Chapter K1. 'Advanced' Topics (Part II) 6. 'Chelation' (pronounced 'key-lay-shun') (EDTA and Oral) Therapy - MONITOR YOUR TOXIC LOAD: at least every three years test your toxic levels of heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, aluminum, etc.) via hair analysis or urine analysis. If you have excess levels consider oral or intravenous chelation therapy. In one Swiss study, patients who underwent EDTA chelation therapy for high lead levels, also enjoyed 90 per cent less cancer than their fellows over 17 years. (Call 604-DARE-889 for EDTA chelation information between 10 am and 5 pm Pacific time.) EDTA Chelation is administered via an intravenous drip over 3-3 1/2 hours; you relax in a chair and read or chat with other people in the room. For the most part, the only pain you feel is a slight one when the doctor/nurse inserts the needle (into a vein in your hand or wrist). Is EDTA Chelation therapy safe? Dr. K.B. Wiancko informs us that the medical literature mentions NO ( i.e. ZERO ) deaths from 'EDTA' therapy ( when the American Academy of Advancement in Medicine protocol is followed) since Jan. 1, 1983; over 500 thousand people have had this therapy safely. How does 'EDTA' Chelation compare to 'bypass' operations? Whenever patients are challenged with a major medical decision, they want to know: SAFETY, EFFECTIVENESS, COST. In chart form here is the comparison: EDTA Chelation Bypass Surgery SAFETY NO deaths since Jan. 1, 1983 2% - 6% die as a direct (sources: Dr. K.B. Wiancko; result of 'bypass' American College of Advancement (source: Wall St. in Medicine) Journal) EFFECTIVENESS 77% with "clogged" arteries No proof on average showed MARKED improvement 'bypass' patients live (source: Dr. James Carter - longer than those who Tulane U. Medical School) 'decline' 'bypass' COST 75% - 90% cheaper than 'bypass'; $20,000-$50,000 $3,000-$6,000 for 30 treatments 'EDTA' 'beats' 'bypass' for all three criteria. Any exceptions? Objective tests might indicate a high probability of a heart attack within a few weeks. Most Chelating doctors will tell you that a full set of 20-40 treatments cannot be done in such a short time (2 or 3 'chelations' per week are possible for most patients). Any additional criteria? The 'consolation prize' criteria. Even if 'chelation' does not MARKEDLY reduce clogged arteries, everyone (including the U.S Food and Drug Administration) agrees that EDTA removes cadmium (smoker's curse), mercury, nickel, aluminum, lead, and other toxic metals from the human body. If you are not part of the 77% markedly helped by EDTA, you can try the other alternatives. After the Chelation therapy - The maximum benefit is experienced about 8-12 weeks after the final EDTA session. Should you return to your old lifestyle of junk food and being a 'couch potato'? If you do, your arteries will start clogging up again; and thus, you may require more chelations later. On the other hand, if you do 'reform' your 'health habits', you might still have a few EDTA chelations every year as added insurance. Oral Chelation - is cheaper than EDTA, but is it as effective or as fast acting? If 3 'EDTA' sessions are done per week, 30 sessions will take 10 weeks. Generally speaking, oral chelation could take many times this length of time to have an equal effect in removing heavy metals from the body; some researchers believe it is the heavy metals that are the main cause of clogged arteries. The 'track record' of 'EDTA' is much more firmly established than that of oral chelation products. Dr. Bob Martin (Phoenix, Arizona) is a highly regarded nutrition expert ( as well as being a Doctor of Chiropractic). He recommends an oral chelation product called 'The Royal Arterial Flush' (toll free call - 1 (888) 882-5100); I am not directly or indirectly financially connected to any product or doctor mentioned in this entire document. With oral chelation, no needles are involved. Alternative to EDTA and oral chelation - Heart Disease can be reversed naturally via vegetarian diet, exercise, and relaxation techniques (read Reversing Heart Disease by Dr. Dean Ornish); however, how many people have the will-power to follow the 'Ornish' program? For those with the will-power, the 'Ornish' program is true prevention and much cheaper than any chelation treatment. Autism - It is claimed by some that autism in SOME children results from high levels of toxic metals; read Turning Lead into Gold (N Hallaway (RN), Dr. Z Strauts) for a remarkable success story. Linus Pauling (PhD) - Dr. Linus Pauling was the first ever to win two unshared Nobel prizes and is one of the most eminent scientific geniuses of the 20th century. As important, his supreme integrity never allowed him to issue a strong opinion ( in the scientific arena) until he thoroughly did his research. Dr. Pauling, in July 1988, stated that "published research and extensive clinical exper- ience show that EDTA helps to reduce and prevent atherosclerotic plaques, thus improving blood flow to the heart and other organs." (A Textbook On EDTA Chelation Therapy) Can anyone find a two time Nobel prize winner who disagrees with Pauling about EDTA? Not like- ly!! References for EDTA Chelation Therapy: A Textbook on EDTA Chelation Therapy (edited by Elmer Cranton, MD) 40 Something Forever (Arline Brecher) The Chelation Way (Dr. Morton Walker) Bypassing Bypass (Dr. Elmer Cranton) Turning Lead into Gold (N Hallaway (RN), Dr. Z Strauts) 7. 