August, 2004 - Nr. 8
Chelation Therapy:
A Treatment for Blocked Arteries
by Dr. Paul Jaconello
Doctor Jaconello is the Medical Director of the Jaconello Health Centre for Nutritional and Preventive Medicine
In the last two issues of Echo Germanica, I wrote about prevention and treatments for blocked arteries. This month, I would like to discuss Chelation therapy, which was briefly mentioned in July’s newspaper.
On rare occasions, a treatment is discovered that revolutionizes the field of the health sciences. Chelation therapy is such a discovery. With this treatment many thousands of individuals suffering from heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and other degenerative problems have experienced a return of better health.
Chelation therapy goes back 50 years, when it was discovered that patients being treated for lead poisoning showed unexpected dramatic improvements in their atherosclerotic circulatory disorders. Further research confirmed these coexisting benefits over the next ten years in patients with cardiovascular disease when in 1969, the patent for the chelating agent EDTA expired leaving it an orphan drug. Since then, there have been clinicians researching the use of chelation in cardiovascular disease showing improvements in over 80% of patients studied.
Chelation comes from the Greek word "chele" meaning claw. A chelating compound binds and removes heavy and other metals from the body. They are agents used in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning. There are many chelating agents used in clinical medicine. EDTA (Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid) is the specific agent used in Chelation Therapy for cardiovascular disease.
EDTA removes metals, such as lead, arsenic, cadmium, nickel and aluminum, from the body. When given as magnesium EDTA, it gradually breaks down calcium deposits that form on artery walls and then, coupled to its ability to remove toxic metals as stated above, has salutatory effects on enzyme systems and mitochondrial functions with improved cell reserve capacity. The result is improved blood flow and tissue perfusion.
Therefore, the treatment results in better circulation. Patients have less angina, reduced pain on walking and improved energy and endurance. Toes, feet and legs are often saved from amputation. Quality of life is improved which is not always a feature of pharmaceutical management with its attendant side effects in some people.
Chelation therapy is very safe when given by correct protocol. It has been used many hundreds of thousands of times over the last half century. Few side effects have been reported; however, as with any medical treatment, reactions can occur and because of this patients are closely monitored.
Treatment is administered through an infusion while the patient relaxes in a comfortable chair. Each infusion lasts 3 hours. Because chelation works over time, a number of treatments are required. Administration is once to twice weekly for 30 treatments, then once a month for 12 months followed by every 3 months as part of a maintenance programme.
Upon beginning a chelation programme, the patient’s own cardiologist/general practitioner should be informed. Medical therapy, as prescribed by the patient’s personal physician, is continued, especially during the early and intermediary stages of treatment. Often, over time, some medical therapy can be reduced or even stopped.
Although chelation therapy is largely unrecognized by doctors in North America, it is increasingly being used worldwide. In North America, the American Board of Clinical Metal Toxicology regulates the chelation protocol. The safety of the procedure has been determined by multiple research studies.
In conclusion, chelation is an effective complementary therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Over time, it promotes, along with proper diet, exercise, supplementation and proper medical intervention, a patient’s health to return to a more normal state.
Paul Jaconello, M.D.
Doctor Jaconello is the Medical Director of the Jaconello Health Centre for Nutritional and Preventive Medicine
The Jaconello Health Centre and other health letters
