Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, also known as EDTA, is a chemical compound that is often administered into the bloodstream as a part of a treatment called chelation therapy. The standard reason for this treatment is metal poisoning. Chelation may be used for a variety of conditions; however, not all are acknowledge by mainstream science.
Heavy Metal Poisoning
The most common use of EDTA is for treating heavy metal poisoning. The process of chelation, or injecting EDTA into the bloodstream, works by collecting all the metals in the body that shouldn't be there, like lead, and then flushed from your system through urine. Typically, this treatment takes a few hours and helps cure poisoning caused by most heavy metals including arsenic, cobalt, nickel, chromium, mercury, aluminum, selenium, tin, thallium, zinc and manganese.
Atherosclerosis
EDTA is also used in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arteries, contributing to heart disease. Chelation supposedly works in this case because it can clear clogs in the arteries. However, studies have not proven that chelation works for treating heart disease, or even that it has an effect on arterial blockages. Previous ideas that EDTA prevents platelets from accumulating in the blood vessels, which can cause clots, are not been proven, either. Chelation for heart disease has shown to work no better than a placebo.
Digoxin Toxicity
In some cases, chelation therapy with EDTA may be used to treat digoxin toxicity, or a build up of digitalis glycoside in the body. Digital glycoside is a drug that is used to treat problems with heart rhythm. Once injected into the bloodstream, the EDTA can remove the excess drug from the body. This form of treatment is not approved by the FDA, so your doctor would likely choose a different route for digoxin toxicity.
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