Safe Oral and IV Chelation – Heavy Metal Detoxification
Heavy metal chelation is so important to perform safely with a trained doctor. We are certified for safe oral and IV chelation. Heavy metals are some of the strongest irreversible enzyme inhibitors – at the cell membrane or liver they can stop the activities of many protective enzyme systems.
EDTA, DMPS, and DMSA are free radical scavengers
Our Holistic Doctors serve all of Santa Barbara county with chelation treatments including Santa Barbara, Goleta, Carpinteria, Isla Vista, Hope Ranch, Summerland, and Montecito. We also frequently welcome our patients from Ventura County, San Luis Obispo County, Los Angeles County, and beyond.
‘It is the removal of these environmental toxins that prevents the genes from having to act and cause disease’ Elmer Cranton MD
Very high affinity for mercury in its free state, but mercury bound up in tissues will not be chelated by EDTA. A di-thiol chelator such as DMPS or DMSA needs to be added.
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Heavy Metal accumulation near lipid cell membranes speeds the rate of lipid peroxidation and pathological free radical oxidation accelerating the aging process – EDTA removes unbound, freely catalytic and abnormally situated metals from the body and has a much greater affinity for metallic free radical catalysts than it does for calcium – it takes out metals preferably from our body!
Most heavy metals accumulate on the outer layers of the cell membrane, on receptors or channel proteins or occasionally inside the cell in the cytosol.
Ionic ‘pull’ effect – as you detox the vascular and extracellular fluid (ECF) you pull toxic ions along their concentration gradient – away from the central nervous system (CNS).
Cardiovascular – coronary arteries work better, atherosclerosis
Peripheral venous disease, history of DVT, chronic peripheral venous insufficiency
Cardiac arrhythmias – PVCs and PACs reduced
Hypercholesterolemia
Pulmonary – chronic lung disease, COPD, pulmonary micro-emboli
Skeletal/Joint/Soft Tissue
Osteoarthritis, RA, ligaments, cartilage
Ophthalmic
Macular degeneration – EDTA can be more effective with dry than wet
Works well if following IV protocol is added to remineralization rotation
Cataracts
Pharmaceuticals
Dose lowering – Coumadin, insulin, arrhythmia medications, etc
Misc – preventive medicine, anti-aging
Dithiol chelating agent just like DMSA.
Indications
acute/chronic heavy metal intoxication.
urine provocation challenge testing
cardiac glycoside toxicity
CV disease
Autoimmune disease
Order of affinity – Mercury, then lead, silver, cadmium, nickel, arsenic, antimony
It is not stored by the tissues, chelates both intra and extra cellularly, 50% is excreted within first 6 hours, 90% after 24 hours. When given IV, kidneys excrete 90%.
Toxicity is dose dependent. No adverse effect on function of kidney, liver, CV, or respiratory system when dosed at 5mg/kg. Hypotension is most common side effect due to too high dose or too rapid administration.
The di thiol chelating agent used orally 20% gets into bloodstream, but the amount that goes through the GI helps to chelate the GI tract which can harbor toxic metals.
People who have bad GI sxs when taking DMSA either are experiencing die off or oral sulfate issue. Die off in the gut can happen especially with people with a lot of fungal issues.
Actual half-life is 20-60 minutes max.
But, when given with EDTA, people can dump for 4-5 days.
Suggests that all persons undergoing EDTA should be administered oral DMSA for minimum of one week after EDTA treatment.
Malic Acid
Malic acid and citric acid are excellent Aluminum chelators. They are more shepherd chelates – they keep the aluminum moving out. Anything that helps phase 2 detox will help aluminum excretion.
Testing:
History/full patient intake profile
Physical examination
Serum Lab Tests
U/A
Cardiovascular – EKG, baseline resting
Chest x ray if normally indicated (r/o tuberculosis)
Serum lab tests
Basic pre-chelation profile:
Electrolytes
RBC Mg&Zn
BUN, Creatinine, Protein, Glob
AST/ALT/ Total Bilirubin -> CMP 1x/wk for kidney dz, always 48 hrs after tx. Healthy person every 6 weeks (every 6-12txs)
Glucose
Lipid panel/VAP
CBC+ferritin
As indicated – Homocysteine, hsCRP
OTHER tests
Mineral panels
Amino acid profile
Fatty acid profile
Vitamin profiles
Endocrine profiles
Viral tests
Hep b/c
Lyme, EBC, CMV, etc..
AS INDICATED
Fibrinogen
Hb-a1c
Fe profile
Iodine
Vit D
Clotting studies
Thyroid profile
Urine Lab Tests
Heavy metal provocation challenge
UA
Urine dip, microscopic evaluation important
Presence of casts etc.
24 hour pre-provocative (no edta) if doing standard 24 hour creatinine clearance
Cardiopulmonary testing
If you do not have a baseline or recent testing EKG from PCP then obtain one
Chest Xray
Other tests to consider:
Stress EKG
If atypical symptoms in men or menopausal women
Known CAD assessing prognosis (serial testing)
Assessing patient with exercise-induced dysrhythmia
Carotid Evaluation/Ultrasound (carotid bruit interpretation)
Carotid artery duplex ultrasonography
Echocardiogram
Every patient with CHF
Treatments per week
One to three weekly chelation treatments with mineral repletion IV – response to treatment will determine this
Many chelation physicians use 30 treatments total as a standard.
Chelation need does not end with respect to heavy metals, but method may change
Based on goal of treatment – heavy metals, CV health, other sxs
Other supportive measures
Oral mineral Rx’s
Zinc, Ca, Mg, K
Oral chelation Rx (DMSA)
Kidney, Liver, GI support – important because of urinary excretion of metals
Brain and heart – ALA, Mg, Taurine (can use in remineralization), carnitine, Coq10
Bone – Vit D3, iodine, cal-mag-zinc
Blood – monitor plasma electrolytes
Treatment of other co-morbid conditions
Re-assessment
Every treatment day or weekly urinalysis – if protein/glucose then back off tx and ask pt of any changes
Chem screen/kidney functions – every 4-6 weeks, more if indicated
DTR assessment to assess electrolyte status
Liver function assessment
History since last treatment/over treatment course
Cramping, BM frequency/GI changes, sleep changes, vision changes, anxiety, energy, edema, angina…
Common symptoms during treatment
Dehydration is most common symptom – Drink electrolyte water!
We can give 250-500 cc normal saline after tx as well for hydration.
You can always go slower, the goal is a healthier body post-treatment.
‘All people over the age of 60 should have a routine course of Chelation therapy as part of a general revitalization program.’ Dr Frank Shallenberger MD