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First introduced after use of a poisonous gas in World War I, the first chelation agents in chelation therapy consisted of organic dithiol compound dimercaprol (BAL). Basically, it was an antidote to the arsenic –based poison gas called Lewisite—specifically an arsine that was once manufactured in the United States and Japan as a chemical weapon that caused blisters and a lung irritant.

PRESENT USE FOR CHELATION THERAPY

Today chelation therapy is used as a treatment for several things—iron, arsenic, lead, acute mercury, lead, uranium, plutonium, and other toxic metal poisonings. It is administered to an individual orally, intravenously, or intramuscularly depending on the agent and the type of poisoning. But how the public recognizes the name is through alternative medicine, or a non-standard treatment for ailments such as heart disease, hardening of the arteries, and autism, even though the American Heart Association states that there is "no scientific evidence to demonstrate any benefit from this form of therapy" even though small trials and uncontrolled descriptive studies have showed benefits.

The treatment of autism with chelation therapy is practiced on 2 to 8% of children, with many organizations finding it unethical and potentially dangerous, with no scientific support for it being successfully used as a treatment for autism.  Yet the American College for Advancement in Medicine and National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine promotes chelation therapy, and has estimated that 800,000 patient visits for chelation therapy were made in 1997 in the U.S.

SIDE EFFECTS OF CHELATION THERAPY

With a slight burning sensation at the vein site of delivery being common, rarer side effects include a fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, dropping of blood cell counts, drop in blood pressure, and hypocalcemia. But if it is administered by a non-health professional for the treatment of heavy metal poisoning, more serious side effects may occur.  So far, over 30 deaths have occurred in association with IV-administered chelation therapy since the 1970s.

CHELATION THERAPY'S POPULARITY

Chelation therapy has become extremely popular with cardiac patients, with doctors who are practicing preventive medicine seeing a tremendous rise in people who have high cholesterol, stress or hypertension. Of these individuals, those with 90% heart blockages are choosing chelation therapy over traditional surgery, or other non-invasive methods for treatment.

The chelation therapy is called "artery cleansing therapy", the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals form the body with a 90% success rate—depending on the patient.  But traditional hospitals feel they are unsafe and should not be practiced:

“Chelation (ACT) is not an alternative to bypass surgery and angioplasty. This treatment is not supported by evidence based medicine (EBM). Chelation therapy is not approved by the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association (ACC-AH) guidelines for the management of CAD,” said Dr Ashish Contractor, preventive cardiologist at the Asian Heart Hospital.

Another alternative treatment becoming as popular as chelation therapy for heart issues is the Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) which is completely non-invasive and carries no risks, while being administered in an outpatient setting. A treatment for angina or chest pain, EECP is referred to as a "natural bypass" where blood is squeezed out of the lower parts of the body towards the heart. It also stimulates the growth of new blood vessels around blocked arteries.