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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