The term chelation (pronounced key-lay-shun) is derived from “chelos”,
the Greek word for claw. Chelation therapy is an established
treatment, used in conventional medicine for removing heavy metals
and in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In addition,
chelation therapy has been used in the treatment of autoimmune,
neurodegenerative and other diseases.
The purpose of chelation therapy is to bind minerals and/or toxic
metals in the body with a chelating agent in order to enhance
elimination and, therefore detoxify the body. Of primary concern are
calcium deposits in arteries, causing atherosclerosis, a serious
risk for heart attack and stroke, and heavy metals such as lead,
mercury, arsenic, and others.
A number of different chelating agents are used in chelation
therapy. Your doctor will choose the appropriate one depending on
the mineral or heavy metal to be chelated. For example,
2,3-Dimercapto-1-1propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) is commonly used in
reducing mercury levels and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
is used in treating atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease.
Your doctor may also recommend natural agents, such as dietary
fiber, cilantro, chlorella, etc., to be taken during your treatment
for increased chelation and detoxification support.
A number of therapeutic agents such as N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC),
Alpha Lipoic acid (ALA), Selenium, B vitamins, and others, are used
in combination with chelation therapy, to provide antioxidant
support and to optimize detoxification. In addition, replenishing
minerals is imperative while receiving chelation therapy as the
chelating agents can bind essential minerals. Our Chelation Protocol
includes this additional support using oral supplements and
intravenous nutrients.
Removing Heavy Metals
What Is Che-zone Therapy?
Che-Zone Therapy, a procedure created by Dr. Frank Shallenberger,
M.D., combines intravenous chelation therapy with intravenous ozone
therapy. The addition of ozone therapy maximizes the detoxification
effect and further supports liver function. This supports increased
elimination of heavy metals, toxins and other substances.
Intravenous ozone is typically given with glutathione and N-acetylcysteine
prior to the chelation IV.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic are toxic to the
body. High levels of these toxic metals in the body may be
associated with a wide range of debilitating symptoms. Lead burden
can lead to higher rates of Parkinsonism and cognitive decline in
adults, and learning, and behavioral difficulties in children.
Mercury exposure is associated with mood disturbances,
cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, infertility
and immune dysfunction. Arsenic is a known carcinogen and can
increase the risk for diabetes.
Anatara Medicine uses questionnaires, physical examinations and
laboratory testing to evaluate patients for heavy metal burden.
Laboratory testing include assessment of heavy metals in blood and
urine, using Doctor’s Data Laboratory.
Cardiovascular Disease
Chelation therapy has also been used in the treatment of
cardiovascular. TACT (Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy) is the
first large scale study to determine the efficacy and safety of
chelation therapy, with or without high-dose vitamins, for those
with cardiovascular disease including prior heart attacks, coronary
artery disease, diabetes, etc. The preliminary results of this 10
year, $31 million study show that EDTA chelation therapy produced
modest, but statistically significant reductions in cardiovascular
events. Patients with diabetes were more positively impacted showing
a 40% reduction in risk of death from heart disease, 52% reduction
in recurrent heart attacks and 43% reduction in death from any
cause. Gervasio Lamas, M.D., the study’s principal investigator,
remarked “These are striking results that, if supported by future
research, could point the way towards new treatments to prevent
complications of diabetes”.
Other Conditions
Research studies investigating the implications of chelation therapy
on autism, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease,
multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration,
rheumatoid arthritis and others have been published. See below for
links to research and literature on chelation therapy.
How Is Chelation Administered?
Chelation therapy can be administered intravenously, rectally and/or
orally. The route of administration is chosen depending on the
objective of the treatment, the type of heavy metal to be chelated
and patient tolerability. For example, EDTA is commonly administered
intravenously. Oral administration can be performed at home while
intravenous administration is performed in our office.
Is It Safe? Are There Side Effects?
When properly performed chelation therapy is safe, and well
tolerated. The treatment protocols for chelation therapy are used by
chelation therapy practitioners worldwide and have been rigorously
tested.
Research has shown that the Lethal Dose 50 (LD50: the dose that will
kill 50% of all test animals) of EDTA is 1900mg per kilogram of body
weight, while the LD50 of aspirin is 420mg per kilogram of body
weight. This means that the LD50 of EDTA is 88% higher than that of
aspirin.
Chelation therapy is typically well tolerated with minimal side
effects. The most common side effect is mild bleeding, bruising and
burning sensation at the site of injection. Our center takes extra
precautions to reduce this and ensure the patient is comfortable
throughout the treatment. Rarely, short-term adverse side effects
may occur. These include fever, headache, malaise, digestive upset
including diarrhea, bloating, nausea and vomiting. If these occur,
notify your doctor and they will recommend additional treatments.
