Chelation therapy is considered an alternative medicine that has the
purpose of removing “heavy metals” and toxins from the body.
Why would someone experience
heavy metal toxicity in the first place? Although it might sound
like something only tied to rare circumstances of accidental
poisoning, heavy metals are more common than you think. If you have
mercury fillings in your teeth (or amalgam fillings), have been
vaccinated to prevent various diseases, eat farm-raised fish
regularly, consume foods that are grown in foreign countries (like
China) that aren’t certified organic, or are healing from radiation
and chemotherapy treatments, you’re likely experiencing heavy metal
toxicity right now to some degree.
Chelation therapy involves a chemical solution called EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid), which is administered into the body usually directly
injected into the bloodstream so it can bind with excess minerals.
Once bound to “toxins” in the body, EDTA helps detox the body of
heavy metals by removing them before imbalances and illnesses have
the chance to develop.
First developed and used in the 1950s for the
treatment of heavy metal poisoning, chelation therapy using EDTA
is now performed to remove common heavy metals, including lead,
mercury, copper, iron, arsenic, aluminum and calcium. While still a
controversial practice in mainstream medicine and one that requires
more research for us to fully understand how it works, studies show
that chelation therapy has potential for reducing the risk of
heightened inflammation, heart disease, infections and more.
A National Health Interview Survey conducted by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention found that 111,000 adults 18 years or
older had used chelation therapy as a form of complementary medicine
between the years 2006–2007. Since the popularity of chelation
therapy has grown since this time and more health care professionals
are being trained in this practice, it’s safe to say that this
number is steadily rising.
How Chelation Therapy Works
Many people who have used chelation therapy regularly feel that it
helps them remain more energetic and immune to common illnesses,
environmental toxins and stress. Studies show that chelation is
scientifically proven to rid the body of excess or toxic metals,
especially certain kinds like lead or mercury that can lead to
poisoning. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the
use of chelation therapy with EDTA for treating lead poisoning and
continues to investigate its potential and safety as a new drug for
reducing coronary heart disease symptoms.
EDTA is a type of man-made synthetic amino acid. As an alternative,
some practictioners also use another substance in EDTA’s place
called DMPS (2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic acid), which works
similarly. EDTA chelation therapy works by binding salts to
molecules in the blood once EDTA is administered into someone’s
veins. After EDTA attaches to heavy metals, together they both move
to the kidneys where they are eliminated from the body through
urine.
It’s possible that “chelating agents” like EDTA and DMPS can help
detoxify the body of toxic elements that contribute to many types of
chronic diseases. Chelating agents have specific bonds that form
between organic molecules and metals. This gives them the ability to
“bind” to metals that build up in the blood, major organs and blood
vessels.
Some chelating agents, including peptides like glutathione and
metallothionein, have been well-researched and proven to transport
and excrete toxins from the body, all without the need for expensive
surgeries and risky medications.
The biggest
benefit of chelation therapy is controlling levels of various
environmental metals. Metals, including lead, mercury, aluminum and
arsenic, can cause short- and long-term health consequences since
they impact functions of the central nervous, cardiovascular, immune
and skeletal systems. When the body is out of homeostasis due to
experiencing imbalances in minerals, malfunction and damage to vital
organs can develop.
Some of the most symptoms of heavy metal toxicity include:
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Trouble learning and remembering new information
“Brain fog” and trouble concentrating
Autoimmune diseases
Neurological disorders and cognitive decline
Joint or muscle pain
Mood changes, including depression and anxiety
5 Benefits of Chelation Therapy
1. Might Help Improve Heart Health
Although ongoing research is still underway, some alternative health
care providers use chelation therapy to help treat coronary heart
diseases, including atherosclerosis (thickening and hardening of the
arteries that can potentially lead to a heart attack or stroke).
It’s believed that EDTA binds with calcium within the arteries,
helping reduce plaque build-up and deposits that can cut off blood
flow. Once bound to calcium, EDTA can help carry the molecules out
of arteries so circulation improves. In a similar way, EDTA might
help control high inflammation and cholesterol levels, which also
pose a risk for heart disease. In the future, we might see chelation
therapy used a less risky and more affordable alternative to heart
surgery and complicated mediations that have many side effects.
2. Acts Like an Antioxidant
EDTA might act similarly to antioxidants by reducing inflammation,
fighting free radical damage and removing metals that cause the
foundation of chronic disease development. It’s been suggested that
EDTA binds to not only calcium within arteries, but also other
metals stored within bones, muscles and bodily tissues that can lead
to increased inflammation or pain.
Certain chelating agents have even been used to successfully lower
the presence of plutonium radiation toxicity within the body, which
is tied to increased cancer risk. Uranium and radionuclide are two
types of chemicals that can cause toxicity, leukemia and
osteosarcoma when someone experiences long-term radiation exposure,
but chelating agents, including DTPA, are able to help remove these
before serious illnesses can form.
3. Lowers Pain and Swelling
Since chelation therapy targets inflammation, the root of most
diseases, including arthritis and many autoimmune disorders, many
people report less pain from inflamed muscles, joints and bones when
using EDTA.
Although this theory hasn’t yet been proven in controlled scientific
studies, chelation therapy might work by helping to reduce the
effects of oxygen ions (also called oxidative stress) that can
damage blood vessels and tissue. When inflammation causes the walls
of vessels to become clogged, circulation decreases and pain grows.
Chelation therapy can offer an alternative to ongoing medication
treatments for chronic pain.
