What is Chelation Therapy?

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http://www.news-press.com/special_sections/health/therapy1.html

CHELATION THERAPY

By GARY L. PYNCKEL, D.O.

Clinical experience with EDTA Chelation therapy has convinced a growing

number of licensed physicians in the United States that Chelation therapy is

a safe, effective treatment for atherosclerotic vascular diseases. These

physicians believe it is an alternative to surgical treatment for

atherosclerotic disease in most cases.

Chelation therapy is the biochemical process of removing mineral and metals

from the body. Minerals and metals get into our body through the air, our

foods and our water. Some, but not all destructive metals include lead,

aluminum, cadmium, nickel, mercury and excess iron. Even essential elements

are toxic in excess or when abnormally displaced.

Today, many physicians and scientists believe free radical pathology is an

important contributing cause of arteriosclerosis, cancer, diabetes and other

degenerative disease of aging. It is the undesirable metallic catalysts

which cause damage to cellular membrane by producing oxygen free radicals.

The higher the level of toxic metals, the higher the level of free radical

damage. Cigarette smoking is a good example. Cigarette smoke contains two

heavy metals: cadmium and nickel. There is a correlation of higher incident

of high blood pressure, heart disease and arteriovascular disease in people

who smoke.

Chelation therapy is a safe, effective and relatively inexpensive treatment

that removes these toxic minerals and metals. It is used to restore blood

flow in victims of arteriosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Treatment

involves the infusion of a prescription medicine called ethylene diamine

tetra acetic acid or EDTA.

Atherosclerosis is caused by multiple complex factors including accumulation

of metallic elements which cause free radical damage. The end result is

plaque formation in the artery or vessel which blocks or inhibits the flow

of blood, starving organs of oxygen and nutrients. Cell walls become leaky,

allowing excess calcium and other elements to accumulate.

These calcification of vessels are often seen on X-ray. Disordered calcium

metabolism can cause arteries to go into spasm, reducing blood flow and can

lead to heart attacks, stroke, senility and amputation of extremities.

Chelation therapy promotes health by eliminating the underlying causes of

arterial blockage: by removing the metallic elements which increase the

oxygen free radical damage. By removing these metallic elements, leaking and

damaged cell walls heal. Plaque smoothes over and shrinks allowing more

blood to pass. Arterial walls become soft and more flexible.

There are multiple scientific studies that document blood flow increases and

symptoms decrease after Chelation therapy. Information concerning

qualifications and board certification of physicians offering chelation

therapy may be obtained from the American Board of Chelation Therapy,

1-800-356-2228.