What is chelation therapy?

Answer:
WHAT IS CHELATION?Chelating (pronounced key-layting) agents are substances which can chemically bond with, or chelate (from the Greek chele, claw), metals, minerals, or chemical toxins from the body. The chelating agent actually encircles a mineral or metal ion and carries it from the body via the urine and feces. HOW DOES IT WORK? Chelation therapy involves injecting chelating agents into the blood-stream- for the purpose of eliminating from the body undesirable substances- such as heavy metals, chemical toxins, mineral deposits, and fatty plaques (as in the arteries; the agent binds to the calcium in the plaques). EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) is an effective and widely studied chelating agent. It cannot chelate mercury, however, DMSA and DMPS, the chemicals which work intravenously to chelate mercury, are not approved by the FDA. EDTA is a synthetic amino acid amino acids, are the building blocks of protein. Chelation therapy with EDTA was first introduced into medicine in the United States in 1948 as a treatment for the lead poisoning- of workers in a battery factory. Shortly thereafter, the U.S. Navy advocated chelation for sailors who had absorbed lead while painting- government ships and facilities. The FDA approved IV EDTA chelation as a treatment for lead poisoning. Physicians administering the chelation for lead toxicity observed that patients- who also had atherosclerosis (fatty-plaque buildup on arterial walls) or arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) experienced reductions- in both conditions after chelation.1 Since 1952, IV EDTA chelation has been used to treat cardiovascular disease. ORAL CHELATION FOR HEAVY METAL TOXICITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE Human exposure to heavy metals has risen dramatically in the last 50 years, however, as a result of an exponential increase in the use of heavy metals in industrial processes and products. Today, chronic exposure comes from mercury-amalgam dental fillings, lead in paint and tap water chemical residues in processed foods, and "personal care" products (cosmetics, shampoo and other hair products, mouthwash, toothpaste, soap). In today's industrial society, there is no escaping exposure to toxic chemicals and metals. In addition to the hazards at home and outdoors, many occupations involve- daily heavy metal exposure. Over 50 professions entail exposure to mercury alone. These include physicians, pharmaceutical workers, any dental occupation, laboratory workers, hairdressers, painters, printers, welders, metalworkers, cosmetic workers, battery makers, engravers, photographers, visual artists, and potters.

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Chelation therapy is a chemical process in which a synthetic solution-EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)-is injected into the bloodstream to remove heavy metals and/or minerals from the body. Chelation means “to grab” or “to bind.” When EDTA is injected into the veins, it “grabs” minerals such as lead, mercury, copper, iron, arsenic, aluminum, and calcium and removes them from the body. Except as a treatment for lead poisoning, chelation therapy is controversial and unproven.Chelation therapy is performed on an outpatient basis; you usually do not have to stay in the hospital.

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a controversial treatment for arteriosclerosis that attempts to remove calcium deposits from the inner walls of the coronary arteries.

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Chelation therapy is a process involving the use of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. For the most common forms of heavy metal intoxication, those involving lead, arsenic or mercury, the standard of care in the US dictates the use of DMSA. This, in addition to other chelating agents such as DMPS and alpha lipoic acid (ALA), are used in conventional and alternative medicine.

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Chelation therapy can help you remove heavy metal traces. Heavy metals can cause brain disorders and affect your mental function. You can also use homeopathy to help detoxify against heavy metals. Read this article to find out more
http://blog.worldvillage.com/health/home...

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Probably this is most useful in reducing iron overload in Thalassemia patients who are on massive blood transfusion.May not be of much use otherwise.

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