American Academy of Environmental Medicine
Encyclopedia
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM), founded in 1965 as the Society for Clinical Ecology
, is an international association of physicians and associated professionals interested in the clinical aspects of ecological or environmental illnesses. The Academy aims for recognition of ecologic illness as a medical diagnosis.
Composed primarily of traditionally-trained M.D. and D.O. physicians from many specialities, the principal goals of the AAEM are physician education and the expansion of medical knowledge about often-overlooked effects on human health of environmental exposures encountered in everyday life.
. Clinical Ecologists claimed that exposure to low levels of certain chemical agents harm susceptible people, causing multiple chemical sensitivity
and other disorders.
Members of the Academy may have a background in the field of allergy
, and their theoretical approach is derived in part from classic concepts of allergic responses, first articulated by Randolph. Thus, they may find cause-and-effect relationships or low-dose effects that are not generally accepted by toxicologists.
In 1984 the Society changed its name to the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.
The Academy claims that its founders and members are "recognized as the first to describe" or to acknowledge:
Clinical ecology is an offshoot of Environmental medicine
and a sub-specialty within the Biological anthropology
field.
The Academy aims at expanding the understanding of interactions between human individuals and their environment, with the ultimate objective of improving the individual's total health. The AAEM works towards the greater recognition, treatment and prevention of illnesses induced by exposures to various biological and chemical agents encountered in our environment, such as in air, food and water.
The Academy publishes a directory of members, which includes the procedures they employ in their practices. Proceedings of seminars, including some tape recordings, also have been published. The Academy publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Environmental Physician.
Established in 1968 to honor one of the great pioneers in the field of Environmental Medicine.
It is given in recognition of exemplary efforts in furthering the principles of Environmental Medicine.
The award for excellence in teaching the techniques of Environmental Medicine.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=2564
Clinical ecology
Clinical ecology was the name given by proponents in the 1960s to a claim that exposure to low levels of certain chemical agents harm susceptible people, causing multiple chemical sensitivity and other disorders. Clinical ecologists are people that support and promote this offshoot of conventional...
, is an international association of physicians and associated professionals interested in the clinical aspects of ecological or environmental illnesses. The Academy aims for recognition of ecologic illness as a medical diagnosis.
Composed primarily of traditionally-trained M.D. and D.O. physicians from many specialities, the principal goals of the AAEM are physician education and the expansion of medical knowledge about often-overlooked effects on human health of environmental exposures encountered in everyday life.
History
The Society for Clinical Ecology was founded in 1965, and inspired by the ideas of Theron RandolphTheron Randolph
Theron Randolph was a physician, allergist, and researcher from the United States. He studied food allergies, chemical allergies, and preventive care...
. Clinical Ecologists claimed that exposure to low levels of certain chemical agents harm susceptible people, causing multiple chemical sensitivity
Multiple chemical sensitivity
Multiple chemical sensitivity is a chronic medical condition characterized by symptoms the affected person attributes to exposure to low levels of chemicals. Commonly suspected substances include smoke, pesticides, plastics, synthetic fabrics, scented products, petroleum products and paints...
and other disorders.
Members of the Academy may have a background in the field of allergy
Allergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
, and their theoretical approach is derived in part from classic concepts of allergic responses, first articulated by Randolph. Thus, they may find cause-and-effect relationships or low-dose effects that are not generally accepted by toxicologists.
In 1984 the Society changed its name to the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.
The Academy claims that its founders and members are "recognized as the first to describe" or to acknowledge:
- Serial Dilution Endpoint TitrationTitrationTitration, also known as titrimetry, is a common laboratory method of quantitative chemical analysis that is used to determine the unknown concentration of an identified analyte. Because volume measurements play a key role in titration, it is also known as volumetric analysis. A reagent, called the...
- Sublingual immunotherapySublingual immunotherapySublingual Immunotherapy is method of allergy treatment that uses an allergen solution given under the tongue, which over the course of treatment, reduces sensitivity to allergens. Sublingual immunotherapy, or SLIT, has a very good safety profile and is given at home in adults and children.As more...
- Optimal Dose ImmunotherapyImmunotherapyImmunotherapy is a medical term defined as the "treatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response". Immunotherapies designed to elicit or amplify an immune response are classified as activation immunotherapies. While immunotherapies that reduce or suppress are...
- Food allergyFood allergyA food allergy is an adverse immune response to a food protein. They are distinct from other adverse responses to food, such as food intolerance, pharmacological reactions, and toxin-mediated reactions....
/Addiction - Provocation/NeutralizationSkin allergy testSkin allergy testing is a method for medical diagnosis of allergies that attempts to provoke a small, controlled, allergic response. -Process:A microscopic amount of an allergen is introduced to a patient's skin by various means:...
