Hey guys,

Does anyone know anything about using EDTA for chelation? My doctor prefers to start chelation by doing oral EDTA capsules, in addition to a once a month (or more) EDTA IV push.

From all of the readings I have done on chelation, EDTA is mentioned as a good chelator for most heavy metals, but these readings all point out that it does NOT chelate mercury. But that is exactly what my doctor uses it for. His mentor is Dr. Gary Gordon, who strongly believes that EDTA is the way to go....in his opinion, it's safer and a good chelator (this guy has a website on chelation and his product line).

I did notice that the National Integrated Health Associates (who do a lot of mercury/heavy metal detox work, and have a great reputation) list EDTA as a chelator they use...only I don't know if they use it specifically for mercury or just for other metals.

So I guess I'm just trying to see if you guys have any info on this debate for me. I like my doctor, but I don't know if EDTA is a good choice....most articles on chelation specifically point out that it does not chelate mercury. My doctor does use oral DMSA capsules for stage 2 of detox, and he might be willing to agree to use that instead of EDTA, but I know he's going to strongly recommend the EDTA.

I appreciate any thoughts or info you guys might have for me.

Thanks!

~Tia

Hey guys,

I just did some more research on this....

I did find a couple of articles/statements explaining why Calcium EDTA is supposedly a good chelator for mercury, and why it has been wrongly pegged as not being able to chelate mercury....Part of the article is below. (Both articles I read seem to be linked with these suppository products though....and whenever anything is linked to a product, I view it with caution).

What do you guys think?

~Tia

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http://www.chelationtherapyonline.com/articles/p42.htm#mercury


The Mercury Detox Results From Aruba

Aruba -- Dr. Carlos Viana, OMD, Viana Natural Healing Center, Kibaima, Aruba, on Oct. 3 sent the following letter to World Health Products:

We purchased Detoxamin to try on our patients. As a member of The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, we are always looking for safer methods to detoxify heavy metals. Many physicians do not realize that EDTA is a method for reducing somatic mercury. Many physicians are looking at the heavy metals excreted by the kidneys through EDTA IV chelation and do not find mercury being excreted in the urine. These physicians then wrongly assume that EDTA is not a good chelator of mercury. In fact, EDTA has a greater affinity for mercury than copper, lead, zinc, in that order.

The excretion route of mercury is though the large intestine. Traditionally, to detoxify mercury many physicians will use DMSA because it is an oral drug. Therefore, it was logical to look for the mercury in feces because that drug was working through the gastrointestinal (G.I.) tract. Very few physicians were looking at chelated heavy metals in feces with a drug that works through the blood/kidney/urine route.

Second, of the physicians that did look for mercury in their patients' feces and did not find much excreted mercury, it is probably because they did not check the third bowel movement. After IV EDTA treatment mercury will not present after the next bowel movement, but will present after the third bowel movement.

At our clinic we are finding benefits with Detoxamin suppositories over IV EDTA in removing mercury.

1.) Because mercury is going to be found in the large intestines normally, EDTA suppositories will chelate the mercury in the large intestine first.

2.) The EDTA that travels into the blood stream and binds with lead will be excreted through the kidney/urine and EDTA that bines with mercury in the body will travel back to the rectum where it will bind more securely with EDTA that has not crossed into blood.

3.) With Detoxamin we do not have to wait for the third bowel movement!

The next day's bowel movement already has a mercury burden.

We are very impressed with initial clinic trials of Detoxamin suppositories and are looking forward to extending our chelation use. Please feel free to quote our letter.

Hi Tia,

My doctor also swears by EDTA, she put me straight onto the IV's once evry week for about four weeks. I really do believe that it is a great chelator of mercury because the difference i felt before and after the IV's was extreme with NO side effects excpet tiredness straight afterwards. The next day i felt GREAT. That was my personal experience. I havn't been for one for a while now due to financial constraints but I will go back as soon as I can.

The funny thing is i kept debaiting with my Dr about the effectiveness of the EDTA so to make me happy she prescribed oral DMSA aswell which ive been to afraid to take in case it brings my symptoms back LOL, still got them in my cupboard. If you can go for the EDTA id say go for it, seriously, it is so gentle on an already run down system. I can vouch that it never made me feel worse in the least - many people have had bad reactions to all the other chelators, i have yet to find one that has from EDTA. Hope this helps.

Take care. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

TGoss,

Thanks for letting me know about your experience with it. I've been thinking about it for a while now...and now that I finally found some research/opinions out there that confirm it's use, and have a decent explanation for why it is so frequently sited as not chelating mercury, I've decided to go ahead with it. And your good experience with it makes me feel better about my decision too.

I'll likely get a half push done next Friday when I go in, so I'll let you know how it goes.

~Tia

Hi, I heard about this site from the Yeast Connection board. I am just starting EDTA chelation and would like to find others doing the same. I had my first l l/2 hr EDTA chelation today. I am on a 3 time regimen --EDTA l l/2 hr, EDTA short push and then DMPA for the mercury. I am trying to learn about this and finding info is difficult.

Weird Toes - how are you doing with your chelation? Are there other places to chat? You can wire me direct if you like. Thanks!

PattyAnn,

In case it helps, I had dramatic issues with candida that progressively became worse. I finally ended up with chronic rashes under my arms, terrible itching, digestive issues, and additional trouble sleeping (I already had trouble for other reasons).

When my amalgams were removed in July of 2000, the rashes, itching and other symptoms were gone in 24 hours, never to return no matter what I ate.

In case you have not seen it, here is a link to my story that gives more details:

http://herballure.com/mms

Also, here is a link to a growing collection of stories that may help as well:

http://mercurytalk.com

Hope this helps.

By the way, since you're doing EDTA, I assume that you currently have no amalgam filligs, right?

All the best.

Hi PattyAnn,

I'm actually not doing EDTA chelation at the moment. I used the EDTA chewing gum over the summer, and I seemed to have a bit more energy for part of that time (not sure if it was from the EDTA gum or not though).

I was planning on starting EDTA IV pushes soon, but because I still feel like crap and have no energy, my doctor felt that we needed to go back to the "basics" and support my adrenal and thyroid function before beginning the intensive chelation. That way I will feel a bit better sooner, and my body will be better able to handle such a rough detox. I won't try it for a couple more months.....I hope your chelation with it goes well. Can you keep me posted and let me know how it's working for you?

Take care,
~Tia

I have been detoxing for almost 2 years and have had about 45 I.Vs. I use a protocol from My Dr. in Canada. I alternate with EDTA and DMPS. My Mercury levels were off the charts along with lead. This was using the provoking agents of DMPS and EDTA and Doctors Data testing Lab. I hae had 4 tests since I started IVs. My mercury levels are now in the midle of the moderate range and the lead has come down to the middle of the extreme range. My symptoms have greatly ben reduced and overall health. I had almost every symptom and they were classified as Chronic Fatigue syndrome at the time. Until I was checked for heavy metals I was a basket case. Both physically and emotionally. Today several days a week are like normal. I still have some affects but I am recovering. Be patient and do not be afraisd of DMPS. I would not use any oral form of any of the three. I would not use DMSA either. I did a lot of research before i tried any of the chleators. I am pleased with the results.
Sincerely;
Alan A