Chelation Therapy Explained

As we grow older, deposits of fat, cholesterol and certain minerals form under the inner lining of our arterial walls and in other parts of our bodies. These deposits become hardened and progressively block the flow of blood through the arteries. This is called atherosclerosis. Just as rocks interfere with the smooth flow of water in a river, these hardened deposits (plaques), cause eddying and turbulent currents in the arteries.

As the blood flow becomes restricted, the blood pressure rises to compensate for the increased backpressure. The heart is forced to work harder to force the blood past the obstructions. The eddying of the blood can cause it to clot (thrombosis) and when a clot becomes dislodged, it often causes a heart attack or a stroke.

Arteries are composed of muscle fibres and elastic tissue. They stretch and contract with each heartbeat to aid the smooth flow of the blood. The loss of elasticity through the build-up of calcium in the arterial wall (arteriosclerosis - hardening of the wall of the arteries of the heart) further reduces the efficiency of the cardio-vascular system. This form of calcium is similar to gravel in cement. It forms a matrix with cholesterol and fat that is hard and non-pliable. It is difficult to break up but this form of calcium can be removed using Chelation.

The word chelate comes from the Greek word chele, meaning 'crab's claw'. Chelation is a term adopted in 1920s to describe the process where a substance captures or binds with a metal.

Chelation Therapy is one of the most effective treatments to reverse the pathology of some of the most life-threatening and debilitating diseases that affect man. These conditions include: coronary heart disease, angina, high blood pressure, stroke and even senility. It has demonstrated benefits for most diseases where reduced blood flow is a factor.

Chelation Therapy is a safe and relatively inexpensive treatment to restore blood flow without surgery in victims of atherosclerosis. It involves the intravenous infusion of a synthetic amino acid called ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) with other synergistic vitamins and minerals.

EDTA has a strong affinity for lead, calcium, chromium, cadmium, barium, beryllium, cobalt, copper, iron, strontium, mercury, magnesium, manganese and zinc. It is used in the NHS for the treatment of Heavy Metal Poisoning. Breakspear Hospital has been using this Chelation Therapy for over 20 years.

When EDTA, sometimes referred to as a 'liquid engineer', comes in contact with a positively charged metal, it releases its hydrogen atoms and the metal becomes firmly attached. When EDTA is infused it binds with the metallic deposits in the plaque and other tissues; this new compound is no longer chemically active and is water-soluble, allowing the kidneys to get rid of it safely in the urine. With the metallic component of the plaque being dissolved the softened fat and cholesterol are broken up by the turbulent flow of the blood and are either consumed by blood cells or are filtered out by the liver and excreted in the bile.

Chelation Therapy corrects the major underlying cause of the blood vessel blockage by dissolving the plaques. As the plaques shrink, the arterial walls heal and become softer and more pliable, and blood flow is increased. As the organs of the body begin receiving a better supply of blood, they become more efficient and the body becomes healthier.

All metals, even essential nutrients, can be toxic in excess or when abnormally situated. EDTA normalises the distribution of most metallic elements in the body and improves calcium and cholesterol metabolism by eliminating metallic catalysts, which damage cells by producing free radicals. Free radicals are now believed to contribute to atherosclerosis, cancer and diabetes, and many other diseases associated with aging.

Most of the body's calcium is normally attached to protein, as in the bone and cartilage. Chelation does not normally remove this form of calcium, but it will remove other calcium salts, like deposits in the joints, therefore making it a useful tool in the treatment of some forms of arthritis.

Chelation is one of the safest of medical procedures in the hands of experienced clinical staff. It is effective in treatment of most cases of atherosclerosis, often avoiding the necessity for bypass surgery. It can be used after bypass surgery and many patients have subsequently benefited greatly. Most patients experience few or no side effects.

Breakspear Hospital's Chelation Therapy involves intravenous infusions of a solution containing EDTA and several other synergistic vitamins and minerals. Patients must also take a supportive programme of nutritional supplements. These are prescribed on an individual basis according to the patient's size, weight and clinical condition. Each infusion is administered over three to four hours whilst the patient is medically supervised. Most patients have one or two infusions per week over a three to six month period. Patients'toxic and essential mineral levels, kidney and liver functions are tested at regular intervals over the course of treatment.

It is believed that man has a genetic potential that far exceeds our average life span. Lifestyle and environmental factors such as poor diet and chemical exposure play a major role in shortening and reducing the quality of our lives. Chelation Therapy and improving nutrition are powerful weapons in the fight against the effects of aging and the sins of our past.

The clinical staff at Breakspear Hospital has many years experience in the medical and nutritional management of patients with environmentally triggered illness and have utilised Chelation therapy for hundreds of people with great success. Dr Jean Monro Breakspear Hospital, January 2003

Ref. Chelation Therapy. Dr. Fuller Royal M.D