Chelation therapy
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[edit] Definition
Chelation Therapy is a process involving the use of chelating agents such as EDTA in the body. Some alternative practitioners claim it can be used to treat hardening of the arteries. It is also sometimes used by alternative practitioners to treat what the practitioner believes to be a case of heavy metal poisoning. These diagnoses are often made by highly questionable methods such as Vega Machines. More recently it has been touted as a treatment for autism. All though it does have conventional medical uses its use by practitioners of alternative medicine is not supported by evidence and has lead to harm in a number of patients.
[edit] Theory
The theory behind chelation therapy is that chelating agents will bind to harmful metals and allow them to be removed from the body. While it is certainly true that EDTA and other chelating agents can bind to metals much of the rest of the theory lacks evidence to back it up. When it comes to the use of chelation therapy with respect to heart disease the idea is that EDTA will form a complex with the calcium in the walls of arteries. The problem with this theory is that EDTA can’t penetrate the cell walls in the arteries so it can’t get at the calcium. In the case of heavy metal poisoning it is hoped that the EDTA will complex with the heavy metals before the body can fully absorb them allowing them to be harmlessly excreted. While this is certainly possible, and indeed a form of this is used in conventional medicine when dealing with acute mercury and lead poisoning, it is often the case that when it is used in alternative medicine the diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning is highly questionable. A particular example of this is autism where despite there being no proven connection between autism and mercury many alternative medicine practitioners offer Chelation Therapy as a "treatment".
[edit] Dangers
EDTA is regarded as chemically toxic. A number of dangers have been associated with the therapy including hypocalcaemia and decreased blood clotting ability (possibly due to loss of calcium). There is also the risk of leaching of required trace metals.
It was recently suggested that the death of a autistic boy who went into cardiac arrest after undergoing chelation therapy may have been caused by the practice.[1]
[edit] Uses in conventional medicine
EDTA is used as a treatment for acute mercury and lead poisoning.
