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.

EDTA chelation has been around since the mid 1960s and has been administered to millions of people to treat metal poisoning. Today, there are studies on it's safety and effectiveness in treatment of CAD (coronary artery disease), a condition where plaque buildup inside the coronary arteries limit or block the supply of oxygen to heart muscles. It is claimed that EDTA chelation therapy cleans these plaque. In this regard, it is compared to Roto-Rooter, a procedure to scrape the arterial system of plaque while EDTA chelation dissolves them.

As with side effects, using FDA approved procedures for treatment of heavy metal poisoning, it has low occurrence. The most common is the burning sensation at the site where EDTA was delivered.