Chelation therapy
Chelation therapy is a medical procedure that involves the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. Chelation therapy has a long history of use in clinical toxicology and remains in use for some very specific medical treatments, although it is admin…
Why chelation therapy should be avoided?
Why Chelation Therapy Should Be Avoided. May 15, 2004. Chelation therapy is a series of intravenous infusions containing EDTA and various other substances. It is falsely claimed to be effective against cardiovascular disease, autism, and many other diseases and conditions. Because chelation has valid use in some cases of heavy metal poisoning, many practitioners falsely diagnose lead, mercury, or other heavy metal toxicity to trick patients into undergoing chelation.
What's the harm in chelation therapy?
When chelation therapy is used the right way and for the right reason, it can be safe. The most common side effect is burning in the area where you get the IV. You might also experience fever, headache, and nausea or vomiting. Chelating drugs can bind to and remove some metals your body needs, like calcium, copper, and zinc.
What are the health benefits of chelation therapy?
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Heart disease – And subsequently diabetes
- Autism
- Parkinson’s disease
- & Much More
What diseases can be treated with chelation therapy?
- Ornish D, et al. Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease. ...
- Mood MB et al. Toxic mechanisms of five heavy metals. ...
- Lanphear BP, et al. Low-level lead exposure and mortality in US adults. ...
- Frustaci A, et al. ...
- Petteruti S. ...
- https://edta.net/the-early-history-of-edta-chelation
- Clarke NE, et al. ...
- Maniscalco BS, et al. ...
- Lamas GA, et al. ...
- E, et al. ...
How does lead chelation work?
Chelation therapy works by binding to lead in the blood and soft tissues and creating a compound that can be excreted in the bile and urine. It should only be administered with oversight by a specialist. Local lead-poisoning prevention programs or poison control centers should have a list of qualified practitioners.
How do you chelate lead out of your body?
You get the chelating medicine through an intravenous (IV) tube in your arm. It's also available in pill form. Once the drug has attached to the metal, your body removes them both through your pee. Metals that can be removed with chelation therapy include lead, mercury, and arsenic.
What is the process of chelation?
Chelation therapy is a chemical process in which a synthetic solution EDTA is injected into the bloodstream in order to remove heavy metals from the body. Chelation is a chemical process where a chemical complex strongly attracts a mineral forming a stable compound.
How do you flush lead out of your body?
If lead levels in the blood are excessive, a procedure known as chelation therapy can help remove lead from the body. It involves either an oral or intravenous agent that binds to lead so that it can be cleared from the body in stool or urine.
What are the dangers of chelation therapy?
More serious side effects of chelation therapy may include:seizures.drop in blood pressure.respiratory failure.low blood calcium (hypocalcemia)irregular heartbeat.severe allergic reactions.severe hypersensitivity.anemia.More items...
How long does it take for lead levels to decrease?
Results: 579 patients were included in the analysis. Blood leads of 25-29, 20-24, 15-19, and 10-14 microg/dL required 24.0, 20.9, 14.3, and 9.2 months, respectively, to decline to less than 10 microg/dL.
Can chelation cause liver damage?
Liver damage may be seen with some chelating agents and some patients may develop liver failure. Damage to the brain leading to a decline in cognitive function. Vitamins and vital nutrients may leave the body along with the heavy metal.
What are natural chelating agents?
Citric, malic, lactic, and tartaric acids and certain. amino acids are naturally occurring chelating agents. (1), but they are not as powerful as EDTA.
What is IV chelation?
Chelation (pronounced key-lay-shun) therapy consists of intravenous injections of an amino acid whose generic name is EDTA. It removes toxic metals from the blood stream like lead, mercury, and excess iron and calcium deposits.
How do you remove lead from blood naturally?
Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron better, but also may help with getting rid of lead. Foods rich in vitamin C include: Citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit. Other fruits such as kiwi, strawberries and melon.
Does lead stay in body forever?
Within our bodies, lead is absorbed and stored in our bones, blood, and tissues. It does not stay there permanently, rather it is stored there as a source of continual internal exposure.
Is lead poisoning reversible?
The effects of lead poisoning aren't reversible. But you can reduce blood lead levels and prevent further exposure by finding and removing the sources of lead from your child's home or environment.
How does chelation therapy work?
Chelation therapy works by binding to lead in the blood and soft tissues and creating a compound that can be excreted in the bile and urine. It should only be administered with oversight by a specialist. Local lead-poisoning prevention programs or poison control centers should have a list of qualified practitioners. 6 It has been found that chelation in children with a BLL <45 mcg/dL will decrease their BLL, but it will not improve neurodevelopmental test scores. 7 Therefore, chelation therapy is usually reserved for patients with a BLL >45 mcg/dL. Eliminating the source of lead exposure may be just as effective at reducing blood levels as chelation therapy in moderately exposed children, based on a study with edetate disodium calcium (CaNa 2 EDTA). 10
What is needed to reduce lead exposure?
