Heavy Metal Toxicity
Heavy metals are some of the environmental pollutants to which we are exposed at an unprecedented level. Metals such as aluminium, cadmium, nickel, lead and others are increasingly present in our food, water and air.
Metals such as mercury are found in the dental “silver” fillings which were so popular for many years.
These metals get absorbed into our tissues and can cause a variety of chronic illnesses. Unfortunately, conventional medical doctors are largely unaware of their presence and the damage they may be causing. This is compounded by the fact that their presence is not easily detected with conventional testing.
The presence of metals in the body can be tested by means of a urine challenge test, hair mineral analysis or a spectro-photometric scanning device.
Chelation therapy is a method for removing heavy metals, such as mercury or lead, from blood. It’s one of the standard treatments for many types of metal poisoning.
Chelation therapy with NaEDTA can also help to treat many other conditions, including heart disease, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.
HOW IT WORKS
Chelation therapy involves administering a chelating agent to patients who have heavy metal overload. The chelating substance can be given intra-venously by infusion, or orally as part of an individualized program over months or years as needed.
Some conventional chelators include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), and DMPS. Newer oral preparations now available are made from algae and kelp (laminaria and phycocyanin).
Some chelators are better at removing certain metals than others, and thus need to be prescribed after considering the results of the tests described above. Be sure to consult a practitioner that is well versed in chelation therapy and analyzing heavy metal and mineral results, as this can be a potentially dangerous therapy if not done in the correct manner.
- For treatment of toxic metals see Chelation Therapy.