The term chelation (pronounced key-lay-shun) is derived from “chelos”, the Greek word for claw. The purpose of chelation therapy is to bind minerals and/or toxic metals in the body with a chelating agent in order to enhance elimination and, therefore detoxify the body. Of primary concern are calcium deposits in arteries, which lead to atherosclerosis, a serious risk for heart attack and stroke, and heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and others. A number of different chelating agents are used in chelation therapy. Your doctor will choose the appropriate one depending on the mineral or heavy metal to be chelated. For example, 2,3-Dimercapto-1-1propanesulfonic acid (DMPS) is commonly used to reduce mercury levels and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is used to remove many other heavy metals as well as to treat atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease by removing calcium. Your doctor may also recommend additional therapeutic agents such as Glutathione, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), Alpha Lipoic acid (ALA), Selenium, B vitamins, and others, to provide antioxidant support and to optimize detoxification. In addition, replenishing minerals is imperative while receiving chelation therapy, as the chelating agents can bind essential minerals.
HEAVY METALS
Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and arsenic are toxic to the body. High levels of these toxic metals in the body may be associated with a wide range of debilitating symptoms. Lead burden can lead to higher rates of Parkinsonism and cognitive decline in adults, and learning, and behavioral difficulties in children. Mercury exposure is associated with mood disturbances, cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure, infertility and immune dysfunction. Arsenic is a known carcinogen and can increase the risk for diabetes.
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Chelation therapy is also used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. The TACT (Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy) is the first large scale study to determine the efficacy and safety of chelation therapy, with or without high-dose vitamins, for those with cardiovascular disease including prior heart attacks, coronary artery disease, diabetes, etc. The results of this 10 year, $31 million study show that EDTA chelation therapy produced modest, but statistically significant reductions in cardiovascular events. Those treated with chelation therapy, specifically patients with diabetes, had a 40% reduction in risk of death from heart disease, 52% reduction in recurrent heart attacks and 43% reduction in death from any cause. Gervasio Lamas, M.D., the study’s principal investigator, remarked “These are striking results that, if supported by future research, could point the way towards new treatments to prevent complications of diabetes”.
OTHER CONDITIONS
Research studies investigating the implications of chelation therapy on autism, macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease have been published.
IS IT SAFE? ARE THERE SIDE EFFECTS?
Chelation therapy is typically well tolerated with minimal side effects. The most common side effect is mild bleeding, bruising and burning sensation at the site of injection. We take extra precautions to reduce this and ensure the patient is comfortable throughout the treatment. Rarely, short-term adverse side effects may occur. Chelation therapy is not indicated for everyone. People with kidney disease, receiving renal dialysis and who are pregnant or breast feeding should NOT receive chelation therapy. Your doctor will perform a thorough assessment and formulate a treatment plan for you.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE ELEVATED LEVELS OF HEAVY METALS? HOW DO I GET TESTED?
Siskiyou Vital Medicine uses the most accurate and highest quality laboratories to assess heavy metal burden. Assessment of your heavy metals will be done with symptom questionnaires, physical examinations and laboratory testing using blood and/or urine.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE CLOGGED ARTERIES?
There are many symptoms of clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), such as high blood pressure, chest pain, difficulty breathing, fatigue, and many more. Your doctor may have already diagnosed you with atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, or other cardiovascular disease. Common tests include calcium score, angiography, and others. If needed, Siskiyou Vital Medicine will perform comprehensive testing to
evaluate your cardiovascular health including specialty blood work and imaging.
IS CHELATION THERAPY AN ALTERNATIVE TO CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS SURGERY (CABG) AND OTHER CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS?
There is early data that suggests that cardiovascular patients treated with EDTA chelation therapy have a lower rate of subsequent cardiac events, including myocardial infarction and death, than those treated with cardiac medications, PTCA, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). Data also suggests that chelation therapy might be effective in preventing blood clots and cardiac events from stents by reducing hyper-coagulability.
Please contact Siskiyou Vital Medicine and speak with your provider to see if Chelation Therapy could benefit you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Devin Wilson, ND, CCT is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor at Siskiyou Vital Medicine and is currently accepting new patients. He specializes in primary care, men and women’s health, bio-identical hormone replacement therapies and others. He received advanced training in chelation therapy from the American College for the Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) and is a certified chelation therapist (CCT). Dr. Devin Wilson looks forward to helping patients reestablish, maintain and optimize their health.