What Is Chelation Therapy
Chelation therapy is a purifying treatment that removes heavy metals and other toxins from the body.
My patients tell me this clinically-proven method has truly made a difference in their lives. As a healthcare practitioner, I’ve seen the results time and again myself, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to offer this treatment in my community.
“I started on a journey of chelation therapy and began noticing an improvement immediately in my blood pressure,” shared Nancy Verigan, one of my trusted patients.
Nancy began her treatment while taking multiple medications each day. After some time, we felt comfortable having her scale back on those medications, and before long she was no longer taking any blood pressure drugs at all. Chelation therapy proved very effective for Nancy, and for many of my other patients. It may well be a great fit for you too.
How does chelation therapy work?
Pronounced key-lay-shun, chelation therapy is used in conventional medicine to remove heavy metals like lead or mercury from the bloodstream. “Chelation” comes from the Greek word chele, which means to claw or bind.
The translation is fitting. Generally, chelation therapy involves the intravenous injection of a chelating agent called EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid), which binds to minerals and heavy metals in the blood. These minerals and heavy metals are then excreted in the urine, yielding detoxifying results.
For mercury detoxification specifically, some physicians may use a chelating agent called DMPS (2,3-Dimercapto1-propanesulfonic acid).
Patients who are resistant to intravenous chelation therapy may instead choose oral chelation therapy. Oral chelation therapy may also be ideal for those who simply prefer an alternative solution, or who wish to combine intravenous chelation therapy with an oral method.
How does oral chelation therapy work? The treatment involves an oral chelating agent known as Succimer, or DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic acid). This is a clinically-proven lead poisoning treatment some physicians use to remove mercury from the body. The agent blends with metals in the blood, and then both the metals and the Succimer are removed by the kidneys and excreted. Diarrhea, loose stools, nausea, appetite, and rash are potential side effects.
What are the health risks of mercury?
I’ve mentioned mercury several times because this heavy metal poses a number of potential health problems. Mercury is correlated with health conditions such as hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Research reveals it can also decrease oxidant defense, increase oxidative stress, cause a spike in inflammation, and compromise the immune function.
Cardiovascular disease is the world’s leading cause of death, so it’s all the more jarring that it’s linked to mercury toxicity. In fact, Dr. Rashid Buttar testified before Congress that as of 2010.
358 scientific papers detailed the relationship between mercury and cardiovascular disease
643 scientific papers showcased the relationship between mercury and cancer (According to internationally-renowned medical researcher Yoshiaki Omura, MD, all cancer cells contain mercury.)
1,445 scientific papers revealed the relationship between mercury and neurodegenerative diseases
These figures are striking. And what we must recognize is that mercury has no physiological role in the human metabolism. It can modify the distribution and increase retention of other heavy metals—and the human body is simply incapable of metabolizing or excreting mercury on its own.
This means mercury will accumulate in the body over time. And often, we don’t even know when we’re ingesting it. Mercury, after all, is present in seafood like swordfish and tuna. Additionally, each amalgam or silver-colored dental filling releases an average of 10mcg of mercury into the bloodstream each day.
While most believe amalgam is safe—many dentists are trained to use it in dental school—it consists of 50% mercury. Mercury vapors can seep out of the filling, especially while chewing food or drinking hot drinks. But fortunately, amalgam fillings can be replaced. And mercury buildup can be mitigated by way of chelation therapy
Ultimately, if we don’t manage the buildup of mercury in the body, our risk of facing negative health conditions will continue to rise. Chelation therapy, however, is a proven way to remove heavy metals from the body. One to two DMPS treatments are usually administered first, to reduce peripheral mercury levels in the body, before treating patients with DMSA to target the central nervous system.
What are the benefits of chelation therapy?
In addition to mercury detoxification, chelation therapy may result in a number of other benefits. Though the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved the treatment for heavy metal poisoning at this time, researchers are currently investigating other potential advantages of the therapy.
The treatment may help target a variety of health problems .
Alzheimer’s disease - The treatment has been shown to remove aluminum from the brain. (Aluminum is often linked to Alzheimer’s disease.) What’s more, in How Metal Poisoning Can Affect Your Brain, Drs. H. Richard Casdorph and Morton Walker share that chelation therapy may help the elderly improve their memory, mental clarity, and overall IQ. The treatment can also serve as a de-locking agent for clogged blood vessels in the brain and body.
Cancer - Chelation therapy helps to manage free radicals, which are associated with the cellular destruction that may contribute to cancer. Since the procedure eliminates heavy metals from the body—some of which are tied to cancer in large quantities—they are currently investigating whether it can have a significant impact on cancer prevention.
Cardiovascular conditions - Since EDTA is designed to reduce the amount of calcium in the bloodstream, some healthcare practitioners believe chelation therapy can treat cardiovascular conditions by reopening clogged arteries. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute—both affiliated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—are exploring whether chelation therapy may be an effective treatment for heart disease.
Heavy metal poisoning - Chelation therapy is a proven way to treat heavy metal poisoning, including lead or mercury poisoning. The FDA claims this therapy is among the most effective heavy metal toxicity treatments there is—perhaps the only one.3 National Health Statistics data reveal that over 100,000 Americans receive chelation each year.
Is chelation therapy safe?
Chelation therapy is considered a safe treatment for the removal of heavy metals from the body. That said, patients should consult their doctor before beginning chelation therapy. Children, pregnant women, and people experiencing heart or kidney failure should steer clear of chelation therapy altogether.
Even in low doses, I’ve seen that side effects like high blood pressure, headache, and low blood sugar may occur in certain patients. To mitigate these symptoms, the following tests should always be performed before and after chelation therapy:
Cholesterol and other blood compound tests
Blood sugar and other nutritional tests
Blood pressure and circulation tests
Kidney and organ function tests
No matter the situation, chelation therapy should be administered with caution. The slower the chelating agent is injected intravenously, the less likely the patient will experience negative side effects. It’s also worth noting that intravenous chelation should not be administered more than once in a 24-hour period, and that two to three treatments per week are typical.
Most importantly, just like with any medical treatment, chelation therapy should only be performed by a qualified professional such as myself. I personally am certified by the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM)—the gold standard in chelation therapy training in the United States. I’ve completed their training, I understand the benefits and nuances of this holistic treatment, and I take pride in offering both oral and intravenous chelation to my patients.
References
Houston MC (2014) The Role of Mercury in Cardiovascular Disease. J Cardiovasc Dis Diagn 2: 170. doi: 10.4172/2329-9517.1000170
Sircus Mark MD. Mercury and Cancer – Research and Dental Amalgams. Dr Sircus. 2010.
Wax PM. Current use of chelation in American health care. J Med Toxicol. 2013;9(4):303–307. doi:10.1007/s13181-013-0347-2
