Chelation therapy is used as a means of purging toxic metals and minerals from the body. At the Renaissance Health Centre we have found chelation therapy effective in removing toxins and harmful body wastes, as well as helping to prevent or treat atherosclerosis, heart attacks, strokes, and circulation problems.
The most popular form of chelation employs an amino acid called EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) administered intravenously. EDTA is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of lead and heavy metal poisoning but not for other forms of toxicity or circulatory problems. EDTA works by attaching itself to specific minerals, which are carried out of the body via urinary excretion.
The most common and toxic heavy metals that can poison our systems and lead to fatigue and illness are iron, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Iron is by far the most common of the heavy metals that predisposes individuals to heart disease. It promotes free radical activity and thereby leads to accelerated arterial damage. Lead and cadmium are common industrial pollutants that also foster free radical activity and poison critical enzymes which repair tissue. Mercury is found in some kinds of seafood and in dental fillings. Its toxicity can depress the immune system and cause an array of symptoms. Getting the iron, lead, cadmium, and mercury out can be accomplished with chelation therapy, which both prevents and can reverse heart disease, atherosclerosis, and the other problems mentioned above.
How does chelation therapy work? For most of these metals, an intravenous solution of vitamins, minerals, and the chelator EDTA is prepared. EDTA is a substance known for its ability to pull heavy metals out of the body. This is infused into the bloodstream through a vein.
EDTA leaves the body in the same form by which it entered, but on its way out, it chelates metals and minerals from the body. Patients usually undergo between 20 and 30 chelation treatments over a period of months. Each treatment lasts several hours, during which patients can read or watch a movie.
Beyond its effects on heavy metals, chelation with EDTA also helps to remove inappropriate accumulations of calcium from tissue. Calcium gravitates to atherosclerotic plaque in blood vessels, leading to arterial narrowing and blockage. Chelation gently and gradually mobilizes calcium from plaque, restoring elasticity and flow to blood vessels.
I have seen marked improvement in high blood pressure, angina, leg cramps and diabetic leg ulcers as well as improvement in mental alertness and memory due to improved blood flow to all areas of the body.