CHELATION THERAPY
Chelation therapy is an alternative treatment for vascular diseases that is still somewhat controversial in parts of the medical community. The treatment consists of a series (20-40 or more) of intravenous infusions of the chemical EDTA. This chemical has Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of lead and heavy metal poisoning. EDTA binds to metals and then removes them by being excreted through the kidneys. The controversy is not whether EDTA removes the metals because testing of urine collected right after treatments shows high levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium and other heavy metals. Rather the controversy is over whether removing these metals from the body can reverse the damage to arteries in diseases such as coronary artery disease (main cause of heart attacks), peripheral vascular disease (main cause of gangrene and amputations of the leg) or cerebrovascular disease (main cause of strokes).
Because the chemical EDTA was discovered in the 1920’s, it cannot be patented by a drug company and marketed at a high price. It is cheap and easy to make. Large clinical studies of the effectiveness of chelation therapy with EDTA have not been done to date. However, for over 30 years a number of physicians have been treating patients with vascular disease (as well as certain other chronic degenerative diseases) with EDTA. They and their patients report many amazing improvements in health. Anginal chest pains disappear and coronary blockages improve or disappear. Blood pressure returns to normal and no medications are needed. Cholesterol normalizes. Diabetic patients are able to reduce or eliminate their insulin and/or pills. Increased vitality and energy are noted.
A variety of basic science studies have been done which are starting to show how the EDTA accomplishes these changes. Fortunately, the evidence is now strong enough that the National Institute of Health is funding a large clinical study of the effectiveness of chelation therapy. The study is in the design phase and it will be 5-10 years before the long-term follow-up of patients will answer the many questions about this treatment.
How safe is chelation? The EDTA is toxic to the kidneys when given at too high a dose or at too fast a rate. Fortunately, experience gathered over many years of use by physicians who utilize chelation has shown that following a standard protocol lowers the risk of serious kidney damage to an extremely low level. The American College for the Advancement of Medicine is a physician group that holds twice a year workshops to teach physicians how to safely use EDTA and to update them on scientific advances in this area.
Because chelation is not considered standard treatment for vascular diseases, it is not paid for by Medicare or most commercial insurances. The typical cost for a 30-treatment course (usually given 1-2 times weekly) is $3500-4000. Compared to $10,000-15,000 for coronary angiography and $40,000 and up for bypass surgery, this is a relatively cheap therapy. It is much safer than these invasive treatments. For further information on chelation therapy, you can go online to www.acam.org and find answers to many of the questions people have about this intriguing way of helping heal these serious health problems.
Daniel Blodgett MD