Traditional Chelators vs. Novel Herbal Chelators

What Actually Works

Where Dr. Georgiou’s HMD™ Fits

I get asked this a lot: “Should I use a conventional (chemical) chelator, or can I detox heavy metals with natural products?” My short answer is: it depends on the goal, the exposure, your health status, and your tolerance for side effects and cost. My longer answer is below—simple, practical, and backed by studies—plus where I place Dr. Georgiou’s HMD™ protocol, which is one of the few natural options that’s actually been tested in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.

The two camps—quick definitions

• Traditional (“chemical”) chelators
  Prescription agents designed to bind metals strongly so they can be excreted. The common ones are succimer (DMSA), DMPS, calcium disodium EDTA (CaNa₂EDTA), dimercaprol (BAL), and D-penicillamine. They work, but they can be tough on some people and expensive, and they usually require a clinician plus lab monitoring.
• Novel/herbal chelators (and binders)
  Natural compounds—chlorella, cilantro/coriander, modified citrus pectin (MCP), alginates, zeolite clinoptilolite, and multi-ingredient protocols like HMD™—aim to mobilize and/or bind metals more gently. The evidence ranges from promising human pilot trials to animal and in-vitro work. HMD™ is notable for being tested in double-blind, placebo-controlled settings on hundreds of foundry workers.

What the evidence says—plain English and citations

1) What conventional chelators do well

• They lower measured metal levels.
  In lead-exposed children, succimer (DMSA) reliably lowered blood lead, though it did not improve neurocognition at lower exposures in a large NEJM trial.
• They’re the standard of care for serious poisonings.
  For high blood lead or acute poisonings, guidelines use CaNa₂EDTA, BAL, DMSA, and sometimes D-penicillamine, with specialist oversight.

But… side effects and logistics matter:

• DMSA (succimer): label warnings include hypersensitivity/dermatologic reactions, neutropenia, and hepatic toxicity; monitoring is advised.
• DMPS: reviews describe GI upset, skin reactions, mild neutropenia, elevated liver enzymes, and infusion-related hypotension if given too fast. (DMPS is not FDA-approved in the U.S.; typically obtained via compounding.)
• CaNa₂EDTA: when the wrong form (Na₂EDTA) is used or calcium is depleted, severe hypocalcemia and deaths have occurred; EDTA can also increase excretion of essential minerals like zinc.
• BAL (dimercaprol): painful IM injections, hypertension/tachycardia, and other unpleasant effects are common.
• D-penicillamine: meaningful adverse effects are not rare—older studies in lead-exposed children reported ~33% with reactions (rash, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, etc.).

Expense & time:

• Cardiovascular chelation trials (TACT) used 40 IV EDTA infusions, usually 3–4 hours each across ~1 year—illustrating the time burden (even if your goal isn’t cardiac).
• Out-of-pocket clinic pricing commonly runs $75–$300 per infusion (sometimes more), so full courses can land in the $5,000–$10,000 range, typically not covered unless treating clear poisoning.

Where these can be used: high, acute, or clearly documented metal burdens where guidelines call for chelation—and always with medical supervision and labs.

2) What novel/herbal approaches do well

• Modified citrus pectin (MCP) has several small human reports: increased urinary excretion of arsenic, cadmium, lead in volunteers; case series with reduced metal burden without depleting essential minerals; and a small pediatric study in lead-exposed children. Evidence is early but encouraging for gentle support.
• Zeolite (clinoptilolite) now has emerging randomized, double-blind human data suggesting benefit in lead exposure (mild–moderate)—again, small but promising for safety/feasibility. However, zeolite does contain a central molecule of the neurotoxin aluminum, which may be released in the body under certain conditions.
• Algal binders (chlorella/alginates): robust biosorption chemistry and animal data; human detox trials are small but suggest increased excretion for some metals and persistent pollutants.
• Cilantro/coriander may mobilize intracellular metals—but alone it can backfire (mobilization without sufficient binding). In Georgiou’s foundry trials, cilantro alone often reduced metals in post-samples (interpreted as redistribution/retention), strengthening the case for a mobilize + bind combo.

Where I use them: as part of a gentle, longer-horizon plan—especially when people want to minimize side effects, can’t access prescription chelators, or need to prepare the gut/liver “exit ramps” before any stronger intervention.

