Chelation and Toxic Metal Therapy
What Is Chelation Therapy?
Chelation Therapy is a chemical process by which a metal or mineral [such as mercury, lead, copper, iron excess, arsenic, aluminum, calcium etc…] is bonded to another substance. This is a natural process, basic to life itself. For our purpose here CHELATION, is the administration of EDTA combined with other nutrients to remove lead and other toxic metals. According to many scientists these toxic metals increase the amount of destructive chemical substances, which then cause cellular breakdown and contribute to hardening of the arteries. EDTA was developed in the 1930’s as a metal cleaning agent and was used on humans starting in early 1950’s for the removal of lead.
What Is EDTA And How Does It Work?
EDTA [ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid] is a man made amino acid. It removes undesirable metals from the body. This is accomplished by intravenous infusion over a 1.5—3 hour period. EDTA improves calcium and cholesterol metabolism by eliminating excess metallic catalysts, which cause damage to cell membranes by producing “oxygen free radicals.” Free radical pathology is now believed by many scientists to be an important contributing cause of atherosclerosis [hardening of the arteries], cancer, diabetes, and other diseases of aging. EDTA helps to prevent the production of harmful free radicals.
What Is EDTA Used For And How Does It Affect Health?
CHELATION with EDTA has been traditionally used for removing excess toxic metals we get from our environment.
The following are a few examples:
Lead: paint, pigments, solder, and batteries.
Mercury: amalgam fillings, fish, and paint.
Arsenic: old residue from crop sprays and pressure treated lumber.
Cadmium: cigarettes, tires, and plating on metals.
Aluminum: cookware, foil, antacids, canned goods, sodas and deodorants.
Many scientists and physicians over the past few decades have demonstrated that EDTA also has a positive effect on many other conditions. Those positive effects related by most patients after receiving approximately 10-40 CHELATION sessions consist of one or more of the following: increased energy, more alert, better sense of smell, improved vision, warmer feet and hands, can walk much farther without leg and/or chest pain, better memory and concentration, blood pressure normalizes often with no medications, high cholesterol becomes normal, joint stiffness and pain are greatly decreased. Diabetics usually have to greatly decrease or even stop their insulin medications, under the supervision of their physician. The symptoms of patients previously diagnosed with chromic fatigue and fibromyalgia often disappear or are greatly improved. There are also a large number of people who use CHELATION as a preventative therapy. This is wise since prevention is much better than waiting until you have a serious condition or disease. The maximum benefits of CHELATION may not be realized for 2-3 months after the recommended number chelation infusions have been stopped.
What About Safety And Side Effects?
When CHELATION is administered properly both the toxicity and side effects are essentially very low. The LD50 [the dose that will kill 50% of all test animals] of EDTA is 1900 mg. per kilogram [or 2.54 lb.] of body weight orally or intravenously. Compare that to the LD50 of aspirin, which is only 420 mg. per kilogram of body weight. This means a 150 pound [68 kilograms] man or woman would have to take ~ 128,110 mg. [128 grams] of EDTA at one time OR only ~28,500 mg [28 grams] of aspirin to have a 50% chance of killing you. In summary, using the approved CHELATION protocols no patient should ever get more than 3 grams of EDTA in a 48 hour period. Also keep in mind that over 90% of EDTA is excreted by the kidneys and the remaining 10% through the gallbladder/liver with 24 hours of administration. This is one of the reasons why we wait a minimum of 24 hours between treatments.
Some of the short-term side effects of CHELATION could be: headaches [from low blood sugar], diarrhea, urinary frequency, local skin irritation [from the IV and solution], nausea and upset stomach, feeling faint [drop in blood pressure], mild fever [resolves on its own], extreme fatigue [in people who are very nutritionally deficient], pains in the joints [most likely when infusions are more often than 3 times a week], and muscle cramps [oral magnesium will often solve this problem]. Other minor side effects have been occasionally reported from the many millions of CHELATION infusions already given but, all seem to vanish when the therapy is reduced or rarely stopped. As Bruce Halstead, M.D. states: “The number of significant untoward reactions is probably less than in any other major therapeutic modality”.
