Chelation Therapy Saves Lives!

Article by Neal Rouzier, M.D.

What Is Chelation Therapy?

Chelation therapy is the administration of a synthetic amino acid – ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid or simply, EDTA. EDTA binds heavy metal poisons such as lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. EDTA also binds iron, copper and calcium.

While iron, copper and calcium have positive values within the human body, lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium do not. These heavy minerals, as they are often referred to, are dangerous can cause   symptoms and illnesses which are often misdiagnosed or ignored, hence causing unnecessary pain, suffering and slow degenerative death to their host.

As calcium builds up in our body, it often joins with cholesterol to form plaque, hardening of the arteries. When calcium is removed, it lessens hardening of the arteries which limits the normal elasticity of the important arteries within the heart and brain. Removal of the calcium from this plaque allows the return of the normal elasticity of these affected blood vessels along with the return of better circulation. The formation of plaque not only can lead to heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD) but even without these can seriously impair the quality of life for those affected. By chelating these minerals and pulling them out of the body, chelation softens and allows the now soft cholesterol to be picked up by the HDL cholesterol and removed from the arteries. Chelation, then over time can significantly reduce the amount of hard plaque and along with it the risks of heart attack, stroke and the medical problems and reduced quality of life associated with atherosclerosis.

The other minerals iron, copper and calcium have all been shown to be associated disruption of important enzymes, cellular oxidation and increase risk of many diseases, including cancer. As chelation removes these toxic heavy metal poisons in the system, quality of life also improves.

Is Chelation a New Treatment?

No! Chelation was first used in the 1940's. At that time people working in shipyards were developing heavy metal poisoning from large amounts of lead in the paints and buildings. Working with the U.S. Government drug companies developed a chelation agent which was then used to remove these poisonous heavy metals. Incidental to this use, it was discovered that chelation also improved conditions such as heart disease, angina and a number of other serious health problems. Research then proved that chelation was useful in treating hardening of the arteries. EDTA chelation is approved by the FDA for the removal of heavy metal poisons.

What Conditions Is Chelation Therapy Currently Used To Treat?

Today chelation is not only used to remove toxic and poisonous heavy metals but also to treat atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries heart and kidney problems, along with peripheral vascular (arterial and venous) disease. It is now being used in men and women with diabetes since they are at greater risk for heart attacks and strokes. Those people who have already had one or more heart attacks or strokes, or have one or more arterial stints can benefit the most. Also any person who has elevated cholesterol or triglycerides (over many years), angina or cardiac chest pain, or who has a strong family history of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes or kidney failure may use chelation as a preventive treatment to avoid potential future problems.

Does Chelation Therapy Help Everyone?

No! No one treatment whether using chelation or having a cardiac stints inserted can benefit everyone who uses it. Chelation does not help everyone; however, it does have a 95% success rate and help the greatest majority of the people who take advantage of it. Even when chelation does not provide 100% prevention or the total reversal of atherosclerosis, it can provide substantial help in controlling symptoms and delay dangerous problems. It also can put off death or total disability for many years as well as improving quality of life for these individuals.

What Is A Typical Treatment Program?

The EDTA chelation is administered intravenously. Each treatment can take between 1 and 2 ½ hours (depending on the rate the EDTA can be safely administered for each individual). During this time, you can rest in a comfortable reclining chair; you can socialize with others, read, listen to music or a book in tape, just relax, or even go to sleep. Chelation is a painless procedure which you can undergo one, two or three times per week depending on your medical condition.

How Many Treatments Are Required For Maximum Benefit?

Over the last 60 years research has demonstrated that it takes approximately 20 treatments to significantly soften atherosclerotic plaque in most people. For individuals who are symptomatic and already have heart problems, or other strong indicators for having heart, stroke, kidney disease, peripheral vascular problems or diabetes, as many as 30 treatments might be appropriate. Someone who has had a one or more heart attacks, a stroke or has significant vascular problems may need up to 40 treatments.

What Does Chelation Cost?

Like everything worthwhile, good things always have a cost. An average cost for chelation is about $100 a treatment. Initially, prior to starting a chelation treatment program we would require a comprehensive medical evaluation which usually includes a comprehensive medical history, review of current medications, a physical examination, and specific diagnostic laboratory testing when indicated. Our program combines chelation with personal life style counseling and we encourage lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, vitamins-mineral supplementation, antioxidant therapy and weight loss when they are called for.

Is Chelation Therapy Covered By Insurance or Medicare?

Unfortunately, No! While chelation has become very popular worldwide, and several socialized medicine countries, notably Australia, New Zealand, most of Europe and Canada do pay for chelation therapy, it is considered to be an alternative medical treatment in the United States and is only rarely a covered benefit of some insurance policies.

At a time when having to have heart surgery in order to deal with these same problems can cost  $100,000 or more, most US carriers still refuse to pay for chelation. As chelation specialists we are appalled but have no way of changing this. We believe that it makes no sense to treat a problem surgically when statistics tell us that it will most likely recur within five years and require another surgery. This is especially true when there is a much less expensive and safe procedure such as chelation already in place ready to go and easily available.

While surgery may be lifesaving in a few very serious situations, it is generally only “band-aid” after the fact. Chelation, on the other hand gets to all affected blood vessels within the body and it eliminates the problems and hence the risks of atherosclerosis. Since chelation also treats mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxic metal poisons which are common today for the same fee, it is an amazing bargain. Multiple benefits, all for one price!

Has Chelation Ever Hurt Anyone?

In the early days, when chelation was first used in the1940's, it was too often given too rapidly and this did result in kidney damage for some people. Now that chelation therapy has been used for 60 years, these problems are very rare. Today chelation has a proven and successful track record, with major no problems or complications when used in accordance with the recommended protocol from the American College for Advancement in Medicine. It is estimated that more than two million people have been and safely successfully treated with chelation to date.

How Can I Learn More About Chelation Therapy?

Preventive Medicine Clinic of the Desert offers frequent lectures on chelation with open question and answer sessions. If you would like to start chelation, or you are just looking into it in greater detail, than call us, come in and meet with us. More importantly, take the opportunity to personally visit with us and find out if you are a candidate for chelation. Call us at 760-320-4292 and make an appointment to learn more. Thank you!

Neal Rouzier, M.D. in the Director of the prestigious Preventive Medicine Clinics of the Desert, in Palm Springs, CA. Dr. Rouzier performed residencies at U.C.L.A. in Family Practitioner and as a Specialist in Emergency Medicine. Dr. Rouzier is a world-renown expert in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy. Dr. Rouzier teaches one of the most comprehensive medical seminars for physicians on the clinical application of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Dr. Rouzier is nationally sought after as a speaker and trainer on the important role appropriate hormone replacement plays in health, metabolism and well-being. Dr. Rouzier is also the author of the successful book, Natural Hormone Replacement for Men and Women, How to Achieve Healthy Aging. Most important of all is his many years of experience in treating thousands of patients with natural hormones.

Preventive Medicine Clinics of the Desert
2825 Tahquitz Canyon Way, Ste. B200
Palm Springs, CA 92262

For evaluation or an appointment call: 760-320-4292