Chelation Therapy - Is It Right For You?

"Chelation therapy is the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body"

Metals like mercury, lead and iron can sometimes enter the body and become embedded in tissues. Once they are in our body, these particles have the potential to cause serious health problems. Some doctors believe that the chelation therapy rids the body of these dangerous toxins. In this article, we'll show you how this cleansing and detoxification therapy can improve your health.

Chelation therapy is the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. This metal detoxification can be done intravenously, intramuscularly or orally. Alternative medicine uses this therapy in the treatment of heart disease and in the treatment of autistic patients. Some chelation advocates claim that autism might be caused or aggravated by heavy metal poisoning and might be treated by using this heavy metal detoxification method. However, there is no scientific evidence to support this hypothesis. This remedy is also widely used for the treatment of chronic degenerative diseases involving the circulatory system. The chelation halts the bad effects and initiates the body's healing process, often reversing the damage. Many patients who could not walk due to muscle pain or angina pain have reported that they can walk without pain after this treatment.

The chemical EDTA is mixed with vitamins and minerals and is administered by an intravenous drip over a period of three hours. EDTA binds with and removes, through the kidneys, toxic metals such as lead, aluminum, cadmium, arsenic, tin, and excess iron and copper. These heavy metals trigger the formation of free radicals which are a major cause of degenerative illnesses including heart and blood vessel disease. The EDTA is eliminated from the body, 95 per cent via the kidneys and 5 per cent via the bile, along with the toxic metals and free ionic calcium which it has locked onto, in its transit through the circulatory system.

However, the chelation therapy can come with some minor side effects. The most common side effect of the metal detoxification is headaches. This can happen because of a drop in blood sugar level, but can be prevented by eating before or during the therapy. Many doctors recommend eating a semi to ripe banana during the first hour of infusion to boost your blood sugar level. Other side effects can include diarrhea, joint pain, extreme fatigue, fever, faintness and cramps. 

The American Heart Association claims that the benefits of chelation therapy haven't been scientifically proven and therefore cannot be considered an effective treatment. However, devotees of alternative therapies truly believe that the treatment can greatly benefit patients. Chelation therapists usually require their patients to make lifestyle changes that include quitting smoking, losing weight, eating more fruits and vegetables, avoiding foods high in saturated fats and exercising regularly. Regardless of the degree of effectiveness of the therapy, these are definitely healthy choices.

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