I think utilizing chelation therapy gives us the opportunity to remove significant obstacles to health that most people in this age have as a result of pollution, etc. Utilizing chelation biochemistry we can disengage progression of certain pathologies- therefore eliminate disease occurance.

I realize Dr Crinnion has taught us @ SCNM that oral EDTA doea not work, but I have seen studies where it did. Further, I have seen studies that showed Autistic kids successfully chelating by taking a bath with EDTA. It is very gentle and when given with RNA drops it increases the chelating potency (due to this RNA "unlocking" the autistic patient's cells - apparently their bodies don't respond to heavy metal challenges and hold onto metals more readily than an average person's body.)... Think about that- a bath helping autism...it is gentle and less risky.

I have often thought that checking cr. clearance before and periodically during chelation is a smart idea. I haven't seen it done though....

As far as IV's go, chelation or otherwise, it seems to me I have been told anytime we include magnessium we risk an event :. we need a code cart. It is that way in the hosptials also.

The issue of chelation therapy not being "natural" indicates a preconceived thought that only treatment that is natural = naturopathy. I think removing obsatcles to cure without doing harm is our job as naturopaths. Further, I think in some cases to not utilize a risky treatment measure (in which we have expertise) can potentially risk someone's health as much as that same treatment could have adverse effect in another person...again it boils down to individuals being treated individually.

I think it most wise to generally start with the basics of nutrition and certain  supplements to increase optimal function... adding in anything extra after a baseline is established. In that way, you truely know what helped-it is not a guessing game. By fortifying neurotransmitter functions optimizing brain & body function allows the patient to heal herself/himself. From there we have any number of protocols to allow optimum anything.... While I find it hard to imagine a patient can dump the same volume of metals possible as with chelation treatment, I suspect the body would increase dumping from its previous status quo simply because I believe the intelegence of the body, being fortified by the bountiful fuel we provide provides impetus for the patient's internal mileu to cleanse... I believe in the power of nature.

I have chelated my body. It was one of the hardest things I did to heal- also among the most effective.

Well I just rambled on a little longer than I intended...
I  enjoy reading what you all write... keep it up

peace
Carol










MaryK Martin Geyer <naturecure@...> wrote:

I see that my original question was more poorly articulated that I had realized.  Let me expound.  My question is not whether or not it is in our arsenal (as I will point out is mesotherapy and many other 'debateable' philosophical topics), or where one might place it in the therapeutic order/hierarchy (although, perhaps Drs. Zeff or Snider could augment this aspect of the discussion).  My question is regarding the fundamental foundations of our medicine, predating the therapeutic order, predating our "six principles".   

 

Is introducing a foreign substance, that is potentially harmful to the patient, fundamentally Naturopathic?  If we wanted to put it in the context of our six principles, would it fulfil 'first do no harm'?  While I realize that the most serious adverse effects, such as kidney damage with EDTA, that were not uncommon in the beginning of its use are now none to rare with safer practices and doses.  I've also seen it be very rough on patients, and have witnessed it do more harm than good.  I know that AZ requires a 'crash cart' in our practice if doing chelation, because of a potential.

 

I don't believe that IV nutrients are comparable with IV chelation.  With IV nutrients, we are adding exactly that, nutrients to build, feed, aid our body.  Obviously we have to respect and maintain healthy osmolarity,drip rates, and always practice safely (this is why we trained in accredited naturopathic medical schools).

 

I can't help but wonder what Lindlahr, Lust, Hahnemann, and the many others would say.  This is why I turn to all of your brilliant minds.  I look forward to some of you adding dimensions I have not realized.

 

Naive, idealistic, and in constant aw of this amazing medicine called Naturopathy~ MaryK 

 

 
 

On 4/15/07, Jennifer Williamson <dj.williamson@yahoo.com> wrote:

Sorry to answer a question with a question, but I'm new to the clinic and actually using the therapeutic order.  Isn't the first step "Remove obstacles to health"?  Wouldn't chelation therapy fall into this category?    

 

If we avoid chelation therapy because of its potential for harm, despite its benefits in patients with heavy metal toxicities, I think that we would actually be doing a disservice to the patient and causing them more harm by not using something in our arsenal.  Some botanical medicines are toxic and can cause harm, yet if we use them responsibly and when appropriate they are quite beneficial. 

 

Also, if we avoid the first step of the therapeutic order, wouldn't any treatment be considered palliation?  Isn't the first step what differentiates us from the allopaths?

 

Jennifer Williamson

 

----- Original Message ----
From: Greg Nigh <gnigh2@vagner.net >
To: NDPhilosophy@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 8:50:07 PM
Subject: Re: [NDPhilosophy] Is chelation therapy philosophically in line?

Well, I'll weigh in with a few thoughts.

My first thought is that I'm not sure I understand the question. It seems to me that it assumes  chelation causes harm. If that's an accurate reading of the question, then I think it's simply a trick question.

Chelation therapy does not, in and of itself, cause harm. It is a very useful therapy (yes, I do chelation therapy on occasion) that  has the *potential* to cause harm. That certainly does not make it unique within the naturopathic set of tools. Further, I would say that it does something that can't be done with any other therapy, at least none that I know of. If someone has a very significant amount of mercury (or lead, or cadmium, or arsenic, or etc., or more commonly a combination of these) in their body, I don't know of any other therapy that will pull it out. In fact, any therapy that *does* pull it out is, by definition, chelation therapy.

In this light, I believe it follows the principle of using "the least force necessary" to accomplish the goal.

I suspect that the intention behind the question was to explore where people feel it fits within the therapeutic hierarchy. It certainly has a greater potential for harm than, say, homeopathy, and I would also say that it's more "invasive" than many other therapies we do (invasive is in quotes because not all chelation is via IV, but is also done orally).

Given it's greater potential for harm, I think that it falls further down the therapeutic order than many other kinds of therapy. I also think there is a greater onus of responsibility on the practitioner to be competent in its use so that harm isn't done. This is no different than, say, physical manipulation, which can do very significant and lasting harm if done incompetently.

That's my $.02

Regards,

Greg

MaryK wrote:

I would love to stir up some deep reflection and thoughts on a topic
that I've been adamently questioning for a long time now. Is chelation
therapy philosophically in line with our medicine? Does it fall
under 'first do no harm'?

This was the last conversation I had with Dr. Bill Mitchell, who I
deeply respect. I think there are many docs on here, and brilliant
questioning students, that might be able to share things that I have
not considered previously.

Peace and Light
MaryK

 

---

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos.

--
To be impeccable means to put your life on the line to back up your decisions, and then do quite a lot more than your best to realize those decisions.
--Don Juan Matus, The Art of Dreaming

---

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible "new car" smell?
Check out new cars at Yahoo! Autos.