Current research shows a direct relationship between learning problems, developmental delays, and many symptoms associated with ADHD. In fact, a report from the National Academy of Sciences shows that mercury and heavy metal poisoning can account for as many as 3% of childhood neurological disorders in the United States. Children are particularly vulnerable to these toxic metals, not only because they have smaller bodies but also because they have not developed immune defenses against many of these toxins. The smallest exposure can do significant damage to a child’s developing nervous system. It’s not surprising that these toxins can cause ADHD-like symptoms, as well as chronic muscle pain, mood swings, chronic infections, and migraines.

There are many tests that can determine a heavy metal exposure, including nutrient element analysis and toxic elements test. Treatments for heavy metal poisoning vary according to the amount of exposure. Some can be addressed by zinc supplements, but more acute cases require advanced treatments like chelation therapy.

“Chelate” is derived from the Greek word “chele”, refers to a lobster’s claw. Just as a claw is used to grab things, so does chelation therapy use a non-metallic chelation agent in order to pick up and pull out a specific type of metal from the body. The most commonly used chelation agent for heavy metal poisoning is called Ethylenediamenetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Aside from being able to attach and pull out lead, mercury, and other heavy metals, EDTA can also slow the free radical activity caused by the presence of these toxins.

Chelation therapy can be done in one of two ways – intravenously and orally. Intravenous chelation therapy is done by a nurse or doctor, and involves sticking a needle into a vein in order to bring a slow drip of the chelation agent into the body. Oral chelation involves absorbing the EDTA through the mouth and can be done at home, upon receiving a doctor’s instructions.

Theoretically, chelation therapy sounds like a good treatment for getting rid of the toxic metals that trigger ADHD symptoms. However, the approach does have several drawbacks. The first is that EDTA and other chelation agents do not often have a specific target. This means that aside from picking up lead and heavy metals, EDTA can also remove a significant amount of calcium and other trace minerals. This can be dangerous because calcium is critical to proper neurotransmitter production and brain function (link to article). Fortunately, the leeching of minerals can be easily remedied by taking multivitamin and mineral supplements.
If you think chelation therapy can help your child, you need to verify if a heavy metal exposure is responsible for his or her ADHD symptoms. From there, do your research for a doctor with experience in doing chelation therapy for children. Although the treatment is known to be safe, there have been several deaths due to human error. Chelation is a very precise and complex procedure that should only be done by experts with the proper credentials and experience.