What is IV Nutrition/Chelation Therapy?

A series of IV solutions of vitamins, anti-oxidants, and chelation medication to rid the body of heavy metal toxicity, improve enzyme function, and add essential vitamins and supplements to support health.

What are heavy metals?

This includes a number of common exposures: lead, mercury, arsenic, copper, aluminum, and cadmium. They are found in our air, food, and water. Mercury is particularly present in many fishes, such as tuna, sea bass, swordfish, and shellfish. Safer fish include salmon, talipia, and scallops. Fructose, used to make soft drinks, has high metal content as well. Even chicken can be feed with fish meal resulting in high metal contamination. Many cosmetics, including lipstick and antiperspirants, have high metal contents.

Why are heavy metals dangerous?

Heavy metal toxicity robs the body from the delicate balance of metabolism and its by-product, oxidized radicals. These free radical molecules contribute to aged related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, dementia, diabetes, and arthritic changes and cause symptoms such as headaches, skin rashes, fatigue, poor sleep, and mood disturbances in some individuals. With proper anti-oxidant resources, the body can excrete these heavy metals and reduce the risk for diseases and actual improve well–being.

Am I at risk for heavy metal exposure?

Yes, we all are. It is not a matter of possibly being exposed but how much enters your soft tissue and bones that makes the difference. Harris County, Texas is listed as in the top 10% of the dirtiest/worst counties in the country, over 90% production of total environmental cancer risks from air and water as well as developmental and reproductive toxins, and actually exceeds Los Angeles County, California. While better in Montgomery County, Texas, the air/water cancer risk is between 60-70% and is higher than New York City at 20-30% – to check your Zip code score, go to http://scorecard.goodguide.com.

Can I be tested for heavy metals?

Yes, but blood values only indicate recent exposure since most metals are stored in our soft tissues and bones and not in our blood. There are provocative tests that can determine your specific heavy metal exposure.

Is IV Nutrition/Chelation safe?

Yes. EDTA, or ethelene diamine tetraacetic acid, is an FDA approved amino acid for lead and other heavy metal detoxification. A physician should be trained in the use of EDTA and be certified after passing an examination given by the American College for the Advancement of Medicine. Dr. Birken is a Chelation Certified Therapy physician.

Why are vitamins and anti-oxidants administered as well?
By restoring the body’s balance to reduce free radicals that cause aging, a person may reduce their risks for certain diseases and actually experience a new vitality, improved energy, and mood enhancement while becoming optimal to fight future toxin exposure.

Why is IV vitamins and anti-oxidants better than oral?

It is critical to take appropriate vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and anti-oxidants orally very day, but the amount that enters you blood is only a small percentage of what you ingest and has great variability as well.

The most commonly used IV vitamin protocol is based on the protocol used by the late John Myers, MD who used an intravenous vitamin-and-mineral formula for the treatment of a wide range of clinical conditions. The modified “Myers’ cocktail,” which consists of magnesium, calcium, B vitamins, and vitamin C, has been found to be effective against acute asthma attacks, migraines, fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome), fibromyalgia, acute muscle spasm, upper respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis, seasonal allergic rhinitis, cardiovascular disease, and other disorders. The modified Myers’ cocktail seems to provide rapid relief for patients with acute muscle spasm resulting from sleeping in the wrong position or from overuse. It also has been observed to relieve tension headaches in many cases.

May athletes undergo the modified Meyer’s cocktail before and after games, especially marathon runners. Others request it when they feel that are developing a cold or flu symptoms to build natural defenses to these infections.

IV vitamin treatment is more effective and better tolerated than conventional medical therapies. Although most of the evidence is anecdotal, some published research has demonstrated the efficacy of the Myers’ or some of its components. Widespread appropriate use of this treatment would likely reduce the overall cost of healthcare, while greatly improving the health of many individuals.

If IV Nutrition/Chelation therapy so beneficial, why don’t most doctors recommend it?

Unfortunately, we live in a society that is greatly influenced by big business, such as the pharmaceutical industry. While research and development, sponsored by the drug companies, produces new therapies, the drug companies are for profit and would prefer patients to take medications for specific conditions. Physicians are influenced by the pharmaceutical companies and direct to consumer advertising pushes patients to make specific requests for certain prescriptions. Unless a physician transcends conventional medical protocols and embraces preventive medicine and the merits of complementary and alternative principles, they are not aware of the dangers of heavy metal toxicity and the use of IV vitamin and anti-oxidant therapy to enhance overall health and restore vitality.

What research has been done on IV Nutrition/Chelation therapy?

Since 1955, chelation therapy has been studied by many medical scientists and a current study is underway as wel. In the 1990s, Hancke and Flytlie published an outcome study with an interesting subset of patients who were on the waiting list in Denmark for surgery. After electing to receive EDTA chelation therapy, 58 of 65 patients awaiting cardiac bypass surgery no longer required this procedure. Twenty-four of 27 patients being prepared for amputation because of critical limb ischemia were also treated successfully and did not require amputation.

McDonagh and associates published reports of improvement in musculoskeletal problems, mood disorders, fatigue, and diabetes mellitus. Results were postulated to be from enhanced antioxidant capability, better function of biochemical receptor sites, improved decalcification of soft tissues, and increased microcirculation.

Bjorksten, whose institute was located in Houston, Texas, suggested chelation therapy might be useful for life extension. His report documents a 90 percent reduction in the incidence of cancer over an 18-year follow-up for patients who had received chelation treatment to resolve low-level lead toxicity.

Who is a candidate for IV Therapy/Chelation?

Adults who have heavy metal toxicity and suffer symptoms related to its exposure are excellent candidates including those with elevated cholesterol, hypertension, fatigue, family history for heart disease, mood disturbances, and musculo-skeletal pain; and, more importantly, for those who want to take a proactive and preventive approach to their health by reducing free radicals that contribute to aging and diseases.

To view a video on chelation therapy, click the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIxgmE_E028&feature=related