An environmental investigation is needed, and steps to reduce lead exposure should be taken. The patient should be monitored for neurodevelopmental changes and iron status. If lead ingestion is suspected, an abdominal x-ray and potential bowel decontamination should be performed.
What can a pharmacist do to help patients with lead poisoning?
Pharmacists are also able to answer questions that patients may have about lead toxicity and counsel on ways to decrease lead exposure. Pharmacists can also participate in public health campaigns and community education about lead toxicity.
How long does it take for lead to be eliminated from the body?
The majority of exposures come from two sources: gasoline and paint. Exposure can occur with inhalation or ingestion and, once someone is exposed, it can take years to eliminate lead from the body. 1 Even minimal concentrations of lead can cause cognitive defects.
How can we reduce the burden of lead poisoning?
The key to reducing the public burden of lead poisoning is prevention and education. Although lead is a natural substance, lead toxicity has been a public health concern for over 25 years because it has been linked to cognitive, behavioral, and motor problems in children.
What are the best ways to treat lead poisoning?
There are four available agents used to treat lead toxicity: dimercaprol, CaNa2EDTA, succimer, and D-penicillamine. Pharmacists can play an important role in education, treatment, and monitoring of children with lead toxicity. The key to reducing the public burden of lead poisoning is prevention and education.
Why is lead toxicity a concern?
US Pharm. 2015;40 (5):40-44. ABSTRACT: Lead toxicity is a major public health concern because it can cause cognitive, behavioral, and motor problems in children. In most cases, exposure can be prevented or at least minimized and eliminated.
What is chelation therapy?
Chelation therapy is a powerful treatment that’s used to remove heavy metals from blood. Some people claim that it can also treat other conditions, including autism and Alzheimer’s disease. However, researchers still don’t fully understand if there is a relationship between these conditions and heavy metals.
How much does chelation therapy cost?
This often includes hundreds of treatments, which cost between $75 and $125 each. Keep in mind that most insurance plans only cover the use of chelation therapy for FDA-approved conditions, which tend to involve some type of poisoning. These treatments are given in a medical facility for poisoning.
What is chelating agent?
Chelation therapy involves injecting a type of medication called a chelator or chelating agent. Some common chelators include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), dimercaptosuccinic acid, and dimercaprol. Some chelators are better at removing certain metals than others are. Chelators work by binding to metals in the bloodstream.
How do chelators work?
Chelators work by binding to metals in the bloodstream. Once they’re injected into the bloodstream, they circulate through the blood, binding to metals. In this way, chelators collect all the heavy metals into a compound that’s filtered through the kidneys and released in urine.
What are the side effects of chelation?
One of the most common side effects of chelation therapy is a burning sensation near the injection site. Other mild to moderate side effects include : fever. headache.
Does chelation help with Alzheimer's?
The use of chelation therapy for Alzheimer’s disease is based on the belief that it’s caused by a buildup of aluminum in the brain from aluminum pots and pans, water, food, and deodorant.
Does chelation therapy help with autism?
Still, using chelation therapy to treat autism in children appears to do more harm than good. In 2005, for example, a five-year-old boy with autism died while receiving intravenous EDTA from his doctor as part of chelation therapy. In 2006, the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health decided to cancel its study.
Why is chelation not always prescribed?
Because all chelation medicines have side effects, this treatment is not always prescribed. If it is necessary, it is important to take all doses of the medicine. If treatment is not completed, lead levels may stay high.
What is the best medicine for lead poisoning?
One medicine often used to treat lead poisoning is called succimer. It comes in the form of large capsules. Most children do not like to take the pills. They have trouble swallowing them whole and the pills smell bad, like rotten eggs.
How to get rid of lead in kids?
Calcium keeps the pills from working to get rid of the lead. If your child takes a multi-vitamin, give it an hour before or an hour after you give the pills. Chelation medicine draws lead out of the body through the kidneys and into the urine. It is important that your child drinks plenty of liquids to help get rid of the lead.
What is the term for taking lead out of blood?
Using medicine to take lead out of the blood is called chelation (key LAY shun). The number of chelation treatments and the kind of medicine your child needs depend on two things: Some children need only pills, but others need injections (shots) of medicine.
Why is lead poisoning important?
Often, children with lead poisoning are anemic. This means that they do not have enough iron. The less iron in the body, the more lead the body will absorb.
When should a child return to the home from the source of lead?
The most important treatment is to get your child away from the source of lead! If the lead is in the home, your child should not return home until you have controlled the lead hazards or limited the child’s access to the lead.
What age is the most at risk for lead poisoning?
Lead poisoning is the harmful buildup of lead in the body. Even small amounts can be very harmful to the growth of a young person’s brain. Children under the age of 6 are at highest risk for lead poisoning. This is because they put non-food objects and their fingers in their mouths.
What are the benefits of chelation therapy?
One of the biggest chelation therapy benefits is its ability to help control levels of various environmental metals in the body. Metals, including lead, mercury, aluminum and arsenic, can cause short- and long-term health consequences since they impact functions of the central nervous, cardiovascular, immune and skeletal systems.
