compassion, connection, and the core or center of
one’s being. Just above the heart chakra is the
throat (including the larynx, pharynx, and thyroid
gland), or fifth, chakra, which symbolizes commu-
nication, self-expression, and creativity. The sixth
chakra, consisting of the eyes, pineal gland, and
sinuses, governs intellect, perception, and intuitive
qualities and is often referred to as the “third eye.”
The crown of the head, or seventh chakra, func-
tions as a conduit for spiritual consciousness or the
source of one’s spiritual aura. Each chakra is also
associated with an element such as air, water, ether,
fire, or earth and with certain colors.
In the practice of Ayurveda, yoga, homeopathy,
Reiki, and other disciplines, manipulating the ener-
gies of the chakras plays an important role in the
healing process.
See also AYURVEDA; REIKI; YOGA.
channels The pathways known as meridians
along which ch’i— the body’s life force or energy—
flows; when illustrated, the meridians in and on
the body resemble a road map that is followed by
practitioners of acupuncture and acupressure,
reflexologists, and other alternative health care
providers.
See also ACUPRESSURE; ACUPUNCTURE.
chelation therapy Derived from the Greek word
chele, which means “to bind” or “to claw,” a method
of detoxifying the body, particularly of unwanted
metals such as lead, iron, copper, zinc, aluminum,
and manganese. Through a process that includes
the removal of calcium in plaque that occludes
arteries, chelation therapy is reported to restore
blood circulation and therefore counteract gan-
grene, leg cramps, and other vascular disorders;
treat Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, muscu-
lar dystrophy, asthma, macular degeneration,
chronic fatigue syndrome, ulcerative colitis, emphy-
sema, thyroid problems, scleroderma, viruses,
lupus, and Parkinson’s and other diseases; and
reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapy and
radiation therapy and the need for bypass surgery.
The three- to four-hour procedure involves an
intravenous (IV) injection of ethylenediaminete-
traacetic acid (EDTA) into the hand or a finger. As a
treatment for occluded arteries, chelation may be
necessary 20 to 50 times, to as many as 100 infu-
sions of EDTA; as a preventive measure, the typical
number of infusions is 10, administered one to
three times a week. The IV solution may also con-
tain supplements such as vitamins and minerals, as
well as gingko biloba and phosphatidylserine, both
of which act as chelators one may take orally as
well.
So far, although it is considered safer than
aspirin, EDTA has been approved by the Food and
Drug Administration only for lead and other heavy
metal poisoning and the treatment of hypercal-
cemia (an excessive amount of calcium in the
blood). Chelation therapy remains controversial as
an alternative treatment of other disorders,
although some physicians prescribe it for individu-
als with cardiovascular problems and claim that it
does in fact improve circulation and relieve the
symptoms of arteriosclerosis that can lead to more
serious problems. Other physicians argue that
EDTA is incapable of permeating the arteries’ cell
membranes and consequently cannot reach a cal-
cium accumulation effectively enough to clear it
out. Furthermore, some say the chelation of iron
increases the body’s production of free radicals,
compound substances that cause oxidation and
damage bodily tissues.
A substance originally familiar to plumbers for
removing calcium deposits from pipes, EDTA was
first used therapeutically by the United States Navy
to treat lead poisoning in 1948. Somewhat less
effective than intravenous administration, oral
chelation involves combining EDTA with other
chelators, including garlic, vitamin C, carrageenan,
rutin, bromelain, and certain enzymes. The
enzyme cysteine, for example, may be prescribed
for nickel poisoning and presence of excessive free
radicals. Also, the action of the drug penicillamine,
used as a conventional treatment of several ail-
ments, including metal poisoning and rheumatoid
arthritis, is similar to that of EDTA.
A study was conducted in 1958 in Switzerland
to determine the effectiveness of EDTA chelation
therapy as a preventive measure against cancer.
The 231 adults in the study lived near a heavy-
traffic highway that may have been exposing them
to lead from vehicle exhaust, to which exposure
was attributed high rates of cancer mortality and26 channels