In 1893, French-Swiss chemist Alfred Werner developed the theory of coordination compounds, known today as chelates. After receiving a 1913 Nobel Prize for reclassifying inorganic chemical compounds, Werner went on to write an account of the process by which metals bind to organic molecules, the basis for chelation chemistry. Germany later put Werner’s discovery to use in the manufacture of industrial paints that required the elimination of heavy metal contamination. Eventually, German chemists invented a safe amino acid known as ethylenediaminetetraacedic acid (EDTA), now used in chelation therapy. The intravenous infusion may include vitamins, magnesium and a saline solution, according to an individual’s needs.

From the 1940s to the 1980s, experimentation and research led to the application of EDTA and chelation therapy in the treatment of individuals with bodily tissues that had an accumulation of mercury and lead, resulting in elevated blood pressure and risk of heart disease and neurodegenerative conditions. The only side effects patients experienced from chelation therapy were relief from arteriosclerosis, chest pains, arthritis, memory loss and the inability to concentrate. By 1973, the American Academy for the Advancement of Medicine (ACAM), formerly the American Academy of Medical Preventics was formed to educate physicians and promote the utilization of EDTA chelation therapy in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

During the past 50 years, more than 1 million patients have undergone chelation therapy for a wide range of circulatory problems. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than 800,000 patients receive EDTA treatment each year specifically for atherosclerosis at their own expense. At present, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only approves the therapy for the treatment of heavy metal poisoning.

“Mercury attacks the nervous system, kidneys and heart. The presence of heavy metals in the body helps free radicals to form. This can lead to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, as well as irregularities in heart rhythm, arthritis-like joint pain, chronic fatigue, motor dysfunction and the decline of mental acuity,” says Gary Gallo, M.D., with the Chelation Center of Naples. A recommended series of 30 treatments, which can only be administered by a physician, is accompanied by comprehensive testing before, during and after chelation.

The Chelation Center of Naples is located at 975 Imperial Golf Course Blvd., Ste. 107, in Naples. For more information, call 239-594-9355.