Women’s History Spotlight: Dr. Doris J. Rapp

March 1^st marks the beginning of Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the contributions, achievements, and resilience of women throughout history. As a women-led business, Austin Air proudly joins the global community in honoring this special month. 

One way to celebrate Women’s History Month is to amplify women who have made a positive impact and we’d like to share the story of Dr. Doris J. Rapp, M.D., F.A.A.A., F.A.A.P. 

Dr. Rapp was affectionately known to her colleagues as the “mother of environmental medicine.” She authored dozens of medical articles and eleven books. We are also proud that Dr. Rapp was a major proponent of Austin Air cleaners due to the combination of HEPA and activated carbon used in our purifiers. 

Dr. Rapp’s Path into Natural Medicine

Dr. Doris J. Rapp was a board-certified pediatric allergist, specialist in environmental medicine, and homeopath. While testing to become a pediatric allergist, she received the highest grade on the examination and was appointed a board examiner. She went on to become a Clinical Assistant Professor (Emeritus) of Pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Dr. Rapp’s practice focused on traditional allergy medicine for almost two decades. In 1975 her approach drastically changed after she learned about environmental medicine and after some training, she began to include “green” medicine in her practice. This became a major breakthrough and she helped countless children and adults with chronic headaches, fatigue, asthma, muscle aches, as well as mental health issues like behavioral problems, anxiety, and depression.

After bestowing her patients with a quality of life that they hadn’t previously enjoyed, they would often praise her as a saint. One former child patient declared that, “[Dr. Rapp] made it easier on [my mother] when she was raising me,” because of her ability to positively identify chemical causes of behavioral problems. In time, she went on to serve as president of the American Academy of Environmental Medicine.

Advocate and Author

In addition to being an extraordinary medical practitioner who made drastic improvements to her patients’ well-being, Dr. Doris J. Rapp was a passionate whistle-blower on the dramatic physical and behavioral changes that synthetic chemicals can have on both children and adults.

She was unmatched in her ability to find answers for overcoming learning, behavioral, activity and medical symptoms with “fast, easy and inexpensive methods such as diet, avoidance, air and water purifiers, exercise, nutrients, natural detoxification and simple, healthy lifestyle changes.”

She made countless media appearances on national programs like Oprah, Nightline, Larry King, Montel Williams, Sally Jesse Raphel, and Phil Donahue.

Dr. Rapp also regularly spoke at conferences, businesses, and continuing education programs. She was charismatic, funny, and compassionate –  infusing her talks with real life histories. 

Perhaps her most outstanding contribution to the field of environmental medicine was her many academic articles and books, including multiple New York Times bestsellers. Many of these publications are still recommended by the American Academy for Environmental Medicine and continue to help countless families including, Is This Your Child? (1992) and Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call (2003).

Is This Your Child?

In her groundbreaking book, Is This your Child?, Dr. Doris Rapp presented a straightforward yet impactful strategy for addressing challenging behaviors in children. The book provides parents with the tools to pinpoint common triggers such as foods, chemicals, or allergens that may be contributing to their child’s discomfort or behavioral issues. Instead of immediately turning to medication or blaming oneself, Dr. Rapp emphasizes the importance of uncovering the root cause(s).

According to Dr. Rapp, major symptoms of potentially unrecognized allergies in children include:

• Allergic Nose Rub
• Mottled Tongue  
• Eye wrinkles 
• Red Ears 
• Red cheeks 
• Lack of alertness
• Aggression 
• Eye circles¹ 

Dr. Rapp’s practical advice illustrates how to identify, prevent, and address reactions to dietary and environmental factors. Armed with this knowledge, many children experiencing difficulties see improvements in their well-being, behavior, and learning abilities. Parents of these children often became Dr. Rapp’s biggest cheerleaders, passing around, Is This Your Child?, to friends and family.

Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call

Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call was written to raise your awareness of the potentially devastating and harmful impacts of the myriad chemicals we encounter daily. Expanding on the guidance in, Is This Your Child?, it provides guidance in identifying instances and locations of exposure, as well as exploring the diverse ways these chemicals can influence you and your loved ones.

Martha Stark M.D., a faculty of the Harvard Medical School, likened Dr. Rapp to the groundbreaking environmentalist Rachel Carson, calling Our Toxic World “much more than a sequel to Carson’s sobering and provocative exposé” Silent Spring.

Dr. Stark went on to state: “Although Our Toxic World is gut-wrenching and heart-breaking, it is also a gripping page-turner from beginning to end… [it is] an indispensable reference guide that belongs in the libraries of all health-conscious laypersons and all healthcare professionals (both those who are traditional and those who are more unorthodox).”

Is This Your Child? and Our Toxic World: A Wake Up Call are just two of Dr. Rapp’s leading publications. 

Although Dr. Rapp is no longer with us, her work lives on and continues to have an important impact for patients and practitioners alike. She was a true pioneer in the field of environmental medicine and a powerful advocate for change.

Don’t Forget International Women’s Day on March 8th

Women’s History Month has its origins in International Women’s Day, which was first celebrated on March 8th starting in 1911.  It’s a day to wear purple and focus especially hard on efforts to promote gender equality.

The campaign theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is #InspireInclusion because “when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.”  You can find resources, information about events, and initiatives to participate in through the official International Women’s Day website.

Happy Women’s History Month

Austin Air is proud to be a women-led organization. We are additionally proud to have been a friend to the wise and wonderful doctor, educator, author, and advocate: Dr. Doris J. Rapp. We encourage you to find the best way to celebrate Women’s History Month for you. Together we can honor the achievements of women past and present, while also working towards a more equitable and inclusive future for all.

And on March 8th, Happy International Women’s Day!

REFERENCE

¹ Rapp, D. (1991). Is This Your Child?: Discovering and Treating Unrecognized Allergies in Children and Adults. Harper.