What is EDTA Chelation Therapy?

Chelation (pronounced key-LAY-shun) is the use of EDTA to bind molecules, such as metals or minerals, and “chelate”, or remove, them from the body.

EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, also known as edetic acid or tetra acetic acid) is a synthetic amino acid having a molecular weight of 292.25 and a molecule formula of C10H16N2O8 . EDTA chelation therapy is approved by the FDA for the treatment of lead poisoning and other metal toxicities when used intravenously, and a number of studies have found it also effective in treating blood vessel diseases, improving blood flow to the heart, legs and brain. Interestingly, the U.S. Navy administered EDTA orally to thousands of sailors in the 1940’s to help combat lead toxicity. Today it is also used as an antioxidant in foods, as a chelating agent in many pharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals, and as an anticoagulant for blood taken for hematological investigations.

EDTA Chelation can be administered via an IV Drip, and usually takes three hours to complete a session. Normally, 30 sessions are standard for IV chelation therapy. EDTA Chelation is also available in the form of a suppository, pills & capsules and liquid chelation.

Generally, most chelators are considered to be removers of heavy metals toxicity. EDTA is the only chelator that has been used over the last 50 years to also reverse the effects of arterial plaque, thus preventing further strokes, and/or heart attacks. This is due to how the EDTA IV is either mixed in the doctor’s office, or manufactured as a chelation pill, suppository or liquid. The key importance is that NO calcium is mixed with the EDTA. Why, because you want the EDTA to remove calcium from the plaque located in the arteries and veins, and also in the tissues where is does not belong. EDTA does not remove the bound calcium in teeth and bones, only metastatic calcium or pathologic calcium causing damage to the body. If calcium is already mixed with the EDTA, then those EDTA molecules will not remove calcium as needed. In such cases, that EDTA becomes as any other chelators, removing only heavy metals.

EDTA chelation therapy can sometimes be hard on your body’s mineral store. Some type of analysis can be done prior to receiving heavy metal chelation therapy. Determination of your mineral status can help your health provider suggest a proper mineral replacement protocol for you. An efficient test is a hair analysis, it is inexpensive and easy to take. A more elaborate analysis is an Erythrocyte Mineral Analysis. This tests for the amount of minerals that are actually present inside the Red Blood Cells. It is a much more expensive test, but can provide more accurate results

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