Chelation therapy refers to an alternative medicine treatment through which harmful metals and minerals are removed from the body. The therapy is delivered through a process known as chelation. During this process, chemical substances known as chelators are introduced to the body using an intravenous drip to detox the body through the removal of harmful heavy metals. Once in the bloodstream, chelators bind metal or mineral molecules and remove them from the body.
Those who support this form of treatment claim that eliminating excess minerals and toxic metals from the body enhances the ability of the body to fight diseases. Originally, chelation was used to treat serious conditions like lead poisoning. But this is increasingly changing. Today, there are claims that chelation may be used to prevent major ailments including heart disease.
If you’re wondering whether you should go for chelation therapy, here are several reasons you should do so:
1. Removing Heavy Metals From the Bloodstream
Heavy metals find their way into the body through various avenues. Heavy metal poisoning occurs by drinking polluted water, ingesting bits of metals, and inhaling polluted air. Chelation therapy provides an effective way of removing various heavy metals from the bloodstream. These include arsenic, lead, nickel, iron, copper and mercury. By reducing the level of heavy metals in the body, chelation therapy also reduces the risk that the person would develop ailments that result from chronic exposure including cancer and organ damage.
Other conditions that can result from metal buildup in the body include hemochromatosis which makes the body absorb excess iron from food. Another is a genetic disorder called Wilson’s disease that results from copper poisoning. People who are exposed to heavy metals are also prone to chronic kidney disease and blood disorders like thalassemia that requires them to get blood transfusions frequently. If you’re curious about this condition, you can learn more about heavy metal toxicity when you look at this website.
2. Improving Heart Health
Besides ridding the body of heavy metals, there’s a high chance that chelation therapy can help improve cardiovascular health by eliminating buildup in the blood vessels that support the circulatory system. The circulatory system consists of various blood vessels including the arteries, capillaries, arterioles, veins, and venules.
Though no conclusive studies have been published, proponents of chelation therapy claim that one of the chemical substances that’s used in the treatment—ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)—may help in reducing atherosclerotic plaque as well as other mineral deposits within the cardiovascular system, particularly those that are hardened in the arteries near the heart.
By aiding in the removal of plagues in blood vessels, chelation therapy contributes to the reduction of heart disease and reduces the risk of developing heart disease. Further, EDTA may also help in the prevention of other heart-related conditions like stroke and heart attack.
3. Slowing Down Chronic Ailments, Particularly Diabetes
Chelation therapy has not been recognized as a cure for diabetes. However, people who have this chronic condition tend to be more predisposed to developing heart conditions compared to others. This is where chelation therapy comes in—to help keep heart condition problems at bay. However, it’s worth noting that the EDTA, the chelator that’s considered helpful in removing clogs in the blood vessels, is believed to only prevent heart problems in persons who are diabetic, not those who haven’t developed the disease.
4. Risks Associated With Chelation Therapy
While chelation therapy has its benefits, there are several risks that are associated with it. Since the therapy involves the use of powerful chelators, people who undergo this therapy can suffer from side effects that range from mild to severe.
Some common side effects of undergoing chelation therapy include the following
- Burning sensation around injection areas
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Seizures
- Low blood pressure
- Anemia
Other serious but rare side effects that patients are likely to experience are brain damage and permanent liver and kidney damage. There are also patients who may develop other serious conditions including cardiac arrhythmias, mineral and vitamin deficiency, severe allergic shocks and hypocalcemia.
Final Thoughts
Chelation therapy is an effective treatment for individuals who have had exposure to heavy metal poisoning. However, it’s critical that patients pay their doctors a visit to discuss their options before deciding to undergo the therapy. Most doctors will perform blood tests to establish whether chelation therapy is the ideal option for the patient. Due to the side effects that the therapy predisposes patients to, most doctors recommend it only when heavy metal levels in a patient’s blood are extremely high.