Chelation Series, Part 6: DMSA, DMPS, ALA: Which Chelator Removes What?

This article is part of the Chelation Education Series. For an overview and full list of articles, visit the Chelation page.

https://www.vigeohealth.net/chelation

If you’ve ever googled chelators and felt like you landed in a biochemical food fight, relax — it’s not you. Detox advice online is a mess because everyone argues doses before they even understand which chelator does what.

So let’s fix that in one clean, no-drama breakdown.

ALA — The Only Chelator That Reaches the Brain

ALA is unique because it’s both fat- and water-soluble, which lets it cross the blood–brain barrier.This makes it the only chelator capable of reaching the brain and pulling mercury and arsenic out safely — when used on a strict schedule.

What it removes:

• Mercury (brain + body)

• Arsenic

What it does not remove:

• aluminum

• lead

• cadmium

• antimony

ALA’s superpower is also its danger (see Part 4).

DMSA — The Bloodstream Cleaner

DMSA is water-soluble and stays mostly in the bloodstream, which makes it ideal for clearing metals circulating in blood and soft tissue — without touching the brain.

What it removes:

• Lead (excellent)

• Mercury (blood only)

• Arsenic

What it does not remove:

• brain mercury

• aluminum

• nickel

• cadmium

Think of DMSA as the “first phase cleanup crew”: stabilizing, gentle, and a great starter chelator.

DMPS — The Heavy-Hitter

DMPS is like DMSA’s more aggressive sibling.Similar metal targets, faster action — but stronger reactions in sulfur-sensitive individuals.

What it removes:

• Mercury (body, strong affinity)

• Antimony

• Arsenic

What it does not remove:

• brain mercury (can’t cross BBB)

• aluminum

• lead (weak)

For people who tolerate sulfur well, DMPS offers powerful body mercury removal.

Why None of Them Remove Aluminum

Aluminum is a completely different beast.Thiols (sulfur-based chelators like DMSA/DMPS/ALA) don’t bind aluminum well at all.

Aluminum responds to:

• silica water/diatomaceous earth

• malic acid

• lactoferrin

• orthosilicic acid

• fulvic/humic complexes

Different chemistry, different tools.

Why EDTA Is Overrated for Metal Detox

EDTA has great marketing, but…it’s a weak binder for mercury and arsenic, a mediocre binder for lead, and terrible for aluminum.

It’s useful for:

• calcium-based plaque

• cardiovascular protocols

It is not a mercury chelator and should not be treated like one.

🧬 So Which Chelator Should You Use — and When?

Here’s the simple roadmap:

✔ If you still have amalgams: Nothing except possibly OSR. See Part 10.

✔ If you need to start gently:DMSA is the safest first step.

✔ If symptoms suggest brain involvement:ALA is required — but only after amalgams are removed and only on a strict schedule.

✔ If you tolerate sulfur well and need deeper body cleanup:DMPS is an option.

✔ Combinations which minimize side effects and maximize chelation:ALA can be used together with either DMSA or DMPS.

Want to Learn More?

Two books that actually explain ALA correctly: 

Mercury Poisoning — Hammond

The Mercury Detoxification Manual — Cutler & Lee