British Society for Ecological Medicine
Encyclopedia
The British Society for Ecological Medicine (BSEM) is the major professional group dealing with ecological medicine in the United Kingdom. Its origins began with the British Society for Allergy and Environmental Medicine (BSAEM), which was founded in 1983 as a doctors group for discussion of the role of allergy
and environment
in chronic illness. The following year, the British Society for Nutritional Medicine (BSNM) started with the aim of promoting applications of nutrition
in clinical medicine.
Ecological medicine takes a similar approach to orthomolecular medicine
for the prevention and treatment of disease. While orthomolecular medicine focuses more specifically on nutrition, ecological medicine covers a broader range of clinical factors.
In 1993, the BSAEM and the BSNM merged to form the British Society for Allergy, Environmental and Nutritional Medicine (BSAENM). This merger reflected the similar philosophy of the two medical societies. In 2005, the society changed its name to the British Society for Ecological Medicine to accommodate the wider objective of including all the environmental factors that affect the practice of modern medicine.
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 environment
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
in chronic illness. The following year, the British Society for Nutritional Medicine (BSNM) started with the aim of promoting applications of nutrition
Nutrition
Nutrition is the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary to support life. Many common health problems can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy diet....
in clinical medicine.
Ecological medicine takes a similar approach to orthomolecular medicine
Orthomolecular medicine
Orthomolecular medicine is a form of complementary and alternative medicine that seeks to maintain health and prevent or treat diseases by optimizing nutritional intake and/or prescribing supplements...
for the prevention and treatment of disease. While orthomolecular medicine focuses more specifically on nutrition, ecological medicine covers a broader range of clinical factors.
In 1993, the BSAEM and the BSNM merged to form the British Society for Allergy, Environmental and Nutritional Medicine (BSAENM). This merger reflected the similar philosophy of the two medical societies. In 2005, the society changed its name to the British Society for Ecological Medicine to accommodate the wider objective of including all the environmental factors that affect the practice of modern medicine.