CHELATION THERAPY
(Investigator 161,
2015 March)
History
A
Swiss Nobel
Laureate, Alfred Werner, first proposed the theory of metal binding in
1893, and which provided the foundation for modern chelation chemistry.
In 1920, Morgan and Drew specifically defined chelation as, "The
incorporation of a metal ion into a heterocyclic ring structure".
In
1935, ethylene diamine tetraacetic (EDTA) was first synthesised in Germany
by F. Munz as a substitute for citric acid, then used to remove calcium
from
hard water. A further process for synthesising EDTA was developed in
the United States
by Frederick C. Bernsworth and patented by him in 1941. Chelation
Therapy as a
treatment was introduced into the United States in 1948.
Theory
The principal application for Chelation Therapy is the
treatment of
atherosclerosis, a disease of the arteries caused by the formation of
plaque
restricting the flow of blood. The chelating agent (EDTA) has the
capacity to
attach and bind the calcium and metal molecules, removing them from the
plaque
for eventual excretion from the body. As the inside diameter of the
blood
vessels is increased, this leads to greater blood flow.
Practice
Chelation Therapy is
administered by intravenous infusion directly into the bloodstream over
a
period of three to four hours. The full programme includes exercise,
diet,
vitamin and mineral supplements.
Assessment
Chelation Therapy
is the subject of considerable controversy. Although EDTA is approved
for use in the treatment of lead poisoning, its use in the treatment of
other metallic based poisons is questionable or unproven. The most
serious risk of Chelation Therapy is kidney failure, with the
possibility of other unpredictable problems arising from the inclusion
of other substances in infusions. Another danger is that some
chelationists are advising people who have been told that they need
bypass surgery to see them instead.
The promotion of chelation therapy for circulatory
disorders has been disputed by the American Medical Association's House
of
Delegates who, in 1984, declared that "there was no evidence to support
the use of chelation therapy to treat arthritis, atherosclerosis,
cardiovascular disease, cancer, and several other conditions". In 1985
the
American Heart Foundation's Task Force on New and Unestablished
Therapies
endorsed this view. They concluded that there was no scientific
evidence to
demonstrate any benefit for CT against cardiovascular disease. No
significant
evidence of effectiveness has been published since that time.
Chelation Therapy
Green. 1993. Chelation Therapy: unproven claims and unsound
theories. Nutrition Forum.
10:33.
Hatfield. 1985. Chelation Therapy, quackery or cure? ACSH News & Views. March
1985.
Kastner, Mark. and Burroughs, Hugh. 1993. Alternative
Healing. Halcyon Publishing, La Mesa, California.
Prevention Magazine
editors. 1992. Healing Remedies and Techniques. MJF Books, POB 0930,
Planetarium Station, NY 10024-0540.
Zwicky, Hafner, Barrett and Jarvis 1993. Reader's
Guide to 'Alternative' Medicine. American
Medical Association, 515 North State Street,
Chicago,
IL. 60610.
From: Edwards, H. 1999 Alternative,
Complementary, Holistic & Spiritual Healing, Australian
Skeptics Inc.
http://ed5015.tripod.com/