Integrative Medicine | Tracy Darling, M.D.

What is Chelation Therapy?

Chelation Therapy is a way of removing toxic heavy metals, like: lead, mercury, aluminum, nickel, cadmium, and arsenic. The effect of these metals in the body can be subtle or devastating. Some of the common effects of heavy metal toxicity are high blood pressure, heart disease, increased cancer risk, organ damage, and mental disorders, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, allergy, autism, and other chronic illnesses.

Heavy metal toxicity can develop very slowly, from low levels of poisoning over long periods of time, so it is often not diagnosed at all, or too late to prevent the damage they can do.

Where do we get heavy metals?

Virtually anyone can be subject to heavy metal poisoning. Lead can be found in well water supplies, paint, dishes, toys, electronics, and even chocolate! Mercury is commonly absorbed from metal fillings, vaccines, or fish (from poisoning of our oceans and lakes). Arsenic is found in well water and some older pesticides and wood treatments. Nickel, aluminum, and many other metals can be found in everyday products such as cookware, cosmetics, flame retardants on mattresses and clothing, as well as from industry.

IS CHELATION SAFE?

Yes. Chelation therapy was developed in the 1940’s and has been heavily researched since. The risk of side effects or allergic reactions is very low. It is FDA approved for lead poisoning, and due to the dramatic health improvements seen in scientific studies over years, the NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH is now conducting a 5-year study to determine whether this treatment should be used routinely for heart disease, as it appears to “clean out” the arteries better than any medication or surgery can do. For information on this study, see the NCCAM 2002 Chelation: press release

Why do we have to remove metals?

Heavy metals have a very difficult time getting out of the body naturally. They tend to be stored in body tissues for long periods of time. For instance, it takes 22 years for the body to remove half the lead it may contain! Over long periods of time, these metals have been shown to cause many health problems, and accelerate aging overall.

How do we get rid of them?

Heavy metals are removed in a number of ways. Generally, substances which bind to heavy metals and carry them out of the body are used. These substances are called “Chelators,” and include common substances like vitamin C, chlorophyll-containing foods, garlic, and medications such as DMPS, DMSA, and EDTA. These substances can be taken by mouth, but some, when used intravenously, are absorbed better work much more efficiently.

How do I know if I need chelation therapy?

Since the blood does not store heavy metals, blood tests are not reliable for detecting low levels of poisoning over long periods of time (which can result in a very high amount of stored metals in the organs!). To detect chronic toxicity, one must take a “chelator” such as EDTA, to bind and “pull” the stored metals out of organs and tissues. The metals, bound to the chelator, is excreted through the kidneys and into the urine. A 6 hour urine collection is done during the 3 hours of the IV treatment and for 3 more hours afterward, and a sample of the urine is sent to the lab to test 14 different metals. If you have toxic levels of metals, a series of IV chelation therapy treatments may be recommended.