Chelation Therapy for the Heart

Chelation therapy is an alternative medicine practice primarily marketed to reduce plaque deposits in the veins and arteries as a symptom of the condition known as atherosclerosis. According to reports posted on the American Heart Association's website, the Mayo Clinic website and Quackwatch.com, much of the evidence citing the effectiveness of this treatment is anecdotal and testimonial. That means that it has not been scientifically proven that chelation therapy is an effective treatment for heart disease or heart-related conditions.

How It Works

The article, "Questions and Answers about Chelation Therapy" on the American Heart Association website reports that chelation therapy has been proven to effectively treat poisoning from metals such as lead and mercury. Chelation is a process through which a compound known as EDTA is intravenously injected into the body. The chemical binds minerals in the bloodstream and allows them to exit the body in urine. Because much of the plaque deposits in the arteries are formed of calcium, many supporters of chelation therapy believes it works by binding calcium and carrying it to exit in the urine.

Procedure

According to the MayoClinic.com article "Chelation Therapy for Heart Disease: What to Expect," the process of chelation to treat heart disease takes a few hours. You sit comfortably in a chair while a medical professional inserts an intravenous needle into your arm or hand. The chelation compound is allowed to circulate in your bloodstream (which is why the procedure takes a few hours). After the process, you should be able to go about your day as normal. The article also states that some people experience frequent urination and swelling around the ankles. These side effects should clear up within a few days, but if they do not, contact your health care professional.

Risks

The American Heart Association reports that chelation therapy has caused kidney failure in some people without "curing" their heart conditions. Although people have reported feeling more healthy after chelation therapy, there is no evidence to conclude that the feelings of wellness are not the result of the placebo effect, or in essence, they feel better because they believe they will feel better. In addition, the chelation therapy sessions costs on average $50 to $100 dollars and most people are encouraged to attend five to 30 sessions. The article "Chelation Therapy: Unproven Claims and Unsound Theories" by Saul Green, Ph.D., also reports that chelation therapy (in addition to binding calcium deposits) traps important nutrients and minerals within the bloodstream which can lead to medical conditions related to malnutrition.

Before beginning any medical procedure, you should first consult with a reputable health professional. Make sure you understand the benefits and dangers of the procedure and take the time to educate yourself.