 | Dr. George R. Watson, D.O. is certified in Preventive Health, Occupational Medicine, Bariatric Medicine, and is the first physician in Kansas to be a Diplomate of the American Board of Anti-Aging Medicine. Dr. Watson has served in the Air Force as a Weapons Systems Officer, Electronic Warfare Officer, and Flight Surgeon. Dr. Watson is located in the Park City Medical Center, 425 E. 61st St. North. #2 and can be reached at 316-744-3400 |
Health & Medicine
2005-12-29 08:44:00
What is Chelation?
QUESTION: I know many people who swear by Chelation, but I have heard some medical people say that it is unsafe and unproven. What exactly is Chelation?
ANSWER: Chelation generally refers to the use of intravenous EDTA to remove heavy metals from the body. EDTA is the abbreviation for Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid and is FDA approved for the treatment of lead poisoning. In the same way that heme binds iron to form hemoglobin, EDTA binds heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium, which exist as metal ions with a positive charge of 2. These bound metal ions are eliminated in the urine. Calcium also has a positive charge of 2, and is bound by EDTA, molecule by molecule, resulting in a gradual decrease in calcium deposits in arteries. As to safety, read the labels on canned foods. Many times you will see EDTA listed as an ingredient used to preserve the food. EDTA orally is only absorbed up to 5%, whereas intravenous EDTA is 100% available to carry toxic metal ions to the kidney to be flushed out of the body. We have people read "Bypassing Bypass Surgery" or "Forty Something Forever," so they can make their decision based on facts, not wives’ tales. Unproven? Thousands of people have benefited from Chelation therapy, just as thousands have benefited from angioplasties and bypass surgery. But, there have been no double blind studies in any of these treatments - until now. The National Institute of Health (NIH) is sponsoring a double blind study of Chelation. It is open to individuals nationwide, including the Wichita area. For more information call 316-744-3400.
