Chelation therapy has been used for decades as an effective cure for heavy metal poisoning. However, it's also touted as a way to "flush away" all sorts of other medical conditions. Unfortunately, chelation therapy is no quick fix. It's a dangerous process that can have extreme effects on your health--and there's no evidence that it's helpful outside of poisoning cases.
How Chelation Works
Normally, the body cannot process heavy metals, leaving the poisonous metal to remain in the bloodstream. During chelation therapy, an amino acid called "EDTA" is injected into the veins. The EDTA sticks to the heavy metal, creating a compound that can be passed out of the body in the urine. Treatments can continue for a period of months or years, depending on the seriousness of the poisoning.
Side Effects
Chelation therapy has many side effects. It leaches vitamins and minerals from the body, forcing patients to take high doses of supplements. Because chelation therapy lowers calcium levels, over time it can cause bone damage. It can also cause kidney failure, low blood pressure, convulsions, cardiac arrhythmia and respiratory arrest. Some people can have a dangerous allergic-type reaction to chelation therapy. Less dangerous but still uncomfortable side effects include nausea, vomiting and pain at the site of injection.
Chelation Cures?
Chelation therapy is often touted as a cure for medical problems other than heavy metal poisoning, such as cancer, heart disease and autism. Unfortunately, using chelation therapy to treat these conditions can cause much more harm than good. A 2002 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that chelation therapy had no positive effect in patients with coronary heart disease.
The Mayo Clinic warns parents of children with autism that the link between mercury exposure from childhood vaccines and autism is unproven, and that chelation therapy cannot "cure" autism. And the American Cancer Society warns people thinking of using chelation therapy as a cancer treatment that they may actually worsen their health, as the massive loss of vitamins and minerals can cause cell mutation.
Member Comments