Chelating agents are substances that chemically bond with metals, minerals or chemical toxins. The chelating agent actually encircles a mineral or metal ion so that it can be removed from the body via the urine and feces.⁽²⁾

When intravenous EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) chelation therapy was initially used to treat lead poisoning, doctors noted that their patients experienced unexpected improvements beyond those that could be explained by lead removal. Patients reported improved memory, diminished leg and chest pain on exertion, better vision, better hearing and improved sense of smell...improvements related to increased circulation and relief of blocked or narrowed arteries. The treatments were also removing calcified plaque from artery walls.⁽¹⁾

Narrowing and hardening of the arteries occurs not only in coronary and carotid arteries but throughout the body. As circulation returns, improvements may be seen not only in cardiac function, but in other body systems as well. Lack of blood flow to the reproductive organs is a primary cause of male impotence. Many men find that, as circulation improves, sexual performance also improves. Chelating agents can also remove age related cross-linkages in collagen and elastin responsible for loss of skin tone and wrinkling.

Effective, Painless, More Convenient, Less Expensive

While intravenous chelation may provide dramatic results more quickly, oral chelating agents can be very effective, not to mention more convenient and less expensive.

Progressive Labs provides two excellent oral chelation formulas.

• Cardio Help™ uses the chelating amino acids L-methionine and L-cysteine
• Cardio Chelate™ uses EDTA

Both formulas contain a proprietary blend of Ayurvedic herbs along with other synergistic nutrients and herbs that help correct defects in lipid metabolism, promote healing of damaged arteries and improve flexibility of blood vessels, in addition to chelating many toxic substances from the body.

Ayurvedic Herbs Work on the Cause of Heart Disease

Disturbed lipid metabolism is one of the biggest culprits and a common denominator in atherosclerosis. In Ayurvedic medicine, a proprietary blend of the following herbs is used for hypercholesterolemia, ischemic heart disease, angina pain, obesity and as a preventive for heart disease:

• Pushkarmul (Inula racemosa) and kut (Saussurea lappa) have beta blocking like activity.^(5,6)
• Gugul (Commiphora mukul) has hypolipidemic and antithrombic properties,^(3,5) decreases obesity and blood viscosity⁽³⁾ and increases thyroid function.⁽⁴⁾
• Shankhpushpi (Convolvulous pluricaulis) and jalneem (Bacopa monniera) are sedative, adaptogenic, anti-stress, and anti-hypertensive.⁽⁷⁾
• Kut also has anti-diabetic properties.⁽⁸⁾

Other botanical cleansers are also included in these formulas.

• Bromelain, an enzyme from pineapple, and papain from papaya inhibit platelet aggregation, improve angina pain, reduce blood pressure and break down atherosclerotic plaque.⁽⁹⁾
• Cilantro (coriander) has been shown in clinical trials to mobilize toxic metals stored in the brain and spinal cord and move them rapidly out of those tissues. It is one of the few substances known to mobilize mercury from the central nervous system.⁽²⁾
• Butcher’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus) contains saponin glycosides called ruscogenins that reduce capillary fragility and permeability.⁽¹⁰⁾

Chelating Amino Acids: L-Methionine and L-Cysteine

The Cardio Help formula uses the chelating amino acids L-methionine and L-cysteine. Methionine is an essential amino acid that assists in the breakdown of fats, thus helping to prevent a buildup of fats in the liver and arteries.⁽¹¹⁾ As a methyl donor and one of the sulphur-containing amino acids, methionine acts as an antioxidant to deactivate harmful free radicals. It is also necessary for production of the amino acids cysteine and cystine. All of these are powerful detoxification agents capable of removing toxic levels of heavy metals such as lead from the body.⁽¹²⁾

In addition, the sulfur-containing amino acids, as well as vitamin C, aid in collagen production, thereby promoting flexibility (as opposed to hardening) of blood vessel walls. Cysteine specifically helps neutralize aldehydes produced by the liver as a by-product of the metabolism of alcohol, fats, air pollutants and some drugs. In sufficient levels, it will bind with metals...preferentially, the heavy metals lead, mercury and cadmium... thus, aiding their removal from the body. Cysteine is also a precursor to glutathione.⁽¹²⁾

Vitamin B12 and folic acid are added to this formula because methionine can be converted in the body to dangerous homocysteine. These two nutrients are necessary for remethylation of homocysteine to methionine.⁽¹²⁾

