Chelation therapy, which uses ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), was initially used to treat heavy metal poisoning. However, it was discovered that it can also remove clogged arteries by treating patients with heart disease.
EDTA can bind calcium from the artery plaque, thus minimizing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. It benefits the entire cardiovascular system, from large arteries to tiny capillaries and arterioles.
Removing Heavy Metals
Heavy metals like mercury and lead can accumulate in the body and contribute to disease. During chelation therapy, you are given a chelator or chelating agent that binds to these metals and pulls them out of the body through urination.
The most commonly used chelator is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or EDTA. This medication has a claw-like molecular structure that binds to heavy metals and other toxins. It has been proven effective in removing these toxins from the body and is widely used to treat metal poisoning.
There is no evidence to support the claims made by certain medical professionals that chelation can be used to cure diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. For these reasons, you should always seek chelation therapy under a doctor’s supervision and only when necessary for metal poisoning or other severe conditions.
Eliminating Free Radicals
While there is no scientific proof that chelation therapy can protect against Alzheimer’s or heart disease, it may help with other conditions. Chelation can remove heavy metals from the body by binding them to a chemical compound like calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (CaNa2EDTA) and excreting them through the kidneys. One of chelation therapy benefits is it helps eliminate free radicals unstable molecules that cause oxidative damage to cells and tissues.
Other chelating compounds are also used, including dimercaprol, which can treat more severe cases of mercury or arsenic poisoning, and penicillamine, which can treat Wilson’s disease (a condition that occurs when the body builds up too much copper). Sodium 2,3-dimercaptopropane 1-sulfonate (DMPS), another chelator type, may effectively treat scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic immune system disorders.
EDTA chelation may be beneficial in treating high levels of lead and other metals in the blood because it can rapidly bind to these substances and excrete them through the urine. It is essential to know that this off-label use of EDTA often requires multiple intravenous infusions several times per week for months at a time, and many patients continue with lifelong maintenance therapy.
In addition, chelating agents form stable complexes with metals and may shield biological targets from the metal ions during complex formation, which can reduce local toxicity. Desferrioxamine (DFOA), for example, completely covers the iron surface during chelation, preventing iron-catalyzed oxidative reactions in cells.
Restoring Natural Vitamin and Mineral Levels
Chelation therapy uses particular drugs to grab onto heavy metals in your bloodstream, which are then removed through your urine. The drugs may be given via intravenous infusions or in pill form. They can also help restore essential vitamins and minerals depleted when heavy metals accumulate in your body.
The most common chelating drug is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or EDTA. It’s been U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved for treating mercury and lead poisoning, iron overload (hemochromatosis), and other conditions.
Some alternative healthcare providers and dietary supplement companies use EDTA to treat conditions not approved by the FDA. They claim that the treatment reduces symptoms of autism, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease by removing heavy metals from the body. However, these claims aren’t supported by scientific evidence.
Proponents of chelation therapy say the treatment improves heart disease by reducing a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque in the arteries. They say that chelators bind to calcium found in plaque, which helps remove it from the artery walls.
Boosting Immunity
In a world saturated with toxins, boosting your immunity and protecting yourself from the damage they cause is vital. Chelation therapy can help by removing unhealthy heavy metal and nutritional mineral accumulations in the body.
These substances can harm hormone regulation, cell replication, and immune system function. The chelating agent EDTA is injected into the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body, binding to toxic elements. Once the chelator binds to the element, it is excreted through the urine.
Some believe chelation therapy helps treat conditions like heart disease, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. However, these claims lack substantial scientific evidence. Chelation therapy is an effective treatment for heavy metal poisoning and is safe under medical supervision.
There is some evidence that chelation can treat atherosclerosis, but more extensive clinical trials are needed to confirm these results. Chelation therapy may also benefit people with diabetes because it binds to the calcium in plaque, reducing its buildup and making the arteries less rigid.
Some chelating agents, such as dimercaprol and penicillamine, can treat more severe cases of metal poisoning. They are especially effective in chelating mercury and arsenic. They can also help with Wilson’s disease, which excess copper causes in the body.