Head-to-head: advantages & disadvantages

Traditional chelators (DMSA, DMPS, CaNa₂EDTA, BAL, D-penicillamine)

Advantages

• Strong, targeted metal binding with measurable drops in body burden (e.g., DMSA → lower blood lead).
• Clear indications for severe poisonings under clinical care.

Disadvantages

• Side effects: hematologic (e.g., neutropenia), hepatic enzyme elevations, skin reactions, BP spikes (BAL), mineral depletion, and—if handled improperly—serious events (hypocalcemia with Na₂EDTA).
• Monitoring & logistics: frequent labs, clinical oversight, and (for IV) hours per infusion.
• Expense: multi-thousand-dollar out-of-pocket courses are common in non-poisoning settings.
• Not all benefits are guaranteed: even with lower blood lead, neurocognitive gains weren’t seen in low-level pediatric lead exposure.

Novel/herbal chelators & binders (MCP, alginates, chlorella, cilantro, zeolite, HMD™)

Advantages

• Gentler side-effect profile overall; easy oral administration.
• Some human data (MCP, zeolite; and HMD™—see below) showing increased metal excretion or reduced body burden without essential mineral loss in small studies.
• Emphasize mobilize + bind + drain logic that meshes with gut-first detox (fiber, bile flow, microbiome).

Disadvantages

• Evidence quality varies: many trials are small, single-site, or in complementary/alternative journals; not all agents are effective on their own (e.g., cilantro alone may redistribute).
• Slower course; best viewed as programs rather than “one-and-done” drugs.
• Scope: designed for metals—they won’t “chelate” plastic-derived chemicals (BPA, phthalates), so exposure reduction still matters.

Where Dr. Georgiou’s HMD™ stands out among natural options

HMD™ (Heavy Metal Detox) is a three-part natural program developed after multi-year testing in Russian metal foundry workers:

• HMD™ liquid (mobilizer): a synergistic blend including Coriandrum sativum (cilantro), Chlorella Growth Factor, and a homaccord of Chlorella pyrenoidosa.
• HMD™ LAVAGE (drainage): herbal formula supporting liver, kidneys, lymph.
• HMD™ Organic Chlorella (binder): gut-level binding to catch metals dumped into bile so they exit in stool.

The research:

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled program was conducted across ~350 foundry workers over several years, comparing multiple natural candidates and combinations. Results reported increased urinary and fecal elimination across several metals with the final HMD™ combination, and no pathologic changes in standard liver/kidney markers during provocation. These trials were published in a complementary/alternative journal (IJCAM, 2018) and summarized on the program site.

My take (transparent): HMD™ is one of the few natural protocols with double-blind data behind it. The journal isn’t JAMA—but the design (blinded, placebo-controlled; hundreds of workers; ICP-MS pre/post) is far stronger than most natural-detox anecdotes. I present it alongside standard toxicology references so you can weigh it fairly.

Dosing (adult guidance from the program):

• HMD™: 45 drops, 3× daily, 10–15 min before meals (start lower if sensitive; titrate).
• LAVAGE: 25 drops, 3× daily (often mixed in the same glass).
• Organic Chlorella: 2 caps (~600 mg), 2× daily with meals.
  Many run 60–90 days per cycle, checking in on symptoms and (ideally) urinary metals with a clinician.

Why it fits my approach: HMD™ operationalizes the “mobilize → bind → drain” model that pairs perfectly with gut-first detox (fiber, hydration, bile support, fermented foods). In Georgiou’s trials, cilantro alone looked risky; the combo with chlorella (binder) and drainage support solved that practical problem.

A practical plan I use with clients

1. Foundations first (2–4+ weeks)
   • Fiber 25–35 g/day, hydration, daily bowel movements, bile support (bitter greens, lemon water).
   • Fermented foods or a simple Lacto/Bifido probiotic to strengthen the gut barrier (less reabsorption).
   • Mineral repletion (zinc/selenium/magnesium) and moderate sweating (exercise/sauna if appropriate).

This step reduces side effects no matter what chelator you use.