4. Can Help Fight Cognitive Disorders
There’s evidence that chelation therapy can successfully treat
cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple
sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. While the exact mechanisms in
which EDTA helps resolve these problems isn’t yet clear or proven in
studies, there seems to be a tie between heavy metal poisoning (or
toxicity), including high levels of lead or mercury in the blood,
and medical disorders that affect the brain, memory and learning.
Research also shows that increased accumulation in the brain of
copper, iron and zinc might be associated with a number of
neurodegenerative diseases. Long-term heavy metal exposure can lead
to physical, muscular and neurological degenerative changes in the
brain that set the stage for not only Alzheimer’s disease, but also
dementia, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
5. Helps Lower Risk for Learning Disabilities
Sadly, rates of learning disabilities symptoms like ADHD and autism
spectrum disorders have been on the rise in recent years, yet how
exactly these conditions should be treated or prevented remains
controversial in the medical community. Many practitioners are now
looking to alternative treatment methods to control symptoms of
cognitive disorders, including some like chelation therapy that
target heavy metal poisoning.
While not technically authorized to be used for treating such
conditions, “off-label use” of chelation therapy might be beneficial
for cognitive health because of its proven ability to lower
circulating or stored toxic metals that interfere with brain
function. Going forward, we should expect to see new proven
strategies using chelating agents that are capable of crossing the
blood-brain barrier and bringing back homeostasis of minerals
levels.
How Chelation Therapy Is Performed
Chelation therapy sessions take several hours to complete and are
usually performed in a doctor’s office under special monitoring.
Most patients need between five to 30 treatments for best results.
Each treatment session involves insertion of an intravenous (IV) to
administer liquid EDTA, usually into a vein located in the hand or
arm.
The procedure isn’t painful for most people, but like with all
injections, it’s possible to feel some burning, redness or swelling
at the injection site. There isn’t much recovery time needed after
the procedure and most patients are free to drive themselves home
and go about their normal day. Some people report needing to urinate
more than usual following chelation therapy, which can be beneficial
considering this is how heavy metals leave the body.
One thing to consider is that currently chelation therapy isn’t
covered by most insurance plans. As governing health authorities
continue to undergo investigations into its safety and efficacy,
it’s only practiced by limited alternative practitioners, which
means your regular doctor might not yet offer chelation therapy or
be convinced of its benefits.
How can you locate a health care provider that’s trained to
performed chelation therapy? Currently the American Board of
Clinical Metal Toxicology (ABCMT) is responsible for training and
qualifying chelation therapy practitioners. ABCMT has actually been
certifying doctors in chelation therapy for over 24 years! The
American College for Advancement in Medicine is another organization
that offers educational training. Both hold seminars and administer
examinations in order for doctors to become board-certified and
approved to work with patients.
Can you feel safe with a chelation therapy doctor? Most likely, yes!
Chelation therapy doctors must be either D.O. or M.D. and be
licensed to practice in their states, complete a comprehensive
course on the diagnosis and treatment of chelation therapy, obtain
letters of recommendation, and do at least 2,000 intravenous
treatments for metal toxicity as part of a preceptorship with a
certified physician.
Side Effects of Chelation Therapy
Chelation therapy with EDTA should only be performed by a
professional or under supervision due to the potential for side
effects to develop in some cases. The most common side effect is a
burning sensation at the site where EDTA is injected into a vein,
but this usually goes away quickly and is mild. Some people also
experience digestive issues like vomiting, feeling dizzy, fever,
headaches, nausea, low blood sugar symptoms and blood pressure
changes.
It’s very important for EDTA to be infused properly and slowly,
since high levels can cause electrolyte imbalances. It’s also
possible that while it removes unwanted heavy metals, EDTA can
potentially also bind to needed vitamins and minerals and remove
them from the body, which poses the risk for deficiencies. To make
up for this, many practitioners give patients large doses of
vitamins/minerals following chelation therapy so they avoid becoming
very deficient.
Although it’s very rare, kidney damage and heart failure can also
occur due to blood pressure levels dropping suddenly and abnormally
low calcium levels in the blood (hypocalcemia). At this time,
children, pregnant women, and anyone who has a history of heart
disease or kidney problems should not use chelation therapy without
consulting with a doctor first.
Other Ways to Lower Heavy Metal Toxicity
If you’re experiencing symptoms of toxicity described above,
chelation therapy combined with a reduction to common toxins is
the best solution. How can you lower your exposure to heavy metals
in the first place? Start by adjusting your diet, and then consider
taking supplements that can also help.
Lower heavy metals in your diet by limiting or avoiding these foods:
Farmed fish, which can contain mercury or other heavy metals,
dioxins and PCBs found in aluminum cans
Common food sensitivities and allergens like gluten and conventional
dairy (when your immune system is working on fighting allergens, it
has less energy available to detoxify the body)
Non-organic foods, which contain chemical pesticides
GMO foods (especially corn and soy)
Packages/processed foods that contain many synthetic ingredients and
additives
Alcohol, which makes it harder for your liver to process other
toxins
Try these supplements for helping lower the presence of heavy metals
naturally:
Chlorella (4–8 caps daily) acts as a natural chelator to remove
heavy metals
Vitamin C (3,000 milligrams daily during detoxification) an
antioxidant that helps reduce free radicals
Milk thistle helps detoxify and cleanse the liver
Probiotics (50 billion units daily) improve gut health, immune
function and detoxification
