What is EDTA Chelation Therapy? 
EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid) is a synthetic amino acid which has the ability to attach itself to metals and minerals, forming a particular kind of bond called a chelate. Heavy metals such as lead have a greater affinity for EDTA and form stronger bonds.

Since 1953, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized EDTA as a treatment for lead poisoning. In the 1940s and 50s, some doctors using EDTA to treat lead toxicity in patients who also happened to suffer from heart disease observed an unexpected improvement in their angina symptoms. Since that time, doctors have used EDTA to treat blood vessels diseases, based on their belief from observing individual patients and on other types of evidence, that EDTA is useful for that purpose.

How Does Chelation Therapy Compare to Other Treatments? 
EDTA chelation therapy may be recommended in place of or in conjunction with other approaches for treating vascular diseases including other drug therapies, angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting. A doctor who administers EDTA chelation therapy will take into consideration individual health issues to determine which approach may be appropriate and whether surgery may be indicated. You should discuss the options available to you and the associated risks with a doctor.

Scientific studies on chelation therapy are ongoing. Until controlled clinical studies are completed, debate among medical professionals will continue. There is also serious controversy about the relative risks and long-term benefits of coronary bypass surgery. Because it has a favorable safety and side effect profile and does not preclude the concurrent or subsequent use of other treatments, doctors who belong to ACAM believe that chelation therapy is worthy of consideration by those suffering from vascular disease.

How is Chelation Therapy Administered? 
Chelation therapy involves the intravenous infusions of EDTA over a course of treatments in a doctor's office.  Under current treatment protocols, EDTA chelation therapy is safe and relatively free of side effects. Chelation therapy patients are advised to take a comprehensive approach to their treatment and health, including, as needed, diet, exercise, stress management programs and dietary supplements. As with any other medical treatment, patients should ensure that their treating physicians have appropriate training and credentials for administration of EDTA chelation therapy.

Proponents of EDTA for vascular diseases have two principal theories for how the drug may operate in the circulatory system. One is by possibly reducing "free radicals." Free radicals are highly active molecular fragments formed during the production of energy in the cells. If they get out of control, they can cause damage to surrounding tissue, possibly including the linings of the blood vessels, and lead to the blockages that occur in coronary artery disease. The presence of heavy metals in the blood stream can cause an increased production of free radicals and EDTA is approved by FDA to remove heavy metals that have accumulated in the body in excessive amounts. But it has not been scientifically proven that using EDTA will reduce free radicals; and if so, whether reducing free radicals will effectively treat blood vessel diseases.