'Burn' your Bra? Has it been proven that wearing a restrictive bra more than 12 hours/day increases BC risk? No, but the book Dressed to Kill ( Sydney Singer ) makes a reasonable case for discarding the bra ( which serves virtually no health function for healthy women). The reasoning of Singer is that constricting bras reduce lymph flow ( an immune function ) and thus, reduces toxin removal. Clearly, more research in this area is required. Should you wait for this research to give a definite 'YES' or 'NO' (to BC risk)? Unless someone can prove to you that wearing a bra has health benefits, consider throwing yours away. If you decide to keep yours, find the most comfortable one but do not wear more than 12 hours/day; and do not sleep with one. Your library should have Dressed to Kill (Sydney Singer). 8. Saunas - sweat removes toxins from the body; since it also removes good minerals (e.g. potassium) from your body, replace the 'sauna deficit' by drinking mineral water ( that you bring ) during your sauna session. Do not overdo saunas. Pregnant women (including 12 months after birth) should avoid both saunas and 'hot-tubs'. 9. Venereal Disease ( STD ), is it for you? "Each year 12 million new cases of sexually transmitted diseases, including 3 million teenageers, occur in the United States, with population rates higher that in any other developed country. In 1995, 5 of the 10 most frequently reported diseases in the United States were sexually transmitted, accounting for 87 percent of the diseases reportable to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." (Book Review of The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Edited by Thomas R. Eng and William T. Butler, National Academy Press, 1997, $39.95, ISBN 0-309-05495-8; book review by Dr. Thomas S. Quinn, New England Journal of Medicine, 1997; vol. 337, pp. 1177-1178). Venereal Disease is the old term for STD as is 'promiscuous' the old term for 'sexually active'. One possible side-effect of STD is sterility. Imagine becoming sterile as a childless young woman. To make a long and very gruesome story short, promiscuity is 'health dumb' and monogamy is 'health smart'. Anyone following the 'promiscuity path' is entering a very large 'germ pool'; this is one pool into which you should not want to 'dive'. References: Quinn TS, [book review of The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases], NEJM, 1997; 337:1177-1178 Ebrahim S, Mortality Related to Sexually Transmitted Diseases in US Women, 1972 through 1992, American J Public Health, 1997; 87:938-944 10. Periodic Testing - Why should you have thorough medical tests every 1, 2, or 3 years, if you live a healthy life-style? If you had a nickel for everyone who has become very and suddenly ill within one year of saying 'never been really sick a day in my life', you would be rich. You're only eating organic food, but discover that you've been eating genetically engineered soy bean products. That new paint job is releasing mercury vapors that you are breathing. Hunching over at your desk may be putting a curve in your spine. There are literally thousands of man-made chemicals in the air you breathe. Medical testing is a very large subject that can not be adequately covered in a few hundred words. However, the following pointers may prove useful to you: a. at least once a year have a GOOD chiropractor check your spine; never leave a chiropractor's office without asking for one or two exercises for your back. b. generally prefer tests that are non-invasive and non-destructive; Each medical X-ray is slightly destructive and who is keeping track of your total lifetime medical X-ray dose? Answer: no one. There are without doubt situations where this slight X-ray damage is more than justified. Two non-destructive tests: hair analysis and urine analysis. Hair analysis can be used to identify people with excess levels of lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, aluminum, arsenic, etc. Some hair (normally from your head) is cut off and analyzed; this is non-invasive and non- destructive and (in 1999) generally costs in the range $40-$100. c. at least once every three years ( 1 or 2 years better ) have testing done that analyzes all major organs in your body. Will this cost thousands of $$$s per visit? No! Your author is a firm 'believer' in EAV ( and VEGA ) testing from personal and family experience. If you ask a conventional doctor about EAV ( Electro Acupuncture according to Voll ) or VEGA, he may call it ' voodo ' or witchcraft. As a patient, you should only be impressed by diagnostic tools that provide you with good results. EAV, 'believe it or not', can not only diagnose an illness, but it can also identify likely remedies. A perfect tool for all diseases? No. EAV is non-invasive (acupuncture points are touched with a probe with NO skin penetration). For every body organ there is at least one acupuncture point, so the EAV practitioner ( often a naturopath ) will touch the probe to many different acupuncture points to do a full body scan. Any organ or body system that EAV can not diagnose? A top EAV naturopath informed me that EAV was a poor diagnostic tool for spine, muscles and eyes. The biggest problem is finding an EAV practitioner! You can ask your local naturopathic association for the names of EAV practitioners. Is there an alternative to EAV? Yes, a diagnostic tool called 'VEGA', which in your author's opinion, is a very useful tool, but not as powerful as EAV. Like EAV, VEGA uses a device that measures 'electrical impulses'. Both EAV and VEGA machines have numbered meters that the practitioner reads. References: Gerber R, [book] Vibrational Medicine Madill P, Electroacupuncture: A True and Legitimate Preventative Medicine, American J Acupuncture, 1974:80-93 copyright Brent Rooney ( [email protected] )