David Emerson Root

Root received his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Bowman Gray Campus, Winston-Salem, NC, in 1962. He served 20 years in the United States Air Force before retiring in 1980 with the rank of ColonelVeterans History Project [http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.44635 Col. David E. Root, M.D., M.P.H. (Ret.)] "The Library of Congress American Folklife Center", 13 April 2007, Retrieved 2016-01-13 as Chief Flight Surgeon and Senior Pilot.

In 1982 Root began implementing the Niacin Sauna detoxification method, based loosely on a protocol created L. Ron Hubbard, from his Sacramento, California, practice in a joint venture with the HealthMed Clinic, run by two environmental medicine doctors and an organization named "Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education" (FASE). Root is listed as the medical director of HealthMed and the Senior Medical Advisor of FASE.{{cite web |url=http://www.fasenet.org/associates.html |title=Advisors and Associates |website=Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education |access-date=2016-01-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171001032420/http://www.fasenet.org/associates.html |archive-date=October 1, 2017}}

He was the Senior Medical Advisor to the "International Academy of Detoxification Specialists", a subsidiary of New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project.{{cite web | last =Sappell | first =Joel |author2=Robert W. Welkos |work=Los Angeles Times | title=Church Seeks Influence in Schools, Business, Science | date =June 27, 1990|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-scientology062790-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026084227/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-scientology062790,0,2470065,full.story |url-status=live |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=2016-01-15}} The program was supported by NYC Council member, Margarita Lopez(also a patient), Senator Charles Schumer, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Congressman Vito Fossella and former Congressman and Vice Presidential Candidate, Jack Kemp. It received three rounds of public funding.

Scientists independent of Scientology describe the Hubbard Method as quackery,{{cite news |first = Michelle |last = O'Donnell |title = Scientologist's Treatments Lure Firefighters |url = https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/04/nyregion/04DETO.html?ex=1158638400&en=1a7005cc75461171&ei=5070 |work = The New York Times |date =October 4, 2003 |access-date = 2016-01-24}} unproven{{cite web | first = Edzard | last = Ernst | title = Scientology detox programmes: expensive and unproven | url = https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2012/aug/17/scientology-detox-programmes-expensive-unproven-dangerous | work= The Guardian US |date=August 17, 2012 |access-date=2016-01-29 }} and medically unsafe.{{cite news | title = Church's purification course unsafe - expert | url = http://www.irishtimes.com/news/church-s-purification-course-unsafe-expert-1.347899 | newspaper= The Irish Times |date=February 6, 2003 |access-date=2016-01-21 }} The Scientology operated Narconon drug rehabilitation centers, for which Root is a member of the Science Advisory Board,David E. Root, MD, MPH, DABPM [http://www.narconon.org/about-narconon/international-science-advisory-board.html Member Narconon Science Advisory Board] Narconon, Retrieved 2016-01-18 has garnered considerable controversy as a result of its origins in Scientology and its methods. After reviewing materials published by Narconon, University of Oklahoma biochemistry professor Bruce Roe described the program as "a scam" based on "half-truths and pseudo-science."{{cite news | first = Art | last = Carey| title = Clinic's results make 9/11 responders believe | work =The Philadelphia Inquirer| date = October 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071024144711/http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/daily/20071007_Clinics_results_make_9_11_responders_believe.html | archive-date=2007-10-24|url=http://www.philly.com/inquirer/health_science/daily/20071007_Clinics_results_make_9_11_responders_believe.html}}

In a 1987 California Workers' Compensation Appeals Board award, Root's testimony helped annul a 1986 denial of insurance on a claimed injury to the petitioner's skin, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs from cumulative exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the course of his employment. The petitioner recovered his detoxification costs,{{cite web | first = J | last = Channell | title = Kyles v. Workers' Comp. Appeals Bd. | url = http://www.ecases.us/case/calctapp/2125894/kyles-v-workerscomp-appeals-bd | work= Court of Appeals of California, First District, Division Four - Docket No. A037375 |date=October 19, 1987 |access-date=2016-01-24 }} and this ruling paved the way for other workers' compensation cases involving Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, a controversial diagnosis which is not generally accepted by medical science.{{cite news| first = John | last = Gibbons | title = Identifying and Controlling Immunotoxic Substances | url = https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc39990/m1/71/ | work= Congress of the United States - Office of Technology Assessment |date=April 1991 |access-date=2016-01-15 }}