What Conditions Are Contraindicated For Chelation Therapy?
Probably the only contraindications to EDTA would be for patients on Renal Dialysis and Pregnancy. However, doctors performing EDTA CHELATION will use extreme caution while treating patients with liver and/or kidney disease, anticoagulant therapy [Coumadin, etc..] and congestive heart failure.
Is Chelation Therapy A Legal Treatment?
Yes! CHELATION is completely legal. A licensed physician is free to utilize any therapy of acceptable risk that, in his or her professional judgment is of potential benefit—even if the FDA does not yet approve advertising claims for treatment. The FDA does not regulate the practice of medicine but, only limits marketing and advertising claims for drugs. The FDA has approved marketing claims for the use of EDTA to treat lead poisoning, hypercalcinosis, and digoxin toxicity. Treatment of atherosclerosis is not yet an allowable claim for inclusion in the marketing of literature of EDTA.
What Do I Need To Do To Get Started Taking Chelation Therapy?
When you become a CHELATION patient of the ATMC you will begin by filling out the standard medical forms. For example: general patient information, personal and family medical history, CHELATION informed consent and release form, and a release of medical records [if we can use any previous diagnostic exams it may keep us from having to repeat them]. Then you will have a consultation with one or more of our doctors. You will then have the following appropriate exams, based on your medical history and consultation. These exams could be: a physical, EKG [for the heart], blood work [helps determine kidney, liver cholesterol and thyroid health], and other test as deemed necessary. We also require what is known as a “Toxic Metal Challenge” to help us determine the approximate total toxic metal burden in your body. This will help us better estimate approximated number of treatments and how many per week you can be given safely. If any of these test reveal any serious or suspicious problems other test may be ordered or we may refer you to your HMO/PPO physician for follow-up. After all test results are reviewed, the doctor(s) will discuss them with you and answer your questions. After this he/she will recommend the number and frequency of CHELATION sessions they feel necessary for your case. Since there is no “magic bullets” in the health field you will be given some suggestions about Lifestyle changes will help you achieve the maximum benefits from your CHELATION sessions.
Do Insurance Companies Pay For Chelation Therapy?
Unfortunately most do not and others that do, cover so few it would probably not be worth doing the few they allow. This is why we have opted out of all insurance, medicaid and medicare and therefore we do not participate with any insurance.
What Is The Cost Comparison?
Bypass surgery is the mechanical repair of only a small portion of the arterial tree of the heart or extremity. Total cost for heart bypass, conservatively speaking, range from $45,000—$60,000.00 and much more with complications. CHELATION therapy is an in office procedure. According to scientists and physicians over the past few decades, CHELATION improves the blood flow throughout the entire vascular system at a fraction of the cost of bypass surgery. For example, 20-40 CHELATION sessions each lasting between 1.5—3 hours given in the office would cost the patient approximately $2400—$4400 respectively. This would include the standard exam, blood work [which is done after every 5-10 sessions], and the standard supplements. This obviously would not include any special supplements or testing that may be required for your individual needs. If this should be necessary we will discuss your options with you before any procedure would be done out of the ordinary, no surprises.
If you should have any further concerns or questions please feel free to call the office or stop by so someone can answer your questions and address your concerns.
Thank you, from our doctors and staff.
Recommended reading for those who want more information.
Reversing Heart Disease, by Julian M. Whitaker, M.D. ISBN 0-446-38548-4 or newer edition
Bypassing Bypass, by Elmer Cranton, ISBN 0-9624375-1-4
Chelation Can Cure, by E. W. McDonagh ISBN 0-912815-00-0
Chelation Therapy, The Revolutionary Alternative to Heart Surgery, by Leon Chaitow N.D., D.O. ISBN 0-7225-2203-7
Heart Disease, Heart Disease can be Prevented and Reversed Using Clinical Proven Alternative Therapies, by Burton Goldberg ISBN 1-887299-10-6
The Scientific Basis of EDTA Chelation Therapy (Second Edition), by Halstead & Rozema ISBN 0-9656884-0-2
A Textbook on EDTA Chelation Therapy (Second Edition), by Elmer M. Cranton, M.D. ISBN 1-57174-253-0