How
Does Intravenous EDTA Chelation Work?
When some hear of the
term chelation and how it is used to remove toxic metals from the
body, they may wonder, “How does intravenous EDTA chelation
work?” The answer is very simple. Intravenous EDTA chelation
works by using a chemical substance, EDTA, to bind minerals and
metals in the body in order to excrete them through the urine. EDTA
is a man-made amino acid and it works to remove toxic metals from
the body. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use
of chelation for the treatment of iron poisoning, mercury poisoning
and any other toxic metal poisoning. It is thought that the U.S.
Navy first used chelation therapy in the 1940s to treat lead poisoning
caused by the war.
Patients who undergo intravenous EDTA chelation therapy have a needle
inserted into their vein, which is attached to an IV drip containing
EDTA, ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid. This treatment can last
up to three hours and patients generally have up to 30 treatments
within several weeks.
Aside from being used to treat metal poisoning, chelation has been
used in alternative medicine as a way to treat arteriosclerosis,
leaving some to ponder, “How does intravenous EDTA chelation
work to treat heart conditions?” This answer is not as easy.
Arteriosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries. It occurs when
deposits of cholesterol, calcium and fat begin lining the arteries.
Some believe that because EDTA can bind and remove calcium from
the body, then it can unclog arteries. Calcium makes up some of
the components of the arteriosclerosis plaque that blocks the way
for nutrients and oxygen to make it to vital organs. The issue with
this treatment is that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as
well as the American Heart Association, do not approve the use of
intravenous EDTA chelation to treat heart conditions.
Currently there is a study being done, funded by the NIH National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), to answer
all the controversial questions surrounding chelation treatment
for heart conditions. That study is scheduled for completion in
2010. Despite the controversy, it is estimated that 100,000 people
a year undergo chelation therapy in the United States solely for
heart conditions.
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