Claimed positive subjective results from the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project convinced Utah State Attorney General Mark Shurtleff to fund the Utah Meth Cops Project with over $440,000 in taxpayer dollars to treat police who complain of health effects from exposure to meth lab toxins.{{cite web | first = Nate | last = Carlisle | author2 = Rosetta, Lisa | title = Meth cops swear they can sweat off toxins | url = http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_7401658 | work = Salt Lake Tribune | date = November 8, 2007 | access-date = 2016-01-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071228123929/http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_7401658 | archive-date = December 28, 2007 | url-status = dead }}

• {{cite journal |last1=David |first1=E. Root |last2=Gerald |first2=T. Lionelli |title=Excretion of a lipophilic toxicant through the sebaceous glands: a case report |journal=Journal of Toxicology: Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology |date=1 January 1987 |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=13–17 |doi=10.3109/15569528709052160 |issn=0731-3829}}
• {{cite journal | last1 =Root | first1 =D. | last2 =Anderson | first2 =Joan | date =April 1986 | title =Reducing Toxic Body Burdens Advancing an Innovative Technique | journal =Occupational Health and Safety | volume =11 | issue = 4}}

In an effort to validate their subjective detoxification results while providing relief to the American vets suffering from Gulf War Syndrome, FASE set out to secure funding for a comprehensive research study through the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP). Root's testimony in 1998 to the Presidential Special Oversight Board For Department of Defense Investigations of Gulf War Chemical & Biological Incidents,http://www.gulflink.osd.mil {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124140533/http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/ |date=January 24, 2010 }} [http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/oversight/frid.htm#p116 Presidential Special Oversight Board For Department Of Defense Investigations Of Gulf War Chemical And Biological Incidents] "GulfLINK", Retrieved 2015-11-20 and to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), led to an official recommendation by CDC that detoxification be studied as a treatment option for Gulf War veterans. The $633,677.00 grant, titled "Gulf War Illness: Evaluation of an Innovative Detoxification Program" was awarded in September, 2010.Award Number W81XWH-10-1-1004 [http://cdmrp.army.mil/search.aspx?LOG_NO=GW093066 Department Of Defense - Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Award] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231051127/http://cdmrp.army.mil/search.aspx?LOG_NO=GW093066 |date=December 31, 2015 }} "Gulf War Illness: Evaluation of an Innovative Detoxification Program", Retrieved 2016-01-13

In 2012, a peer-reviewed report of the findings from the Utah Meth Cops Project study was published on PubMed.Gov of the US National Library of Medicine for the National Institute of Health.{{cite journal |last1=Ross |first1=Gerald H. |last2=Sternquist |first2=Marie C. |title=Methamphetamine exposure and chronic illness in police officers: significant improvement with sauna-based detoxification therapy |journal=Toxicology and Industrial Health |date=September 2012 |volume=28 |issue=8 |pages=758–768 |doi=10.1177/0748233711425070 |pmid=22089658 |pmc=3573677 |issn=1477-0393}}

The report concludes, "This investigation strongly suggests that utilizing sauna and nutritional therapy may alleviate chronic symptoms appearing after chemical exposures associated with methamphetamine-related law enforcement activities. This report also has relevance to addressing the apparent ill effects of other complex chemical exposures. In view of the positive clinical outcomes in this group, broader investigation of this sauna-based treatment regimen appears warranted."

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Category:American Presbyterians

Category:United States Air Force Medical Corps officers

Category:Wake Forest University alumni

Category:People from Sacramento, California

Category:1936 births

Category:Living people

Category:Military personnel from California