Chelation is defined as a chemical compound that combines with a metal compound to form a ring. When it is administered to a person as a treatment, what occurs is the natural chemical compound binds to the heavy metals, calcium deposits and plague which is then removed from the body via the liver and kidneys.
The derivation of the word chelation is from a Greek word, Chele, meaning claw. In chelation therapy, it refers to the claw-like action of grabbing toxins that have built up in the body.
When chelation therapy is administered to a person, the chemical compound mainly used today is EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) which is an amino acid. When Chelation therapy is administered to a person it is either intravenously, orally or by suppository. It is administered by a doctor after tests are done to determine the correct dosage for the individual.
A poisonous gas was used that affected service men in World War I. The gas was called lewisite and the toxic effects it created was due to the use of arsenic in the gas. Rather than EDTA, a different amino acid was used at that time to handle the toxicity but it created serious side-effects.
During World War II, Navy personnel suffered lead poisoning as a result of doing their jobs painting the hulls of ships. It was at that time that EDTA was introduced and has been in use until today. Other chelation compounds were also discovered and are still in use today, too.
Another large situation of lead toxicity arose in the 1950′s that gave evidence that chelation therapy can be useful in handling other body problems when battery factory workers got ill. There were some of the workers that prior to the lead poisoning suffered from heart disease and from conditions that reduce the blood flow through the arteries. After being treated for lead poisoning, the problems ceased, too.
On account of the positive results of chelation therapy, more research was done to see if it would be effective in treating other illnesses and to rid the body of toxins. Another use was found for chelation therapy with EDTA. It was found to produce favorable results when used in the reduction of calcium in the system. There is a disease known as hypercalcemia, hyper meaning “over,” usually implying excess or exaggeration.
Further research was done to find out if chelation therapy using EDTA would be effective in treating arteriosclerotic heart disease – which means a degenerative change in the arteries, characterized by a thickening of the vessel walls and accumulation of calcium with consequent loss of elasticity and lessened blood flow. EDTA was found to help reverse the degeneration.
In our present day and age, chelation therapy is used for cholesterol, calcium, heavy metals, toxins and other minerals that accumulate in blood vessels that cause diseases. It is a proven means of enhancing arterial health and boosting circulation. It is said to be about 10 times cheaper than a coronary bypass with equal or better results.