| Although chelation therapy for prevention and | | | | not extensive. However, a number of chelation |
| treatment of degenerative circulatory diseases is | | | | therapy physicians have reported measurable |
| practiced by hundreds of medical doctors in the | | | | improvements in AMD patient's eyesight following |
| USA and Europe, it remains controversial, | | | | chelation therapy. |
| inasmuch as it is misunderstood, its use being | | | | IV infusion of the chelating agent, EDTA, together |
| grossly under investigated by mainstream | | | | with certain vitamins has two biochemical |
| medicine except in treating a narrow range of | | | | reactions. The first reaction is the elimination of |
| conditions such as lead and other heavy metal | | | | excess oxidizing free radical activity, brought |
| toxicity or acute hypercalcaemia (increased | | | | about by the removal of certain heavy metals in |
| calcium levels in the blood). Ironically, it was the | | | | the body which are catalysts for free radicals. |
| medical use of chelation therapy in removing toxic | | | | Free radicals are a major cause of arterial |
| metals which first led to the discovery of its | | | | disease, leading to impaired blood circulation. |
| hugely beneficial 'side-effects' of dramatically | | | | The second reaction is thought to be redistribution |
| enhanced circulatory function. Those doctors who | | | | of calcium and calcium deposits and ectopic |
| have examined chelation therapy in action and | | | | deposits. Both of these reactions improve cellular |
| who have seen its outstanding results in | | | | respiration. It is not surprising therefore, that |
| preventing and reversing so many degenerative | | | | chelation therapy can result in arresting or partially |
| diseases, usually change rapidly from critics to | | | | reversing AMD. It should be noted that the |
| supporters of this essentially safe system. | | | | beneficial effects of chelation therapy in relation to |
| It is not uncommon for a course of chelation | | | | AMD occur slowly and require 30 or more |
| therapy to result in improved eyesight. Chelation | | | | infusions over a period of months. While chelation |
| therapy has been used successfully in the specific | | | | therapy is proceeding, care must be taken to |
| treatment of various eye conditions, including | | | | ensure that patients receive adequate mineral and |
| macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic | | | | vitamin supplementation. In addition, clinical |
| retinopathy. Of these applications, the most | | | | examinations should be performed regularly to |
| frequent has been in relation to AMD. This may | | | | ensure that normal kidney function is maintained. |
| be, first, because AMD is quite common; and | | | | Quantitative ophthalmic measurements should be |
| secondly, because in most cases of AMD there | | | | taken prior to treatment and progress followed to |
| are few alternative medical treatments available. | | | | record changes. |
| The literature on the use of chelation therapy is | | | | |