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THE VALUE OF CHELATION
THERAPY IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Article by herbalist
Dave
Hawkins, MH, CNC
It is estimated that
approximately 60 million Americans suffer form heart
disease. Over 550,000 deaths per year are credited to heart
disease, and the numbers are increasing. The estimated cost
of treating heart disease in this country alone is
estimated at $50-60 billion annually. These are staggering
statistics. Most of you know the conventional treatments
for heart disease such as medications, by pass surgery,
angioplasty, and catheterization. These are life-saving
treatments and are necessary, but can we prevent this type
of intervention? This article will deal with a therapy that
has been known about for over 40 years and has had numerous
studies performed to prove its effectiveness. That therapy
is Chelation Therapy.
What is chelation therapy
and how does it work? Chelation therapy is a safe and
effective method of eliminating toxins and waste from the
bloodstream. Intravenous administration of the substance
EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic
acid) has been proven to increase blood flow and to remove
plaque build-up in the arteries. Other benefits of
chelation therapy are reversal of arteriosclerosis,
prevention of heart attacks and strokes, and as a viable
alternative to bypass surgery and angioplasty.
Chelation comes from the
Greek word chele meaning
"to claw" or "to bind". The use of EDTA goes back to the
1950's when it was found to be effective in removal of
lead. Since then a number of studies published in reputable
medical and scientific journals have confirmed the
effectiveness of IV chelation therapy for treatment of
blood vessel diseases. Over 500,000 patients in the
United States
over the last 40 years have used chelation therapy safely.
Even though the FDA has not approved EDTA for
cardiovascular disease, over 1,000 physicians recommend and
administer chelation. The
American College for the Advancement of Medicine and the
American Board Of Chelation
Therapy have established a specific and safe protocol for
EDTA treatments. Proper administration includes performing
a complete physical exam and running specific tests to
determine blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, tissue
mineral analysis and kidney/liver organ function. This
therapy is performed on an out-patient basis, is painless,
and takes approximately one and one-half hours. The average
number of treatments is determined by the physician but is
usually between 20-30 sessions. According to Garry Gordon,
M.D. of Arizona, a carefully tailored nutritional program
including vitamins and mineral supplementation should be
part of the total program. A whole
foods, low fat diet with exercise also plays an
important role.
It is not clearly understood
how EDTA works to improve blood vessel disease. The main
theory is that it changes the calcium and magnesium in the
cell wall lining. With age, calcium tends to accumulate
inside cells, disrupting enzyme systems and leading to
contraction of the vessel walls. Because EDTA binds to
calcium, it allows magnesium to flow through the cell more
easily thus relaxing and opening the circulation. Another
benefit is that it helps reduce free radical production
that is known to be one of the causes of arterial damage.
In a double blind study in
1989 with patients suffering from peripheral vascular
disease who were treated with chelation therapy, 88% of the
patients reported a marked improvement after 10 treatments.
Other reports have documented the following benefits:
·
Normalization of cardiac arrhythmia's,
·
Improved
cerebral arterial occlusion,
·
Improved
memory and concentration,
·
Improved
vision,
·
Protection
against iron poisoning,
·
Detoxification of snake and spider venom.
Many people confuse oral
chelation therapy with I V chelation. Though they are
vastly different in treatment protocols, oral chelation is
a well-documented therapy. It involves using nutritional
supplements classified as oral
chelators such as garlic, vitamin C,
carrageenan, zinc, and certain
amino acids like cysteine and
methionine. Oral
chelators, however, work more
slowly over a period of time, and it is not considered a
substitute for I V chelation.
How does one find a doctor
that practices chelation therapy? First choose one who
follows the protocols of the American Board of Chelation
Therapy or The American College of Advancement in Medicine
at the addresses at the end of this article. Make sure the
physician has had years of experience and that one is
present even though a nurse administers the therapy.
Many people ask why haven't
they heard of this therapy before and why is there no FDA
approval? The answer is simple, the patent on EDTA expired,
and it is unlikely that a pharmaceutical company would
invest the numerous millions of dollars it takes to get FDA
approval despite the evidence. There is also some
skepticism among doctors, usually because they are
uninformed about the studies or they have not had any
experience with its usage.
Because heart disease is the
number one killer in America and the fact that bypass
surgery is risky, expensive, and the benefits unproven; it
is important to consider the possibility of the use of
chelation therapy.
For more information two
good books on the subject are Bypassing Bypass by
Cranton, Elmer, and Troutdale
and by Brecher, Harold, and
Arline.
American Board
Of Chelation Therapy, 70 West Huron St., Chicago, IL
60610.
Telephone: 312-266-7246
American
College
Of Advancement In Medicine,
P.O. Box 3427, Lagoon Hills,
CA 92654
Telephone: 714-583-7666 |
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