- Avoidance/Reintroduction Challenge Testing
- Rotary Diversified Diet
- Chemical Sensitivity (MCS)Multiple chemical sensitivityMultiple chemical sensitivity is a chronic medical condition characterized by symptoms the affected person attributes to exposure to low levels of chemicals. Commonly suspected substances include smoke, pesticides, plastics, synthetic fabrics, scented products, petroleum products and paints...
- Total LoadToxicityToxicity is the degree to which a substance can damage a living or non-living organisms. Toxicity can refer to the effect on a whole organism, such as an animal, bacterium, or plant, as well as the effect on a substructure of the organism, such as a cell or an organ , such as the liver...
Phenomenon - Environmental Control in the Home, Workplace, and HospitalOccupational hygieneOccupational hygiene is generally defined as the art and science dedicated to the anticipation, recognition, evaluation, communication and control of environmental stressors in, or arising from, the workplace that may result in injury, illness, impairment, or affect the well being of workers and...
- Chemically Less-Contaminated FoodsFood contaminantsFood contamination refers to the presence in food of harmful chemicals and microorganisms which can cause consumer illness. This article addresses the chemical contamination of foods, as opposed to microbiological contamination, which can be found under Foodborne...
- SaunaSaunaA sauna is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary facilities....
Depuration - Hepatic DetoxicationDetoxicationDetoxication products are the major metabolites formed from most drug metabolism.There are two common patterns observed:#A drug with potent pharmacological activity is converted to a major metabolite with markedly reduced or no pharmacological activity #A drug is converted to a metabolite with...
Enhancement - Gulf War SyndromeGulf War syndromeGulf War syndrome or Gulf War illness describes a medical condition that affected veterans and civilians who were near conflicts during or downwind of chemical weapons depot demolition, after the 1991 Gulf War. A wide range of acute and chronic symptoms have included fatigue, musculoskeletal...
- Endocrine Mimicry Disorders
- The Role of Mold in the Development of Systemic Illness
- Yeast SyndromeCandidiasisThrush redirects here. For the hoof infection see Thrush .Candidiasis or thrush is a fungal infection of any of the Candida species , of which Candida albicans is the most common...
- Chronic fatigue syndromeChronic fatigue syndromeChronic fatigue syndrome is the most common name used to designate a significantly debilitating medical disorder or group of disorders generally defined by persistent fatigue accompanied by other specific symptoms for a minimum of six months, not due to ongoing exertion, not substantially...
(CFID)/Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS)
Clinical ecology is an offshoot of Environmental medicine
Environmental medicine
Environmental medicine is a multidisciplinary field involving medicine, environmental science, chemistry and others. It may be viewed as the medical branch of the broader field of environmental health. The scope of this field involves studying the interactions between environment and human health,...
and a sub-specialty within the Biological anthropology
Biological anthropology
Biological anthropology is that branch of anthropology that studies the physical development of the human species. It plays an important part in paleoanthropology and in forensic anthropology...
field.
Objectives of the Academy
Some of the objectives of the Academy are:- To demonstrate that the concepts and techniques of environmental medicine are applicable to all fields of medical practice in which the physician is directly involved in patient care,
- To have the concept of optimal dose immunotherapy and the rotary diversified diet recognized as safe and effective, and
- To promote education and research in environmental medicine.
The Academy aims at expanding the understanding of interactions between human individuals and their environment, with the ultimate objective of improving the individual's total health. The AAEM works towards the greater recognition, treatment and prevention of illnesses induced by exposures to various biological and chemical agents encountered in our environment, such as in air, food and water.
Activities of the Academy
The Academy holds meetings and seminars and provides information on diagnosis and treatment of ecologic illnesses.The Academy publishes a directory of members, which includes the procedures they employ in their practices. Proceedings of seminars, including some tape recordings, also have been published. The Academy publishes a quarterly newsletter, The Environmental Physician.
Awards
The Academy has established the following awards for outstanding performance in the field of Environmental Medicine.- Jonathan Forman Award
Established in 1968 to honor one of the great pioneers in the field of Environmental Medicine.
- Carleton Lee Award
It is given in recognition of exemplary efforts in furthering the principles of Environmental Medicine.
- Herbert J. Rinkel Award
The award for excellence in teaching the techniques of Environmental Medicine.
See also
- Clinical ecologyClinical ecologyClinical ecology was the name given by proponents in the 1960s to a claim that exposure to low levels of certain chemical agents harm susceptible people, causing multiple chemical sensitivity and other disorders. Clinical ecologists are people that support and promote this offshoot of conventional...
- Theron RandolphTheron RandolphTheron Randolph was a physician, allergist, and researcher from the United States. He studied food allergies, chemical allergies, and preventive care...
- American College for Advancement in MedicineAmerican College for Advancement in MedicineThe American College for Advancement in Medicine is a membership-based association of alternative medicine physicians based in Irvine, California. ACAM is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians...
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=2564
External Links
- American Academy of Environmental Medicine
- Community Resource Center American Academy of Environmental Medicine
- AAEM Annual Meeting