Chelation << kee LAY shuhn, >> therapy, is medical treatment that involves the use of drugs to remove toxic metal ions from the body. These drugs chelate (bind strongly) to the metal ions to form soluble substances removed in the urine. The technique is used to treat lead poisoning and to reduce iron levels in patients with thalassemia or other diseases that require frequent blood transfusions. It is also used for treating overexposure to mercury, zinc, and a variety of other metals. Chelation therapy has been used to treat arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), but its effectiveness has never been proven. Some doctors continue to use the treatment, but most medical authorities discourage the use of it to treat arteriosclerosis.