EDTA Removes Calcium that Cements Plaque to Artery Walls

Calcium is the element that cements plaque to artery walls making them hard and inflexible. EDTA, used in the Cardio Chelate formula, is a synthetic amino acid that binds calcium and heavy metals to remove them from the body through the kidneys. When calcium is drawn out of arterial plaque, the remaining fats, sugars, proteins, fibers and debris are then softened so that they can also be flushed out.⁽⁷⁾

EDTA doesn’t react directly with the calcium in arterial plaque. It binds the first calcium it finds...blood calcium. Since a certain blood/calcium level is essential for heartbeat and other vital functions, the parathyroid gland which controls calcium metabolism, is activated to restore normal blood levels. At this point, the most available calcium is put into circulation...first the calcium from arterial plague, then calcium deposits in joints and muscle tissue. Thus, chelation therapy often relieves rheumatic and arthritic symptoms.⁽¹⁾

Since calcium in bones and teeth is already bound to protein, it would be affected only after the more accessible, abnormal stores are exhausted. Because the parathyroid hormone responsible for calcium metabolism is activated, abnormal calcium stores put back into circulation can then be redeposited where they are needed...in bones and teeth. X-rays have shown improved calcium deposits in bones after chelation.⁽¹⁾

Glutathione Detoxifies Fats

The amino acid tripeptide, glutathione, has been called the "master antioxidant". It actually detoxifies oxidized fat in the intestinal tract, preventing free radicals from entering the bloodstream.⁽¹³⁾ It also effectively removes lead, cadmium, mercury and aluminum from the body.⁽¹²⁾

As heavy metals and excess minerals are flushed from the cells, it is important to support the liver and its detoxification processes. Glutathione, the selenium-dependent enzyme glutathione peroxidase and vitamin A are important to the body’s detoxification system.

Replace Essential Minerals

An effective oral chelation formula should also replace essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, zinc and selenium, that may also be flushed out of the body.⁽²⁾

Potassium and magnesium orotates and aspartates are used, based on the successful heart protocol (which also included bromelain) developed by the German doctor, Hans Nieper. In his seven year study, deaths from heart attack decreased 84%.⁽¹⁴⁾ Increasing ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is important for overcoming myocardial muscular fatigue. In the aspartate and orotate forms, minerals can be easily transported to the mitochondria for increased ATP formation. Nieper also found that magnesium orotate improved blood vessel elasticity.

A high intake of mineral ascorbates also increases excretion of minerals, chiefly calcium and magnesium. Vitamin C supplementation consistently results in improved dilation of blood vessels in patients with atherosclerosis, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Vitamin C also stimulates production of the enzyme LPL (lipotrophic lipase) which acts as a cleansing agent on vascular walls.

WARNING:. This publication and the products contained herein have not been approved or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This publication, and the products contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The products relate to nutritional support only.

REFERENCES

1. Julian J, Chelation Extends Life, Wellness Press, Hollywood, CA, 1981.

2. Pouls M, "Oral Chelation and Nutritional Replacement Therapy for Chemical & Heavy Metal Toxicity and Cardiovascular Disease", Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients, July, 1999

3. Tripathi S, "Studies on the use of oleoresin Guggulu, an indigenous drug in the disorders of lipid metabolism (with special reference to atherosclerosis and obesity)", PhD Thesis, 1973

4. Tripathy S; Gupta M; Dwivedi L; Udupa K; "Effect of ketosteroid of C. mukul on thyroid gland in laboratory animals", 1974

5.Gupta V, "Evaluation of pushkar guggulu in the management of hrichhoolal (ischemic heart disease)", 1982.

6. Tripathi Y; Tripathi P; Upadhyaya N; "Assessment of the adrenergenic beta blocking activity of inula racemosa", J of Ethnopharmacology, 23, 1988

7. Tripathi S, "Role of indigenous drugs in the management of moderate hypertension", Int. Symposium on Hypertension PGI Chandigarh, 1979.

8. Upadhyay K, "Co-relation of medoroga and diabetes", 1971.

9. Werbach M, Murray M, Botanical Influences on Illness, Third Line Press, Tarzana, CA, 1994.

10. Flynn R, Roest M, Your Guide to Standardized Herbal Products, One World Press, Prescott, AZ, 1995.

11. Balch J, Balch P, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Second Edition, Avery Publishing Group, Garden City Park, NY, 1993.

12. Chaitow L, Amino Acids in Therapy, Healing Arts Press, Rochester,VT, 1988.

13. Carper J, Stop Aging Now! Harper Collins, New York, NY, 1995.

14. Nieper H, "The Effectiveness of Electrolyte Carrier Compounds on Myocardial Metabolism, Illustrated by Magnesium and Potassium Aspartate, Artzl Forsch, 15:305-309(1961).