Who Are the Doctors Practicing Environmental Medicine?

The physicians who practice environmental and preventive medicine are state-licensed physicians who practice state of the art, innovative medicine in addition to traditional contemporary medicine. These individuals have “holistic” philosophies, are biochemically-oriented and nutritionally-minded, and are practicing advanced forms of medicine. They have backgrounds in internal medicine, pediatrics, allergy, gynecology, psychiatry, surgery, and other areas as well. They have continued their personal education after medical school and expanded their knowledge into these modern areas of medical practice (applied toxicology and immunology, nutritional biochemistry, free radical medicine, and molecular biology). They are not the type to accept the cliche “It’s your nerves.” They will find the answer to the health problem presented to them.

What Kind Of Persons Are They?

They are very scientifically curious physicians who know there is a reason for a person’s health complaint. They respect and protect the individuality of people. They view the individual as an entire human and not as a particular example of disease. They know all aspects of a person’s life may affect his/her health or lack of it. They know people don’t want to be ill and therefore, are telling the truth. They listen to the patient. They are intellectually honest and are not afraid to admit, “I don’t know.” They may not have an instant answer, but they will find out.

They are thorough in their evaluation of the patient. They employ traditional and non-traditional tools in their diagnostic studies. They will act like “Sherlock Holmes” in their attempt to unravel the mystery. They are not fearful of being innovative–to seek new answers for old unresolved medical complaints.

They accept and expect the patient to be a participating partner in achieving “wellness.” They help the patient realize health is largely the individual’s own responsibility and the results of a chosen lifestyle. They realize lifestyle choices are sometimes difficult; they may be counter to long-standing choices, and individuals may need help and support in making changes. They help the patient understand how the environment affects the development of illness.

What Do They Try To Do?

They attempt to forestall illness. They help the body to help itself. By doing this, they enhance and strengthen its own defenses. This can involve traditional and advanced types of medical care, both in the investigative and therapeutic components of the encounter.

What Are The Tools?

A probing history (nutritional, work, allergy, habits, family, recreational) and probing physical examination. They often employ non-invasive techniques to measure body function. These may include lung functions, EKGs, echocardiograms, cardiac stress testing, blood flow Doppler studies, chemical analysis of organ function and nutritional status. They will also study toxic and immunologic characteristics. After the data are collected, the preventive and environmental doctors analyze the results, discuss them and set down a “life extension” plan with the patient. The plan should heal the body as it relates to ill health that is environmentally-related. It will employ advanced aggressive preventive techniques.

What Type Of Patient Wants These Doctors?

Any illness can be evaluated here, but often patients come here who have a chronic illness, and who haven’t responded to conventional therapy. They come with fatigue, lethargy, headaches, depression, anxiety, arthritis, abdominal complaints, poor memory, impaired concentration, sexual difficulties, recurrent infections, ringing in the ears, PMS, anorexia, bulimia, schizophrenia, mercury toxicity, eczema, allergies, ALS, MS, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, hyperactivity, and many others. Children come with ADHD/ADD, autism, headaches, chronic infections, enuresis, asthma, eczema, colitis, and others.

Differences Between Traditional And Environmental Medicine

Traditional Environmental
Sees all bodies the same, Sees no two people alike; sees biochemical individuality.
Practices medicine in “countdown” fashion. Medicine is practiced in a way that allows for individual differences in evaluation and treatment.
Doesn’t believe in vitamins and nutrients as therapy or for preventive measures. Believes nutrients are needed in much larger amounts than RDA for optimum health
Doesn’t believe diet has a large part to play in health. Believes that you are what you eat.
Thinks it is not a problem to have a multitude of heavy metals & toxic chemicals in our bodies in small amounts. Believes chemicals & heavy metals can be damaging even in small amounts over long periods.
Doesn’t believe electro-magnetic radiation effects health in a negative way. Believes that it probably does.
Defines health is the absence of diagnosable disease. Defines health as looking, feeling and performing at optimum levels.
Feels “cravings” for foods, etc. are meaningless. Feels cravings are either biochemical imbalances or food addictions.
Control of health lies with the physician. Control of health lies with the individual–the physician is a consultant.
All people with the same disease should have same treatment. No two people are alike–treatment is individualized.
Fatigue of a chronic nature to most is stress-related. Fatigue has a biochemical cause (an early warning sign).
Aging is unchangeable. Life span is under genetic control and total accumulation of free radical* destruction.
Chronic degenerative disease is expected and accepted–treat symptoms of these. These diseases have a genetic and environmental etiology and can be stopped or slowed.

* Free radical: In molecular medicine terms, this is a molecule with an unpaired electron that can damage other molecules and lead to cellular damage and disease.

These and many other differences are important if you want to be treated as a “whole” individual unit who should function in an optimum state of wellness–not just lacking disease.

Conclusion

If you believe in the merits of clean food, safe water, unpolluted air, vitamins, minerals, and other nutritional supplements as a means to improve and safeguard your health, then visiting a physician like the one described will be very helpful.

If you have chronic or recurring symptoms that won’t go away with the usual medical treatments, consider a consultation with an environmental medicine physician.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top