American Academy of Environmental Medicine

Did You Know?

• The AAEM opposes the use of mercury-containing compounds in any product for human consumption, including vaccines.
• The AAEM has called for a moratorium on food from genetically modified crops.
• The academy publishes a directory of members listing the procedures they employ in their practices.

History

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine began in 1965 as the Society for Clinical Ecology, which was shaped by Theron Randolph's theories. Its members, often trained in allergy, follow Randolph's unconventional ideas about allergic reactions from the 1960s. The group argued that tiny amounts of certain chemicals can harm vulnerable individuals, leading to conditions like multiple chemical sensitivity. The organization adopted its current name in 1984.

Objectives

The academy aims to demonstrate that environmental medicine concepts apply to all fields of patient care. It seeks recognition of optimal dose immunotherapy and the rotary diversified diet as safe and effective. It promotes education and research in environmental medicine, aiming to expand understanding of human-environment interactions to improve total health, and works toward recognition, treatment, and prevention of illnesses from biological and chemical agents in air, food, and water.

Legitimacy

Proponents of clinical ecology may claim cause-and-effect relationships or low-dose effects not generally accepted by toxicologists, allergists, or immunologists. Randolph's theories about allergies form the basis for mainstream medical, legal, and scientific skepticism toward clinical ecology. Quackwatch lists the AAEM as a questionable organization and its certifying board as dubious; the board is not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Quackwatch listed 29 AAEM doctors subject to regulatory actions in an article last updated in 2016.