An Overview of Chelation Therapy

The term "chelation" has its root in the Greek word "chele", which means claw. Chelation therapy involves a series of infusions with the active ingredient being Ethylene Diamine Tetra-Acetic Acid (EDTA). The essence of chelation therapy is that EDTA acts as a chelating (bonding) agent, which clings to toxic metals such as lead, mercury, or arsenic in the bloodstream. Then onwards, these toxic metals are easily removed from the body via urination. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of EDTA chelation therapy for the treatment of lead and other heavy metal poisoning, certainly due to the acclaimed efficacy of chelation therapy in the concerned field.

Many proponents of chelation therapy have been boastful of its use as a cure for a variety of ailments including hypercalcemia (abnormally high blood calcium) and coronary heart disease. Another point raised is that EDTA may act as an antioxidant, thereby defending against LDL (also known as bad cholesterol) oxidation and artery-clogging plaque formation. However, there is not ample scientific evidence to warrant the efficacy of chelation therapy in any ailment other than heavy metal poisoning.

EDTA, used in chelation therapy, may be administered either intravenously or orally. Although, most contemporary practitioners of chelation therapy offer Intra-Venous (IV) infusions of EDTA, oral chelation therapy is slowly catching up in demand. The distinguishing aspect between the two procedures is the degree of effect and its instancy. While intravenous chelation therapy has a potent and almost instantaneous effect on the body, an oral dose of EDTA certainly requires some absorption time - time to enter the bloodstream. Moreover, the absorption percentage of an oral dose is substantially lower when compared to that of an IV dose. The choice of the type of chelation therapy is largely dependent on the severity of the ailment. IV chelation therapy is best suited when there is a need for rapid action, while oral chelation therapy may be used as part of a general health maintenance schedule.

Although, practitioners of alternative medicine believe that chelation therapy is helpful in treating many age-related and degenerative diseases, chelation therapy faces strong criticism from mainstream medicine. The argument put forth by conventional medical practitioners relates to the side effects of chelation therapy. Several side effects include diminished functionality of kidneys, burning sensation at the site of the intravenous infusion, a blood sugar lowering effect, depletion of calcium from healthy bones, and fatigue during infusion.

In spite of the criticism, there is no dearth of practitioners of chelation therapy, with most of them being trained and certified by the American College for Advancement in Medicine (ACAM). ACAM, founded in 1973, is a non-profit medical society, and is a major proponent of chelation therapy. ACAM has also outlined a protocol for the safe and effective administration of EDTA chelation therapy.