How many intravenous chelation treatments are required for a chelation therapy?
and have a license to practice in their states, complete a comprehensive course on the diagnosis and treatment of chelation therapy, obtain letters of recommendation, and conduct at least 2,000 intravenous treatments for metal toxicity as part of a preceptorship with a certified physician.
How does EDTA help the body?
After EDTA attaches to heavy metals, together they both move to the kidneys where their elimination from the body occurs through urine. It’s possible that “chelating agents” like EDTA and DMPS can help detoxify the body of toxic elements that contribute to many types of chronic diseases.
What is EDTA chelation?
EDTA chelation therapy works by binding salts to molecules in the blood once EDTA is administered into someone’s veins.
How to lower heavy metals?
Other Ways to Lower Heavy Metal Toxicity. Chelation therapy is considered an alternative medicine that has the purpose of removing “heavy metals” and toxins from the body.
How long does it take to get a chelation?
How Chelation Therapy Is Performed. Chelation therapy sessions take several hours to complete and usually take place in a doctor’s office under special monitoring. Most patients need between five to 30 treatments for best results.
When was EDTA first used?
First developed and used in the 1950s for the treatment of heavy metal poisoning, chelation therapy using EDTA is now performed to remove common heavy metals, including lead, mercury, copper, iron, arsenic, aluminum and calcium. While still a controversial practice in mainstream medicine and one that requires more research for us ...
Can chelation therapy cure heart disease?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of chelation and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for the treatment of conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.
Are there any side effects with chelation?
Studies report that side effects of chelation therapy are unusual and rarely serious. Mild reactions may include but are not limited to:
How much lead is chelated?
Chelation therapy is generally considered when lead levels in the blood are 45 micrograms per deciliter (µg/mL) or higher, especially in children. In adults, chelation therapy may be delayed if the person can be removed from the source of the lead exposure. 15.
What happens after lead enters the body?
After lead has entered the body, it can be tough to remove, and any further contact with the heavy metal will build on itself, raising the risk for more and more health concerns. Finding and eliminating any sources of lead, as well as slowing the body's absorption of the heavy metal, is absolutely essential ...
How long does it take to cure lead poisoning?
It depends on the severity of the lead poisoning and the type of chelating agent used. With oral drugs like Chemet, the standard course of treatment is 14 days, after which the blood is retested and an additional course is given if needed.
What to do if you have lead paint in your home?
Generally speaking, however, there are a few things that families can begin to do right away 3 to prevent any further exposure to lead: Ensure there aren't any peels, chips, or chewable surfaces where lead paint has been used. Vacate any home built before 1978 that's undergoing renovation 4 until everything's been cleaned up.
Can a doctor run a urine test for chelation?
In those instances, doctors may run a type of urine test to see whether the child will respond to chelation therapy—though these tests are not recommended by health agencies like the American College of Medical Toxicology and researchers have expressed concerns 12 about their use in recent decades.
Can chelation therapy be used on children?
While chelation therapy has been used for years as a way to remove heavy metals like lead from the body, its side effects can be pretty severe. Children should receive their therapy at a medical facility with an intensive care unit in the event they don't respond well to the treatment.
Is lead poisoning reversible?
Some of the harms caused by lead poisoning are reversible, including kidney and heart dysfunction. 16 But any brain damage caused by lead poisoning is generally not reversible. 17.
What to do if you are considering chelation therapy?
If you’re considering chelation therapy for coronary disease, discuss it first with your cardiologist or other health care provider. Seek out and consider information available from scientific studies on the therapy.
What are the side effects of chelation?
Can chelation therapy have side effects? 1 Yes. The most important serious side effects are hypocalcemia (abnormally low blood calcium levels) and damage to the kidneys. 2 In the TACT study, which had extensive safety monitoring, 16 percent of people receiving chelation and 15 percent of people receiving the placebo stopped their infusions because of an adverse event. Four of those events were serious; two were in the chelation group (one death) and two were in the placebo group (one death).
How long does disodium EDTA last?
A course of treatment can require 20 to 40 weekly in fusions lasting several hours each. Patients also typically take high-dose pills of vitamins and minerals.
How many treatments did the EDTA patients receive?
They were randomly assigned to receive 40 treatments with EDTA or a placebo, plus either high-dose vitamins and minerals or placebo pills, and they did not know which treatment they were receiving. Overall, chelation therapy produced a modest reduction in cardiovascular events.
What is the purpose of the Tact2 study?
Its purpose is to repeat the first TACT study—but only in patients with diabetes who have had a heart attack—to see if the apparent benefit can be confirmed . TACT2 is supported by NCCIH and other NIH agencies.
How many people participated in the TACT study?
The 1,708 people who participated in TACT were age 50 or older and had had at least one heart ...
Can EDTA be used for heart disease?
No. The use of EDTA chelation for heart disease has not been approved by the FDA. As discussed below, a large-scale study of EDTA chelation for heart disease in people who have had a heart attack and who also have diabetes is currently in progress. When the study is completed, the FDA may use its results to help make a decision about whether ...
