What Is Chelation Therapy?

Chelation Therapy was first used during world war one by the British as a result of arsenic based poison gas used indescrimitively in that war. An organic dithio compound was used to bond with the arsenic in the bloodstream and exiting the body through the kidneys and liver. This therapy reportedly had severe side effects.

During world war two the United States military used chelation therapy on navy personnel who acquired lead poisoning from paint used on navy vessels. EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid a natural amino acid) was used as the chelation agent. Later in the 1960’s the chelation agent of choice was DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic acid is also called succimer and is sold under the brand name Chemet.) for treating arsenic, mercury and lead poisoning.

As with all chelation agents and there are many the underlying purpose and the end result is a chemical bond with metal ions in the bloodstream making the ions less chemically active resulting in a water-soluble solution that is then naturally eliminated via the bloodstream.

Chelation therapy is now widely used to treat toxic metal poisoning. EDTA chelation, which is USDA (United States Drug Administration), approved is the chelation agent most used by our medical industry.

Chelation therapy can be introduced into the body intramuscularly, orally, or intravenously.

As shown chelation therapy is nothing new and has been used extensively throughout the world by many nations including U.S.A., Great Briton, and Russia (Soviet Union). Also conventional medicine has and continues to use chelation therapy albeit on a limited basis.

Chelation Therapy and Alternative Medicine:

I believe it is fair to say that conventional medicine and alternative medicine have been at odds for many years for various reasons and too many to mention here. Having said that both sides of medicine use chelation therapy, the difference is in the agent used. Alternative medicine uses natural agents found in herbs, vitamins, minerals and natural sources. This includes EDTA, which is in fact the standard FDA approved chelation agent used for treating lead, mercury, aluminum, and cadmium poisoning.
Of course there are no patents on naturally found agents such as EDTA thus drug companies have little interest in promoting this type of health procedure. EDTA is the chelation agent most often used by alternative medical practitioners although there are many other agents also used none of which are approved by the FDA.

Alternative medicine uses chelation therapy for a variety of ailments but primarily for treating cardio vascular disease most notably cleansing of arteries.

The U.S National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine is presently conducting a trial of efficacy concerning alternative medicine chelation agents and will be completed in 2009. The FDA and traditional medical institutions such as the American Heart Association are inalterably opposed to this trial calling it “dangerous and unethical”.

Another controversial use of chelation in the alternative medicine world is for treating children with Autism. The theory is that heavy metals in the bloodstream may inniate symptoms of Autism. Recently the alternative medicine community has proposed a link to Thiomersal a vaccine preservative, which contains mercury as a possible if not probable ‘switch’ to igniting Autisim. The traditional medical industry is quick to point out that there is no scientific data to support the claims. Mercury is indisputably a heavy metal that creates havoc in the bloodstream. Thimerosoal the mercury poisoning drug has now been removed from ‘most’ childhood immunizations.

As you would expect, the alternative medicine community cites positive reports from some parents with Autistic children who have participated in some form of chelation therapy. Conversely traditional medicine debunks the use of chelation therapy for treating Autism and points to two (2) children dying due to hypocalemia and cardiac arrest after being administered chelation therapy. Traditional critics also say that prolonged use of some chelation agents may cause liver damage, kidney problems, blood pressure drops, and other health risks. However it is important to note that there is no mention of the risks or side effects of prescription drugs and surgical procedures traditional medicine routinely use in treating patients.

Comparatively new to chelation therapy is its use for treating some cancers. Proclaimed by some as a last hope therapy, this is highly controversial and not without critics on both sides of the proverbial fence. There have been ‘favorable reports’ of “miraculous” reductions in cancer cells and shrinkage of cancerous tumors in some patients. No studies have been conducted to legitimize these claims. The alternative medicine world relays heavily on personal testimonies from individual patients, whereby traditionalists conduct studies and trials often funded by drug companies or institutions that have a vested interest in a favorable outcome.

In Conclusion:

The medical world has begun a paradigm shift from traditional to alternative medicine. Chelation therapy has its pros and cons but undeniably it is now more then ever a viable alternative to surgery and traditional drug prescriptions. Chelation therapy should only be administered by a licensed medical practitioner and only after a thorough physical. Before deciding on any method of treatment for any ailment it is wise to seek out an abundant amount of information and points of view.

As a personal testimony, I have used oral chelation for many years as a form of preventative medicine since heart disease is prevalent in my family, with no apparent side effects. In my opinion chelation therapy is an effect alternative to surgery and is an effective choice in preventing cardiovascular disease by boosting your immune system and effectively cleansing the arteries. Always use any ‘natural supplement’ in moderation and always check with a reputable licensed natural practitioner before implementing any natural supplement regiment. Additionally be sure to consult with your pharmacist concerning interactions with prescription drugs.