Chelation Therapy

Chelation therapy is a medical treatment used to remove heavy metals and other toxic substances from the body. It involves the administration of chelating agents, which are chemical compounds that bind to metals and facilitate their excretion through urine or feces. Chelation therapy can be administered orally or intravenously, depending on the specific condition being treated.

1. Chelators are substances that form chemical bonds with heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, as well as other minerals like calcium.
2. When chelating agents bind to heavy metals, they form stable complexes that can be excreted from the body through urine or feces.
3. Chelation therapy helps remove toxic metals that have accumulated in the body through environmental exposure, occupational hazards, or other sources.
4. Chelation therapy is primarily used to treat acute or chronic heavy metal poisoning, including lead poisoning, mercury poisoning (such as from dental amalgam fillings or seafood consumption), and arsenic poisoning.
5. Some practitioners advocate for chelation therapy as a complementary or alternative treatment for cardiovascular disease, based on the hypothesis that it may remove calcium deposits from blood vessels and improve circulation. However, evidence supporting this use is limited and controversial.
6. Chelation therapy has been explored as a potential treatment for conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, although research in these areas is inconclusive.

Types of Chelating Agents

1. EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid): A synthetic amino acid that is commonly used as a chelating agent in intravenous chelation therapy for heavy metal poisoning.
2. DMPS (2,3-Dimercapto-1-propanesulfonic Acid): Another synthetic chelating agent used primarily for the treatment of mercury poisoning.
3. DMSA (Dimercaptosuccinic Acid): Used orally for the treatment of lead poisoning in children and for mercury and arsenic poisoning in adults.
   • Typically administered in a clinical setting under the supervision of a healthcare provider.
   • Involves the slow infusion of chelating agents, such as EDTA, into a vein over several hours.
   • May require multiple sessions, depending on the severity of the poisoning.
   • Can be administered at home under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
   • Involves taking chelating agents orally, usually in the form of capsules or tablets.