Everyone, at some point in its existence, has already been exposed to heavy metals. Chelation therapy aims to remove these heavy metals from the body via a chemical process.
What is chelation?
Chelation is a medical approach that aims to eliminate the harmful minerals and metals that the body has been able to store during its lifetime. It is more precisely the chemical process by which an organic substance, also known as a chelating agent, binds with ionized metals such as lead, copper, iron or calcium. The union of the chelating agent and these molecules is nontoxic. This set is also stable and soluble, which facilitates its elimination through the urinary tract. Chelation is often used to treat poisonings related to certain heavy metals such as lead and to eliminate radioactive substances that can be harmful to health.
The most commonly used substance in chelation therapy is EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic). There are different ways to introduce it into the body. The intravenous route is the most commonly used. But it is also possible to absorb it orally. Sometimes, the chelating agent is also in the form of a lotion to be applied to the skin or patch or suppositories to be administered rectally.
The benefits of chelation therapy
Chelation therapy is not just about detoxifying the body and eliminating the heavy metals and other potentially harmful radioactive substances it may contain. Studies conducted in 1955 at the Providence Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, USA, revealed that EDTA also dissolves metastatic calcium. Calcium that accumulates in areas where it should not be, such as the joints or bones of the inner ear, is the cause of otosclerosis, arthritis or atherosclerosis. The fact of following a chelation therapy would help to reduce the risks of appearance of these pathologies. Recent studies, also conducted in the United States, have shown that chelation therapy is beneficial for the heart.
Chelation therapy in practice
Intravenous chelation is a medical procedure and must be performed by a doctor who is authorized to do so. The treatment lasts on average between two and four hours and does not cause any particular pains. However, this method can have side effects such as diarrhea, headache or nausea, but these symptoms usually remain benign. The duration of therapy is quite long, since it takes between 20 and 40 sessions, spread over a period of one to two years for the chelation to bear fruit. Chelation is often accompanied by vitamin and mineral supplementation, including zinc and calcium, to compensate for the losses caused by the treatment.
There are also suppositories and vitamin cocktails on the market that contain EDTA. These over-the-counter preparations, however, contain only a small dose of EDTA compared to the treatment provided by the doctor. There is therefore no certainty as to their real effectiveness.
