EDTA Chelation Therapy: Efficacy in Brain Disorders

H. Richard Casdorph, MD, PhD

H. Richard Casdorph, M.D., Ph.D., is Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California Medical School, Irvine, California. He practices in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease at Long Beach, California. He received his training in cardiovascular diseases at the Mayo Clinic and received his Ph.D. degree in Medicine from the University of Minnesota. He has also taught at UCLA Medical School and has been Chief of Medicine at Long Beach Community Hospital.


ABSTRACT: Fifteen patients with well-documented impairment of cerebral blood flow were studied utilizing the isotope technetium 99m. A highly significant improvement (P = .0005) in cerebral blood flow occurred following approximately twenty intravenous infusions of disodium EDTA. All fifteen patients improved clinically, including one with little or no improvement in measured cerebral blood flow. EDTA chelates and removes aluminum as well as calcium. Aluminum has been incriminated in senile and pre-senile dementia. This study is especially noteworthy in view of the fact that medical science has no other effective treatment for many of these conditions. Radioactive nuclide studies were performed at the Nuclear Medicine Department of the Lon Beach Memorial Hospital, California.



The curve on the left illustrates the normal brain flow curve. The upstroke of the A wave indicates blood flowing into the brain followed by a normal decline to point B as the washout effect of fresh blood, not containing radioactivity, reduces the level of technetium to the baseline at point B. This is followed by a slight recirculation wave C, followed by a baseline or steady level of radioactivity. The 3 sets of curves on the right indicate changes that occur to cerebral blood flow with progressively more severe cerebrovascular occlusion. As blood flow becomes impaired there is a delay of flow into the brain, causing the peak of the A wave to move to the right. This is associated with a decrease in the washout phase inasmuch as fresh blood flows less readily into the brain to wash out the existing radioactivity. This causes an elevation of b point as illustrated. The elevation of point B from normal is taken as an index of the degree of occlusive cerebrovascular disease, and conversely, the reversal of this effect, lowering of point B after EDTA is used as a measure of the benefit of chelation therapy.



Actual Data as measured by a Searle Radiographics scintillation camera. This represents a relatively normal cerebral blood flow for both the right (R) and left (L) sides of the brain of a 62 year-old white male with mild diabetes and arteriosclerotic heart disease. Even though this study was considered "normal," we note a slight diminution in the amplitude of the A wave over the left (L) side of the brain.



Actual raw data, brain blood flow study of a 51 year old white female with a mistaken diagnosis of schizophrenia. This measurement showed very reduced brain blood flow.



Brain blood flow measurements of that same patient after EDTA chelation showing marked improvement in blood flow. The patients clinical symptoms improved correspondingly.

Journal of Advancement in Medicine Volume 2, Numbers 1/2, Spring/Summer 1989

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EDTA Chelation Therapy: Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Occlusion, An Alternative to Amputation

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EDTA Chelation Therapy: Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Occlusion, An Alternative to Amputation

H. Richard Casdorph, MD, Ph.D. and Charles H. Farr, MD, Ph.D.
Dr. H. Richard Casdorph is currently Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California Medical School, Irvine, California. He practices internal medicine and specializes in the treatment of cardiovascular disease at Long Beach, California. He received his training in cardiovascular diseases at the Mayo Clinic and received his Ph.D. degree in Medicine from the University of Minnesota. More recently he has taught at UCLA Medical School and has been Chief of Medicine at Long Beach Community Hospital. Dr. Charles H. Farr is Chairman of the American Board of Chelation Therapy and Diplomate in Chelation Therapy of the American Academy of Medical Preventics. He is currently in private practice in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

ABSTRACT: Four patients are presented, each of whom represents end stage occlusive peripheral arterial disease with gangrene of the involved extremity. These patients had exhausted all traditional forms of therapy and they had all been referred for surgical amputation. Instead of surgery, intravenous EDTA chelation therapy was instituted with complete success in each case. These gangrenous extremities all healed and were saved from amputation. Long-term follow-up, extending for more than a year, indicates that all four patients are continuing to do well, with their previously gangrenous extremities intact and pain free. Adjunctive therapies included vitamin and mineral supplementation and, in two cases, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO).

Journal of Advancement in Medicine, Volume 2, Numbers 1/2, Spring/Summer 1989
For the full-text study, go to your nearest medical library or order

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Chelation Therapy Endorsed by a Bypass Surgeon With a Case report

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EDTA: A Life-Changing Experience

As a conventionally trained cardiovascular surgeon, the concept of free-radical pathology causing atherosclerotic vascular disease was not included in the curriculum. EDTA chelation was not a treatment option for our patients. Vitamins and minerals were not considered a valuable adjuvant to the advanced technology of angioplasty and bypass surgery. My dream of being a heart surgeon was becoming reality. However, I discovered a real problem. We were delivering symptomatic therapy and ignoring the disease process. The patients were encouraged to stop smoking, change their diet, exercise, and alter their lifestyle. Most patients were unsuccessful and were sent home for the untreated disease to continue its progression against health and life.

I was first encouraged to learn about the possible benefit of vitamin E for cardiac patients. Research led me to believe there was in fact enough evidence to substantiate the inclusion of vitamin E in my treatment protocol. There was still more I needed to learn, and I continued my quest for knowledge. I then discovered the concept of free-radical damage to the vascular endothelial cell membrane leading to plaque formation and stenosis. The addition of EDTA and a more intense vitamin regimen has provided many of my patients with the opportunity to experience improvement and healing even without surgery. The case history of one of these patients serves as an example of this truth.

A 72-year-old man presented to the Surgery Clinic and Vascular Treatment Center for continuation of chelation therapy because of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The first coronary artery bypass surgery performed after a myocardial infarction was unsuccessful. A second coronary artery bypass also resulted in angina that severely limited his level of activity and threatened to decrease his life expectancy. Post-surgical medical management failed to improve his condition. He was sent home with no hope for improvement and no other options.

Determined to find help for his failing heart, he discovered chelation therapy. With chelation, there was immediate improvement with reduction of anginal episodes and an increase in work capacity. EDTA chelation was given twice weekly and then reduced to monthly therapy after 30 treatments. Over 200 chelation treatments have been given since the initial medical and surgical therapy failure 22 years ago. For longer than 2 decades he has enjoyed complete symptomatic relief with no activity restriction. He was faced with the reality of an early death after his bypass surgeries failed, and was instructed to go home and enjoy the little time left to him. Chelation has truly been a gift of extended life for this gentleman.

Recently, this same patient was scheduled for coronary angiography in preparation for gallbladder surgery. His surgeon requested this study because of his cardiac history. The arteriogram showed no significant coronary artery disease. Twenty-two years earlier, there was documented coronary artery blockage sufficient to warrant 2 bypass surgeries. He tolerated the gallbladder surgery without incident. EDTA chelation therapy is being continued on a monthly basis. He remains active without symptoms or restriction of activity.

In conclusion, this history represents a patient with coronary artery atherosclerotic disease twice leading to myocardial infarction and bypass surgery. When the second surgery also ended in failure, he was given no hope for recovery. After more than 200 chelation treatments, an arteriogram demonstrated total reversal of the atherosclerotic process suggesting healing of a disease that is the number one cause of death and disability in America today.

The inclusion of EDTA chelation as a treatment for atherosclerotic vascular disease has been the single best therapeutic addition to my practice of general and vascular surgery, which began 19 years ago.

H. J. H. MD

Vascular, Thoracic and General Surgery

Reference: Letter to the Editor. Clinical Practice of Alternative Medicine 2000;
Volume 1, Number 3.

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