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Chelation Techniques

Chelation is a type of medical therapy where a synthetic solution, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), is injected into the body. Supporters of chelation therapy believe it can help remove heavy metals such as mercury and lead from the body. Some physicians also use chelation to treat heart disease. According to the Mayo Clinic, chelation is not a proven treatment for heart disease and can even be dangerous.

  1. Heavy Metals

    • The FDA approved chelation as a safe and effective way to flush lead from the body. When EDTA is injected into the veins, heavy metals such as copper, lead, mercury and iron bind themselves to the chemical and exit the body via the kidneys. Although effective for lead poisoning, chelation is controversial and unproven for other metals. Some doctors even recommend it to flush out minerals such as calcium.

    Heart Therapy

    • Some doctors recommend chelation to patients who suffer from heart disease such as atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. They believe the EDTA binds itself with calcium deposits in the heart, then flushes them out. However, no studies exist proving chelation effective for heart disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. It has not been approved by the FDA for this purpose and the American Heart Association also does not recommend the treatment.

    Chelation

    • Chelation is done on an outpatient basis. The course consists of five to 30 treatments. Your doctor recommends which number is the best for you. During the treatment, which can last several hours, you sit in a chair while the doctor puts an IV line into your hand or arm. You continue to sit as the EDTA is administered via the IV line. Once the treatment is over, you can usually resume your normal, daily activities.

    Side Effects

    • The most common side effect of chelation is a stinging or burning sensation at the site of injection. However, other side effects such as fever, nausea and headache may occur, but these are rare. In extremely rare situations, people have experienced heart failure, kidney damage and bone marrow depression. Deaths have also occurred during the chelation process. Talk to your doctor about the risks involved with chelation before agreeing to the therapy.

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