Chelation Therapy

Though little-known, chelation therapy is a considerably used therapy, especially when it comes to removing toxic metals from human bodies. The human body can become a house of various unwanted metallic substances, such as mercury, lead, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, barium, nickel and so many others. When that happens, there are definitely various side-effects observed in the body. These metals can reach proportions that are quite harmful to the person's wellbeing. The therapy of chelation attempts to remove all such hazardous metals from the body of the person.

Why Is Chelation Therapy Needed?

Skeptics feel that the proportion of metals in the human body can never reach drastic levels. However, that is quite untrue. We have always been surrounded by a lot of harmful elements, and that has only increased in present times. Metals come into our body through the products that we use-cosmetics, shampoos, paints in the homes, foods that we eat, medicines and so on-and there is nothing we can do about it. These substances are present in everyone's bodies and over time they begin showing their drastic effects.

By chelation, this can be averted. The therapy aims to remove these metals by introducing other chemicals into the body, which can chelate (bond) with these metals and then remove them through excretory routes. Such compounds are known as chelating agents. There are a lot of chelating agents that are commonly used, and some of them are specific for the removal of particular metals.

Chelating Agents

A list of common chelating agents is given below:-

1. Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (commonly known as EDTA, used mostly for people with heart ailments)

2. Ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA)

3. Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA)

4. Alpha lipoic acid

5. Dimercapto-propane sulfonate (DMPS)

The most commonly used chelating agent is EDTA. This substance is provided to the patient in the form of a drip over a period of a few days. EDTA bonds with the unwanted metals that are present within the body and effectively removes them. EDTA is commonly used in people with cardiovascular problems, because it is considered to be quite safe.

Chelation and Weight Management

Chelation therapy is bestowed with several benefits apart from its main purpose of curing people from excessive metal deposition in their bodies. Some chelating agents have been found effective in removing cholesterol as well. So, this method could be an answer for people who are trying to manage their weight.

The method remains the same-a suitable chelating agent is administered as a drip over a number of sessions. The therapy begins taking effect after a few sessions when the cholesterol starts getting removed, and the health benefits are experienced.