IV CHELATION THERAPY
Learning about the value of IV chelation therapy utilizing EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) was a pivotal point in Dr. Denton’s career. Shortly after she received training by the American College of Advancement in Medicine (ACAM) in 1985, she resigned her position as a board certified emergency room physician (director of three emergency rooms) to enter private practice in the field of alternative medicine. Dr. Denton discovered that through this therapy, she might be able to keep people from having to undergo bypass surgery or repeated visits to the emergency room. She eventually became board certified in the field of clinical metal toxicology, which specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of heavy metal poisoning from lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and others. This is an area that receives very little attention in medical school even today, and yet can be the missing piece of the puzzle of solving a person’s chronic illness.
All of us are exposed to toxic metals. In July 2005, CNN reported on a study done on cord blood from 10 infants. Over 280 toxic chemicals and metals were found in that blood; many of which are carcinogenic (cancer causing) and can result in severe neurologic damage. In recent years, the news media abounds with articles about lead being found in many products affecting our children: soft vinyl lunchboxes, car seats, pacifiers, toys, lipsticks and other cosmetics and jewelry. Then, as we grow older, further contamination takes place, depending on our environmental exposure and occupation.
Once these metals get into our bodies, they wreck havoc on metabolic pathways, enzyme systems, and our nervous system, causing severe physiologic damage and even death.
Common conditions helped or reversed by IV Chelation Therapy:
| Allergies | Chronic Fatigue | Crohn’s Disease |
| Alzheimers | High Blood Pressure | Cystitis |
| Anemia | Elevated Cholesterol | Colitis |
| Arthritis | Thyroid Conditions | Peripheral Artery Disease |
| Asthma | Cardiomyopathy | Poor Circulation |
| Autism | Fibromyalgia | Neuropathy |
| Visual Problems | Sexual Difficulties | Diabetes |
| Memory Problems |
Toxic metals do not just disappear even after the source of the exposure is identified and removed. They stay in our body until something is done to actively remove them, such as IV chelation therapy.
The word Chelation comes from the Greek word “chele” which refers to the claw of a crab or lobster. A chelating agent grabs hold of and binds to a substance, making it inactive so it can do no further harm in the body. It then escorts that substance out of the body unchanged; thereby reducing the total body burden of toxic materials. Over time, this removal of toxins results in the body being able to repair the damage caused by those substances and to heal itself. Because IV chelation addresses the cause of the problem and not just the symptoms, oftentimes the dosage of medications can be reduced or even totally eliminated.
Doctors trained by ACAM in the chelation workshop for physicians learn that testing for toxic metals is not as easy as doing a simple urine or blood test. The metals are tightly bound to various compounds within our body and are usually not “free floating.” Therefore, a “provocative” test has to be done to uncover and identify the offending metals. Even prestigious medical diagnostic centers around the country are not aware of this technique and often miss the correct diagnosis.
IV EDTA chelation is administered in a pleasant clinic setting, usually over a 3-hour period. The recipes for the IVs are individualized to the patient’s needs and kidney function. Vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, B vitamins, and other ingredients are added to the solution. Mineral IVs are given at certain intervals between chelation treatments to minimize any potential for nutrient depletion. The chelation IVs are usually given 1-2 times per week and a series of 20-30 treatments are recommended. Patients then often elect to go on a maintenance program of 1-2 per month to maintain the benefits received. IV chelation has been shown to enhance circulation, decrease platelet stickiness, remove toxic metals and clear free radicals, which cause oxidative damage and inflammation, from the body. If administered properly, there are minimal side effects. Chelation has been utilized in most industrialized countries for over 60+ years. In New Zealand, the government will not pay for by-pass surgery unless the patient has first received a course of chelation therapy and failed to show improvement.
To learn more about this valuable therapy you may want to read Bypassing Bypass by Elmer Cranton, M.D. and Forty Something Forever, A Consumer’s Guide to Chelation Therapy and Other Heart Savers by Arline Brecher.
