Like the above posts have said, chelation therapy is used to remove heavy metal contaminants from the body. Heavy metals inside the human body normally are present in ionic form. In this form, they can react with other molecules in the body (bad) or react with each other and form small solid deposits/precipitates (also bad).

Chelating agents are chemicals that have multiple negatively-charged 'arms' that can interact with the multiple positive charges of heavy metal ions. The interaction is called chelation and it keeps the heavy metals from reacting with other molecules and/or precipitating out as solid deposits. They are eventually excreted out by the body.

The downside of chelation therapy is it is indiscriminate between poisonous heavy metals and essential ions in the body. Magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) ions will be chelated. Extracellular calcium is important for muscle contraction as well as nerve signal conduction. Magnesium is required by pretty much every cell in the body to maintain the required charge across cell membranes.

Obviously, while undergoing chelation therapy, you heavily supplement with magnesium, calcium and other elements.
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