Chelation as defined by NIH is a chemical process in which a substance is used to bind molecules, such as metals or minerals, and hold them tightly so that they can be removed from a system, such as the body. EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid) is a, synthetic, or man-made, amino acid that is delivered intravenously (through the veins).

EDTA chelation removes heavy metals and minerals from the blood, such as lead, iron, copper, and calcium, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treating lead poisoning and toxicity from other heavy metals.