An Explanation of Chelation
Chelation (pronounced key-LAY-shun) is a process in which chemicals unite with minerals. It comes from the Greek chele, which means “claw.” Like a claw, a chelation agent will grab and chemically bond with minerals, metals or poisons. The process occurs naturally in a body (blood hemoglobin unites with iron and thus oxygen is provided to parts of the body). Man first created chelation agents during World War II to rid the body of toxic metals. Scientists synthesized a ring of molecules which encircled mineral molecules and eliminated them from the body.
Chemicals such as dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS), or ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) are called chelates. They are specific compounds that can locate and form an attachment to toxins and metals in the body. Chelation is usually administered intravenously. It is a well-known way to rid the body of heavy metals and poisons. Unfortunately, when the chelate removes the toxin from the cell and carries it off, it does not neutralize the toxin and there is the possibility that the toxin is able to bind onto other cells on it’s way out.
A synthetic amino acid, which has been useful as a heavy metal chelating material, is EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra-Acetic Acid). It is an FDA-approved treatment for lead, mercury, aluminum and cadmium removal, and has been used for lead chelating for over 50 years. EDTA also assists in restoring blood vessels jammed with calcium and arterial plaque. Basically EDTA is non-toxic and has few noticeable side effects. Unfortunately, it can also chelate necessary minerals and other elements from the body, so the treatment should be supplemented with vitamins and minerals.
Chelation is the sole treatment used today for lead poisoning. But since the process removes other metals, too, in addition to mineral deposits, calcium-based plaques and other poisons, it benefits other medical conditions. Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries by plaque deposits) and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and diabetes can be treated with chelation, as it has a very positive effect on the bloodstream.
In the textbook of EDTA Chelation Therapy by Cranton, clinical studies and research has shown that EDTA chelation treatment is just as beneficial as bypass surgery and angioplasty, or even more effective. It’s hard to do double blind studies to prove or disprove the clinical results of bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty.
A complete program of chelation therapy involves dietary changes, away from highly refined and processed foods. The use of nonprescription nutritional supplements is emphasized, more than expensive and highly profitable drugs patented and marketed by the pharmaceutical industry. Chelation therapy is performed in doctors’ offices, without the need for hospitals, surgeons, cardiologists and the large team of health professionals who profit greatly in dollars and reputation from the $6 billion per year bypass surgery and balloon angioplasty. It is a well-proven therapy and has been performed on more people than have received bypass surgery.
Criticisms of chelation assert that the results have not been proven in double blind, controlled research. However, these critics of alternative medicine tend to be blind to the idea that most medical treatments, which are done daily in doctor’s offices and hospitals, are also “unproven” because they have not been researched in these strict criteria either.
With 800,000 people per year dying in the United States alone from arteriosclerosis and its complications, despite the best of high-technology hospital and surgical care that is available, it is imperative that the public be given the option to receive EDTA chelation therapy. It would be senseless to continue to deny a therapy, which has the potential to greatly reduce long-term medical expenditures by reducing the need for far more expensive hospitalization, surgery or angioplasty. Savings to medical insurance companies with resulting reduction in insurance premiums could be great.
How about the improvement in quality of life?
Chelation patients have a tremendous increase in their expected life, although the chelation doctors are reluctant to admit it. It turns out that intravenous chelation therapy greatly reduces the risk of cancer as well as further heart disease. The chelation treatment deals with basic sources of all illness — the tiny particles of metal, which accumulate over time and which greatly, increase the production of free radicals in the body. As the interior source of free radical production is reduced, by more than one million times, the acceleration of aging stops and people generally feel much younger.
When the toxic metals are removed from the body by intravenous chelation therapy, billions and billions of free radicals are prevented from being created because the metals are now gone. When they exist in the body, they encourage a huge production of free radicals.
At once no more poisonous free radicals are being created in the body.
The major causes of death in this country at present are heart disease and cancer. These can be reversed and prevented.
Benefits of the actions of chelation in reducing free radicals and the damage done by free radicals is truly astounding.
This informative article is not intended to provide medical counsel for individuals, but is for education of the reader. Qualified health practitioners dispense medical advice.
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Author: Anju Mathur, M.D.
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