Chelation therapy is the "chelating," or removal, of heavy metals toxicity. There are three basic chelators in use today: EDTA, DMPS and DMSA.

EDTA is administered via a 500 CC IV Drip, and usually takes three plus hours to complete. DMPS is usually administered via a 10 CC IV Push, and usually takes 20 - 30 minutes to complete. DMSA is an oral form and can be taken at home, as prescribed. Your doctor will determine which form of chelation therapy is best indicated for you.

EDTA is also available in the form of a suppository. There are two manufacturers of EDTA suppositories. Both are made and available in the USA , but must be purchased through a doctor's office.

Most generally, all chelators are considered to be removers of heavy metals toxicity. EDTA is the only chelator that has been used over the last 50 years to also reverse the effects of arterial plaque, thus preventing further strokes, and / or heart attacks. This is due to how the EDTA IV is either mixed in the doctor's office, or manufactured as a suppository. The key importance is that NO calcium is mixed with the EDTA. Why, because you want the EDTA to remove calcium from the plaque located in the arteries and veins, and also in the tissues where is does not belong. If calcium is already mixed with the EDTA, then those EDTA molecules will not remove calcium as needed. In such cases, that EDTA becomes as the any other chelators, removing only heavy metals toxicity.

There is a growing lobby of doctors who are now starting to use EDTA mixed with Calcium instead of Magnesium. Their reasoning is the initial cause of arterial damage. Calcium EDTA can be administered rapidly, thus saving time. If high levels of heavy metal toxicity are removed, then the arterial damages will be greatly reduced. Perhaps a mix of both therapy ideas is in order.

All chelation therapy is hard on your vitamin / mineral stores. Some type of analysis should be done prior to receiving chelation therapy. A very efficient test is a hair analysis. It is very inexpensive and easy. Determination of your vitamin / mineral status will better help your physician make a proper vitamin / mineral replacement protocol for you. A more elaborate analysis is an Erythrocyte Mineral Analysis. This tests for the amount of minerals that are actually present inside the Red Blood Cells. It is also a much more expensive test.