Chelation therapy is used in the treatment of lead and mercury poisoning. According to Kaiser Permanente, chelation therapy is a process where ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is injected into your bloodstream. This solution removes any heavy metals or materials from your body, and gets passed out with your urine. Recently, the practice of chelation therapy has been used in the treatment of heart disease, stroke, and even autism. However, using chelation for such treatments is highly controversial, and potentially dangerous.
Identification
Chelation therapy uses EDTA (a synthetic solution) to remove poisonous chemicals such as mercury, copper, iron, and arsenic from your body. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of chelation therapy for the removal of heavy-metal poisoning, but only for this purpose. According to Kaiser Permanente, while chelation has been used to treat conditions of the heart, there isn't enough evidence to prove whether or not chelation therapy is effective in this use.
Heart Conditions
It is thought that when chelation is used in the treatment of heart conditions, the EDTA binds itself with calcium deposits within the heart's arteries. The EDTA then flushes out the calcium deposits, which reduces the risks of heart conditions, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Another belief is that chelation acts as an antioxidant by flushing out metals that blend with your LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or bad cholesterol). When the metals are removed, diseases such as atherosclerosis can be halted. However, According to the Mayo Clinic, the FDA still has yet to approve chelation therapy in the treatment of heart disease. The American Heart Association also recommends that you not use chelation therapy as a form of heart treatment.
Autism
Chelation therapy has been recommended for the use of autism by some practitioners. However, there is no cure for autism, and the use of chelation therapy for such a purpose is dangerous. It is believed that autism is caused by mercury exposure from vaccines. By using chelation therapy, proponents believe that mercury can be removed as a result of the therapy. According to Jay L. Hoecker, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic, there is no evidential link between mercury exposure and autism. Furthermore, by subjecting a child with autism to chelation therapy, the child can potentially suffer from fatal liver and kidney damage.
Risks
There are various safety concerns and risks associated with chelation therapy. The injection site can develop a burning sensation. You may also develop fever, a drop in blood pressure, headache, nausea and vomiting, and the inability to make new blood cells. According to the Mayo Clinic, death has occurred from chelation therapy, though this is rare. Permanent kidney damage or failure is also possible.
Safety Concerns
Under no circumstances should pregnant women, children, or people who have a known heart condition ever have chelation therapy. Chelation therapy can cause irregular heartbeats, low blood sugar, high blood pressure, and thrombophlebitis. Thrombophlebitis is a condition where a vein becomes inflamed due to a blood clot formation. Heart failure can possibly occur, as well as the loss of vital minerals the body needs (such as calcium), and low blood calcium levels. DIscuss the benefits and risks with your physician on whether or not chelation therapy may be a beneficial form of treatment for you.
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