These side effects resolve when treatment is stopped.
Chelation And Heavy Metal Detoxification
Chelation therapy is not indicated for everyone. People with kidney
disease, receiving renal dialysis and who are pregnant or breast
feeding should absolutely not get chelation therapy. Your doctor
will perform a thorough assessment and formulate a treatment plan
for you.
How Do I Know If I Have Elevated Levels Of Heavy Metals?
How Do I Get Tested?
Anatara Medicine uses the most accurate and highest quality
laboratories to assess heavy metal burden. Assessment of your heavy
metals will be done with symptom questionnaires, physical
examinations and laboratory testing using blood and urine.
How Do I Know If I Have Clogged Arteries?
There are many symptoms of clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), such
as high blood pressure, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue,
and many more. Your doctor may have already diagnosed you with
atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, or other cardiovascular
disease. Common tests include calcium score, angiography, and Chorus
CAD. If needed, Anatara Medicine will perform comprehensive testing
to evaluate your cardiovascular health including specialty blood
work and imaging.
What Should I Expect On My First Visit?
The doctors of Anatara Medicine will complete a thorough history of
your health concerns, assess your symptoms using validated
questionnaires, perform physical exams and order appropriate
comprehensive laboratory testing. Chelation therapy may be given
intravenously (IV) or orally, depending on the heavy metal,
treatment objective, and patient tolerance. Intravenous chelation is
performed in our office and involves receiving multiple IV
treatments of the selected chelating agent and nutrients.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to know the exact number of
treatments you will need. We use symptom questionnaires and repeat
testing to monitor progress and assess treatment success. If you are
going to receive heavy metal chelation, your first treatment is also
your first heavy metal test. On the day of your heavy metal
chelation treatment you will provide a before chelation and after
chelation urine specimen that will be used to assess your level of
heavy metal burden. This test is done through Doctor’s Data, one of
the most respected and most common laboratories to assess heavy
metals in urine.
How Long Does Iv Chelation Take?
IV chelation for cardiovascular disease typically takes 2-3 hours.
IV chelation for heavy metals typically takes 1 hour. Additional IV
therapies may be recommended and can be completed on the same day as
your chelation treatment. In most cases multiple treatments over a
number of months is necessary to improve cardiovascular health and
to reduce heavy metal burden.
Is Chelation Therapy An Alternative To Coronary Artery Bypass
Surgery (Cabg) And Other Conventional Treatments?
There is early data that suggests that cardiovascular patients
treated with EDTA chelation therapy have a lower rate of subsequent
cardiac events, including myocardial infarction and death, than
those treated with cardiac medications, Percutaneous Transluminal
Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), or Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).
Data also suggests that chelation therapy might be effective in
preventing blood clots and cardiac events from stents by reducing
hypercoagulability.
Is There Any Research On Chelation Therapy?
TACT (Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy) is the first large scale
study to determine the efficacy and safety of chelation therapy,
with or without high-dose vitamins, for those with cardiovascular
disease including prior heart attacks, coronary artery disease,
diabetes, etc. The preliminary results of this 10 year, $31 million
study show that EDTA chelation therapy produced modest, but
statistically significant reductions in cardiovascular events.
Patients with diabetes were more positively impacted showing a 40%
reduction in risk of death from heart disease, 52% reduction in
recurrent heart attacks and 43% reduction in death from any cause.
Gervasio Lamas, M.D., the study’s principal investigator, remarked
“These are striking results that, if supported by future research,
could point the way towards new treatments to prevent complications
of diabetes”. **See below for links to research and literature on
chelation therapy.
Is Chelation Therapy Fda Approved?
The FDA has approved 11 chelating agents, including EDTA and DMSA,
to treat heavy metal toxicities. Currently, chelation therapy is not
approved by the FDA to treat other diseases, despite scientific
research that supports its use in a variety of diseases. (Wax PM.
Current Use of Chelation in American Health Care. Journal of Medical
Toxicology. 2013;9(4):303-307. doi:10.1007/s13181-013-0347-2).
How Common Is Chelation Therapy?
Practitioners all over the world use chelation therapy in for
variety of conditions. A 2008 National Health Statistics Report
estimates that in 2002, 66,000 adults received chelation therapy.
Conditions Treated With Chelation Therapy
Heavy Metals and Other Toxins
Lead
Mercury
Arsenic
Aluminum
Cadmium
Antimony
Tin
Thallium
Iron
Gadolinium
Cardiovascular Disease
High blood pressure (Hypertension)
Clogged/harden arteries (Atherosclerosis)
Coronary artery disease
Diabetes
Autoimmune & Neurodegenerative Diseases
Alzheimer’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Autism
Eye Disease
Macular Degeneration – Age Related (AMD)
