; danielawinstonmedspa.com BC This working physician has transformed a standard medical therapy into a cutting-edge wellness and beauty treatment. 54 bostoncommon-magazine.com people Med Star