Chelation Therapy This article was written by Ron Kennedy, M.D.
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Chelation
(pronounced key-lay-shun) is a chemical reaction that results in a bond being
formed between a metal ion and an organic (i.e., carbon-based — made mostly of
carbon) molecule. The resulting complex, metal bound to molecule, is called a
"chelate" and contains one or more rings of atoms in which the metal
ion is so firmly bound it cannot escape. This allows the metal ion to be
transported in the same manner as a prisoner, first handcuffed, then moved from
one location to another. In the
presence of aging and disease, the cells' ability to move metal ions through the
system and eliminate them when they are in excess becomes progressively
impaired. This is especially true for calcium. Calcium has
vital functions in the human body. Without calcium, teeth and bones could not
exist. Nevertheless, as the body ages, lipid peroxidation damages the walls of
the arterial tree which is repaired leaving a scar. Then calcium and oxidized
cholesterol are incorporated into the resulting scar tissue. "Hardening
of the arteries," or arteriosclerosis, on the other hand, is apparently an
inevitable change of aging. The walls of blood vessels become stiffer as time
passes, as does all connective tissue of the body. This is caused by
cross-linkage of collagen, the protein which makes up With
atherosclerosis, as the years pass, calcium deposits b uild up, and calcified
atherosclerotic plaques form, lining the walls of the arterial vessels. This
plaque is composed of various lipids, so-called foam cells, scar tissue, and
overgrown smooth muscles cells from the artery wall. In With
arteriosclerosis, calcium also builds up and becomes many times more
concentrated in the wall of the normal artery than it was in childhood. Calcium
content is what atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis have in common. Aging can
be thought of as a progressive dysfunction of calcium metabolism. In
distinction to the oral agents that serve to prevent atherosclerosis,
intravenous chelation has been shown to actually reverse the effects of the
disease. The agent used is ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetic acid, also known as
"EDTA," sold commercially as Sodium Edetate. EDTA
is a synthetic amino acid. The usual dose is 2000-3000 mg (adjusted to body
weight, age, and kidney function) added to 500 ml of "carrier
solution" — sterile water with a mixture of vitamins and minerals. Most
chelation doctors add vitamin C along with B vitamins, bicarbonate The solution
is infused slowly, one drop per second, and one treatment requires about three
hours. The prisoner (calcium) is moved out of the body using handcuffs (EDTA).
The half life of EDTA in the body is one hour; i.e., one-half is removed
(filtered into the urine) after one hour, another half of what is left is
removed after one more hour, etc. Within 24 hours 99% of the EDTA is gone from
the body, and you are left with only the therapeutic benefit.
1.EDTA lowers blood calcium and thus stimulates the production of parathormone from the parathyroid
glands. This mild pulse of parathormone
is responsible for the removal of calcium from abnormal
locations (such as
arteries) and the deposition of calcium in locations (such as bones) where it
should be. This accounts for the mild recalcification of osteoporotic bones seen
with EDTA.
2.EDTA stimulates the enlargement of small vessels, so that they
serve the purpose of collateral
circulation around a blockage, rendering
the blockage irrelevant.
3.EDTA controls free radical damage due to lipid peroxidation by serving
as a powerful antioxidant.
4.EDTA removes abnormally located metal ions, such as copper and iron,
that accumulate with age.
5.EDTA removes lead, cadmium, aluminum, and other metals, restoring
enzyme systems to their proper functions. 6.EDTA enhances the integrity of cellular and mitochondrial membranes.
7.EDTA helps reestablish prostaglandin hormone balance.Prostaglandins, among other things, are responsible for the balancing act
between contraction and relaxation of arterial walls and between clotting and
the free flow of blood. Prostaglandins are
produced from fatty acids, therefore lipid peroxidation upsets
the balance of these vital hormones. EDTA chelates out the
catalyzing metallic co-enzymes and thus inhibits lipid peroxidation, also
serving the same function as an antioxidant.
8.EDTA reduces the tendency of platelets to cause coagulation too
readily. This tends to prevent inappropriate thrombosis, which
blocks coronary arteries during a heart attack.
9.EDTA increases tissue flexibility by uncoupling age-related
cross-linkages that are responsible for loss of skin tone and for
wrinkling.
Practical Information Chelation therapy is only necessary if heavy metals are present in the body. To determine this we require a hair mineral analysis before chelation treatments are done. As it takes a couple of weeks to get the results, we send the patient a kit to take a hair sample and send it to us. Before you come to Switzerland we will then have the results and can determine if chelation therapy is necessary. The amount of treatments necessary depend on the result of the hair mineral analysis. One infusion takes 3.5 hours. The maximum infusions done per week is 3. |