Francis Holistic Medical Center

Dr. LaCava is Board Certified in Environmental Medicine.  This is a specialty which seeks to find and treat the causes of disease.  It is based on the theory that the majority of diseases come about by the environmental exposure to adverse agents in susceptible persons.  These agents can often be toxic metals, drugs, solvents, pesticides, construction or cleaning materials, fumes and vapors, or natural agents such as molds, bacteria, parasites, foods, inhalants, and contactants (agents which contact the skin).  Excessive exposure to any of these agents may result in hypersensitivities or disrupted function of the immune, endocrine, or neurological regulatory systems.  Specific organs or tissues may also result with disrupted function or definable damage.  The Environmental Physician searches to identify which of these agents may be setting off the disease and uses various blood, salivary, urine, and stool analyses to help with the search.  Confirmation of any theory developed as the cause of the disease is often dependent upon results of a therapeutic trial.  The physician often sees the case where no other doctor can come to a firm conclusion as to the cause or is willing to theorize as to a possibly effective treatment.

• Electrical Sensitivities and the Electrical Environment

James O'Shea, MD having dinner with Dr. LaCava.

Our office has a traditional (as opposed to conventional) approach to Environmental Illness.  We believe that multiple adverse factors (or agents) acting synergistically in the same patient operate to produce chronic unwellness or disease states.  To discover these factors, we use a variety of tests, some of them concurrently, since no test can be 100% accurate. 

To learn more about laboratory testing that we offer, please see Laboratory Testing

These appointments are scheduled for an hour in duration, but please plan to be here for approximately up to two hours.  The initial visit requires questionnaires, checklists, and summaries that need to be completed by the patient (or parental guardian, if the patient is a minor).  These forms can be sent to you by mail, or you can download them here.