1. Choose your chelation path
   • Serious/acute poisoning → medical chelation per guidelines (e.g., DMSA/EDTA/BAL), with labs and a toxicologist—no debate here.
   • Chronic, lower-grade burden or side-effect-sensitive → a gentle program like HMD™ (mobilize + bind + drain), run in 60–90-day blocks with symptom and (optional) lab tracking.
2. Cost-benefit reality check
   • If you’re considering IV EDTA, know the time (40 infusions × ~3–4 h) and out-of-pocket (commonly $75–$300/infusion; often >$5,000 total) before you start. If you need it, you need it—but it’s smart to plan.
3. Monitor & personalize
   • Track energy, sleep, headaches, skin, bowels.
   • If you feel “stirred up,” pause the mobilizer, continue binders/drainage, then restart lower.
   • Consider periodic urinary metals (creatinine-normalized) and basic renal/hepatic labs with your practitioner.

FAQs I hear all the time

“Are herbal chelators strong enough?”
For severe poisonings: use conventional chelators. For many chronic, lower-grade burdens—especially when you want to minimize side effects and cost—HMD™-style programs can be a useful, gentler path. The HMD™ double-blind data are unusual (in a good way) for a natural formula.

“Will I lose essential minerals with chelation?”
EDTA and other traditional chelators can increase excretion of zinc and other minerals, so monitoring/repletion matter. Early MCP data suggest no major essential-mineral depletion in small trials, but always be mindful. Natural chelators such as HMD will not eliminate essential minerals from the body.

“Is DMPS available in the U.S.?”
DMPS is not FDA-approved; it’s typically obtained via compounding, which can affect availability/cost and requires a knowledgeable prescriber.

“Why not just use cilantro?”
Because mobilization without binding can leave you feeling worse and may redistribute metals. The foundry trials are exactly why I pair mobilizers with binders + drainage (the HMD™ design).

Key sources (selected)

Conventional chelators—efficacy/risks

• Succimer (DMSA) lowered blood lead but not cognition (NEJM, 2001).
• DMSA label: neutropenia, hepatic toxicity, derm reactions.
• DMPS review: GI upset, rashes, mild neutropenia, elevated LFTs; infusion hypotension if rapid. Not FDA-approved in the U.S.
• EDTA risks: hypocalcemia deaths when Na₂EDTA used inappropriately; mineral losses (e.g., zinc).
• BAL adverse effects: painful IM, hypertension/tachycardia.
• D-penicillamine: ~33% adverse reactions in pediatric lead series.
• Time/cost burden: TACT regimen 40 infusions, 3–4 h each; typical cash pricing $75–$300/infusion (often >$5k total).

Novel/herbal chelators—evidence

• MCP: increased urinary excretion of As/Cd/Pb in volunteers; pediatric lead study; case series; review summarizing 4 detox studies. PMCPubMed+1
• Zeolite clinoptilolite: double-blind RCT (2025) in mild–moderate lead poisoning (early evidence). Does contain a central molecule of the neurotoxin aluminum, so caution may be required.
• Chlorella/alginates: biosorption and supportive experimental data summarized in reviews.

HMD™ specific

• Double-blind, placebo-controlled foundry-worker program (multiple natural candidates → finalized HMD™ blend; increased urinary/fecal elimination; stable renal/hepatic markers during provocation).
• Program summaries & dosage on DetoxMetals (HMD™, LAVAGE, Organic Chlorella).

Bottom line (the way I explain it to clients)

• If you’ve got serious, acute metal toxicity, traditional chelators under medical supervision are the right tool—fast, powerful, but they come with side effects, monitoring, time, and cost.
• If you’re dealing with longer-term, lower-grade burdens—or you want a gentler approach you can sustain—a programmatic strategy makes sense: build foundations (fiber, bile flow, minerals, microbiome), then layer a mobilize-bind-drain protocol.
• HMD™ is my go-to in that second category because it’s one of the few natural formulas with double-blind human data, and it was designed specifically to avoid the cilantro-without-binder trap. It has also been on the market for 17 years now, and is used by many practitioners worldwide with adults and children, as well as animals.

Educational only; not medical advice. If you’re pregnant/breastfeeding, have kidney or liver disease, or take interacting medicines, work with a qualified clinician before starting any detox.