[Vowel Lady]

Has anyone done chelation therapy or known someone who has done it and gotten positive results?
What are the pros and cons?
Can this be done orally?
Also, has anyone gone to an Integrative Practitioner?
Thank you.

[mrsD]

If you search this forum using "chelation" there are some good ones.

One by a poster named west.

[naturalhealth]

I've not personally done chelation therapy, but have read and researched many good things about it. Are you looking to use it to remove heavy metals or remove the calcification of the arteries? The EDTA chelation therapy does both. The therapy has been done as an outpatient treatment that is injected intravenously, but it can now be done using oral supplements at home as well. Anyway, I've heard several accounts of people using it to remove the calcification in their arteries, and it has worked well for them. It has also been used effectively for quite some time to remove heavy metals for the body that can be toxic. Good luck!

[Marlene]

I do think you need approach chelation therapy with your eyes wide open. I do believe it is beneficial and has helped many. EDTA appears to be the safest and is good for removing lead as well as arterial plaque. There are three types, sodium, calcium and magnesium. You need to know which one your doc recommends. Your doc should run various test to ensure your kidneys are working well and that your electrolytes are good.

DMSA and DMPS are bit more controversial. I don't think DMPS is FDA approved in the USA but it is being used. Some have a better response to one than the other. These are both sulfur based drugs and if you have a problem with sulfur, then this is not the drug for you. There are also some who have had negative side effects from it. Allergy to it can develop during treatment.

Then you have to decide if IV or Oral is better for you. There are two camps in the alternative world. IV is very expensive and time consuming.

I also believe you need to find out if you have any vitamin and mineral deficiencies and correct those first. Also, if you have any intestinal imbalance and food senstivities. Knowing how well your liver is detoxing is good thing also.

I know there are people out there who have ended up food intolerances after doing DMPS especially to any sulfur containing foods like onions and garlic. If your health is already compromised and you go through agressive chelation, I personally believe it could cause you additional problems. And if you do not have an "acute" heavy metal toxic load, then I would really consider oral chelation and go slow.

My husband did work with an alternative doc but we did not go through with all that he wanted to do for various reasons. I can go back and look for the tests he had and see if I still have some of the websites I used for research on chelation and post them later if you are interested. Let me know what chelation you were considering and for what reason.

Really research chelation so that you are aware of all aspect of it and make sure your doc is trained in it.

I think if you google Dr. Gordon and chelation, you may find some good info on the pro side. Google DMPS backfire and you'll get the other side.

Chelation has its place and you need to understand both sides as well as the doc's agenda. You know your health and body better than any doc. Listen to it.

Marlene