What is EDTA Chelation Therapy?
EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid) is a synthetic amino acid which has the ability to attach itself to metals and minerals, forming a particular bond called a chelate. Heavier metals such as lead have a greater affinity for EDTA and form stronger bonds.
EDTA has proven to be a safe and effective treatment for lead toxicity and has been approved as a drug for this detox. In many cases, patients who coincidentally had symptoms of heart disease such as angina, improved while undergoing lead toxicity treatment. Since that time, scientific opinion and evidence that EDTA chelation therapy is effective in treating blood vessel diseases and reducing toxic burden of the body has grown. To date, the FDA has not yet approved EDTA chelation therapy specifically for vascular disease. However, the status of EDTA as an approved drug for lead toxicity permits physicians to use it for other conditions, including vascular disease. This discretionary use of approved drugs by physicians is common to a number of medical treatments.
The precise way in which the action of EDTA chelation therapy improves blood-flow has not been objectively determined, and likely occurs through a variety of ways. One theory suggests that it reduces "free radicals" in the body. Free radicals are highly active molecular fragments formed during the production of energy in the cells. They have high energy and when properly addressed, can be used by the body. However, if free radicals are not correctly approached, they can cause damage to surrounding tissues. Excess free radicals within the body can contribute to the obvious signs of aging, such as wrinkling and loss of skin elasticity. Internal damage is less visible, but can be significantly more damaging and serious.
In addition to the formation of free radicals in the body, people are exposed to them in the environment from various sources such as polluted air and water, certain foods, and drugs. Heavy metals are a primary cause of an increased production of free radicals. One of the most significant properties of EDTA is its ability to remove heavy metals, like lead and excessive iron, that may have accumulated in the body. Free radicals are thought to contribute to the development of a variety of diseases, including vascular disease. The removal of heavy metals that increase free radicals may explain the effect that EDTA has in helping to prevent and reverse vascular disease. An additional theory suggests that EDTA works by binding calcium in the bloodstream and altering the intracellular balance of calcium with magnesium. This theory may also explain how EDTA chelation has a favorable effect on circulation.
How is Chelation Therapy Administered?
EDTA chelation therapy involves the intravenous infusions of EDTA over a course of treatments in a doctor's office. While Health Restoration Clinic has adopted a straight IV push method, which has been used in Europe for thirty years, oral and rectal suppository administration may apply to some patients. The duration of the procedure depends on the method that is most appropriate for your specific needs. Chelation therapy patients are also generally advised to take a comprehensive approach to their treatment and health, including diet, exercise, stress management, and the elimination of harmful habits such as smoking.
How Does Chelation Therapy Compare to Other Treatments?
As with many medical treatments, including bypass surgery, scientific studies on chelation therapy are continuing - as are the debates among medical professionals on the relative merits of different approaches to the treatment of vascular diseases. While the use of chelation therapy has been controversial, there is also controversy about how much of the bypass surgery that is being done is really necessary. Because it has a favorable safety and side effect profile, and does not preclude the concurrent or subsequent use of other treatments, chelation therapy is very worthy of consideration by those suffering from vascular disease. In 2003, Health Restoration Clinic adopted the 'push method' of Calcium EDTA chelation that has been safely and effectively utilized in Europe for 30 years. Dr. Blumer near Zurich, Switzerland, has reported an 80 to 90 percent reduction in incidence of heart attacks, strokes, and cancer in tens of thousands of patients who took a minimum of thirty Calcium EDTA treatments.