What is the difference between Ecologically Sustainable Medicine and Environmental Medicine?
Environmental Medicine is the body of medicine which deals with chronic diseases caused by or aggravated by environmental allergens and toxins. According to the Academy of Environmental Medicine, this field provides a comprehensive, proactive and preventive strategic approach to medical care dedicated to the evaluation, management, and prevention of the adverse consequences resulting from Environmentally Triggered Illnesses. In this sense, Environmental Medicine focuses solely on how the environment effects the health of humans. Ecologically Sustainable Medicine focuses on the complete relationship between human health and the health of the environment. By committing to the use and practice of Ecologically Sustainable Medicine, there is a shift in focus to not only how the environment is affecting human health, but how human action is effecting the environment. ESM relies on health care practices and techniques that are safe, effective, and cause no harm to the patient or the ecosystem
