Chelation Therapy

Origins and historical development :

The word chelation is derived from the Greek word for crab pincers “chele”. A chelate is a mineral or metal held firmly by another compound. Chelates are widespread throughout nature and Chelation Therapy aims to imitate this natural process by bonding an unwanted metal or mineral to a chelating substance and then eliminating it from the body via the kidneys.

Chelation Therapy was first used by the US Navy in the 1940’s to treat lead poisoning. However, its complementary use developed in the 1950’s when doctors noticed that Chelation Therapy had remarkable benefits not only for patients with lead poisoning but also for patients with arterial diseases and it was increasingly used for this purpose until the early 1960’s. Open heart surgery then took centre stage and virtually all research into chelation stopped for 10 years.

Interest in chelation is steadily growing and now several research institutions are aiming at developing new, oral chelators in order to avoid the expense and inconvenience of intravenous therapy. Although still considered controversial by some, conventional use of Chelation Therapy is now widely accepted in the UK for the treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

What to expect during a treatment :

The whole programme will consist of special dietary adjustments, controlled fasts, oral supplementation, bowel cleansing, correction of gut flora, hyperthermia (heat treatment) and intravenous infusions.

The treatments are carried out by a qualified doctor and include monitoring tests on circulation, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels and kidney and organ function.

An intravenous treatment session involves the administration of a synthetic form of the Amino Acid EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra-acetic Acid) to “chelate” or chemically remove heavy metals and toxins from the bloodstream and breakdown calcium deposits from artery walls. The client is hooked up to an intravenous drip containing a solution of EDTA, vitamins and minerals. A treatment can last from 2 to 3 hours and a course of treatments may number 10 to 30 sessions in total over the course of several months. Although available privately, some NHS health authorities do fund clients having Chelation Therapy.

Conditions suitable for treatment :

The main complementary uses for Chelation Therapy are in heavy metal detoxification, stroke prevention, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and as an alternative to heart bypass surgery. It has also been claimed to help in cases of arthritis, impaired vision, hearing or memory loss, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease, kidney disease and gall stones.