CHELATION THERAPY

The word chelation comes from ‘Chele’ which is a Greek word meaning “to bind in a claw”. Chelation therapy is a proven way of treatment for removing heavy toxic metals from the body. It is an intravenous procedure in which a drug called EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra-Acetic Acid) is infused into the vein over a period of two to three hours, depending on the dosage.
The FDA approves its use in heavy metal removal such as lead, mercury, iron, arsenic and antimony and also in certain types of medicinal toxicity such as digitalis toxicity. Many studies worldwide have shown its efficacy in treating Coronary Artery Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease, Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) and Arthritis ^₁,_2,3.

Chelation and Circulation:

As we age the circulation to various organs is compromised. This happens due to piling up of plaque in the arteries which starts from the age of 3 years. Plaque is a composite of fats, collagen, fibrin, cholesterol and many other substances. A typical diet has all of these ingredients.  With the passage of time, calcium deposition binds these ingredients together and the plaque becomes ‘hard’.

EDTA chelation therapy has the ability to gradually dissolve calcium in the plaque and set free the ingredients which are dissolved by the normal mechanisms of the body^₄.
Disintegration of plaque opens up the small arteries, thus improving circulation. Such a process is very helpful to reduce  symptoms like angina, cold extremities, shortness of breath and pain in the legs. There are reports showing 75-95 % improvement in blood flow^₅.
Flowing of oxygenated blood into the arteries helps reverse the damages to the vascular lining (endothelium) due to free radicals.  Endothelial damage is one of the prerequisites for plaque formation^₆.
Many studies document that iron overload is a risk factor for heart disease^_7,8,9. Iron, being a heavy metal, can also be reduced by chelation therapy.

Chelation and Neurodegenerative Disorders (Alzheimer’s Disease):
Aluminum toxicity has been reported to be a factor in the causation of Alzheimer’s Disease₁₀. Aluminum is also a heavy metal and can be removed effectively by chelation therapy.
As the plaque is dissolved, circulation to the brain is improved.  Documented studies show that there is up to 50% improvement in mental clarity, memory and cognitive functions¹¹.

Chelation and Cancer:
Chelation therapy, by lowering the free radical burden, may help decrease the cancer burden.¹² Through the same mechanisms it reduces  inflammation caused by free radicals^13.  This is why it helps relieve symptoms due to arthritis and other degenerative disorders.

Other Uses of Chelation Therapy:
Some physicians have recommended chelation therapy for problems like: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes mellitus and chemical sensitivities^{14, 15, 16.}

Why Antagonism?
Against all these benefits, chelation therapy faces much antagonism. EDTA has been considered a toxic substance because of its possible side effects on the kidneys, and chemical sensitivity to the vein through which it is administered. 
The American Board of Chelation Therapy ( with the American College for Advancement in Medicine or ACAM) has set protocols which regulate the dose of EDTA and alkalinity of the solution in such a way that the treatment is almost without any side effects. Many blood tests including kidney functions are done in the beginning as well as throughout the course of treatment. The treatment is carried out under the supervision of a qualified health professional. With a safe protocol in place, it is considered an extremely safe therapy^17.
The American College for the Advancement in Medicine estimates that around 500,000 patients have received EDTA chelation therapy using the proper protocol and not a single fatality has been attributed to EDTA^18. This makes EDTA chelation therapy one of the safest medical procedures.

Bypass versus Chelation:
Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. More than 300,000 bypasses are performed every year. Around 5% of these end up in death! In 1991, approximately $10 billion was spent on bypass surgery in the United States alone. An entire course of chelation therapy may cost less than $3,000.00.
The reports from the Department of Medicine,  University of North Carolina, suggest that only three to five percent of the 300,000 bypasses were actually necessary. There are suggestions by medical professionals that bypass surgery should be limited to patients with crippling angina, for whom conservative therapies were ineffective^19. With proper chelation protocols in place, EDTA chelation may be the best alternative hope for all such patients!

References:

1. Casdorph HR: EDTA chelation therapy, efficacy in arteriosclerotic heart disease. J Holistic Medicine, 3(1):3-59, 1981.
2. Olszewer, E, Carter JP: EDTA chelation therapy in chronic degenerative disease. Medical Hypothesis, 27:41-49, 1988.
3. Casdorph HR, Farr CH: EDTA chelation therapy III: Treatment of peripheral arterialocclusion, an alternative to amputation. J Holistic Medicine, 5(1):3-15, 1983.
4. Casdorph HR: EDTA chelation therapy, efficacy in arteriosclerotic heart disease. J Holistic Medicine, 3(1):3-59, 1981.
5. Guldager B, Jelnes R, Jorgensen SJ, et al. EDTA treatment of intermittent claudication: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. J Intern Med. 1992;231:261-267
6. Casdorph HR, Farr CH: EDTA chelation therapy III: Treatment of peripheral arterialocclusion, an alternative to amputation. J Holistic Medicine, 5(1):3-15, 1983.
7. Knuiman, M. W., Divitini, M. L., Olynyk, J. K., Cullen, D. J., Bartholomew, H. C. (2003). Serum Ferritin and Cardiovascular Disease: A 17-Year Follow-up Study in Busselton, Western Australia. Am J Epidemiol 158: 144-14
8. Iron chelation and a free radical scavenger suppress angiotensin II-induced upregulation of TGF- 1 in the heart Kan Saito,1 Nobukazu Ishizaka,1 Toru Aizawa,1 Masataka Sata,1 Naoyuki Iso-o,2 Eisei Noiri,3 Ichiro Mori,4 Minoru Ohno,1 and Ryozo Nagai1
9. Serum Ferritin and Cardiovascular Disease: A 17-Year Follow-up Study in Busselton, Western Australia M. W. Knuiman1 , M. L. Divitini1, J. K. Olynyk2, D. J. Cullen3 and H. C. Bartholomew1
10. Perl DP, Good PF: The association of aluminum, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurofibrillary tangles. J Neural Transm [Suppl] 24:205-211, 1987.
11. Mental clarity cognition
12. Journal of Advancement in Medicine, Volume 2, Numbers 1/2, Spring/Summer 1989, Ninety Percent Reduction in Cancer Mortality after Chelation Therapy With EDTA, Walter Blumer, M.D. and Elmer Cranton, M.D.
13. Deucher GP. EDTA chelation therapy: an antioxidant strategy. Journal of Advancement in Medicine. 1988;1(4):182-190.
14. McDonagh EW: Chelation can cure: how to reverse heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure. Kansas City, MO, Platinum Pen Publications, 1983.
15. McDonagh EW: Chelation can cure: how to reverse heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure. Kansas City, MO, Platinum Pen Publications, 1983.
16. chemical senstivities
17. extemely safe
18.  ACAM: not a single fatality due to chelation
19. bypass for those who dont respond to conservative therapies 

- by Amtul Q Farhat