Integrative Medicine in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia
Integrative medicine combines conventional medical care with complementary therapies in one coordinated plan built around the whole person. If you are comparing options in Washington DC, Maryland, or Northern Virginia, this guide explains what an integrative medicine doctor does, which conditions it is used for, and how to judge whether a practice is trustworthy.
Next Health is a longevity and functional medicine clinic led by Dr. Habib, a medical doctor trained in England. The clinic sees patients in Ashburn, VA and Bethesda, MD.
Key Takeaways
- Integrative medicine pairs conventional treatment with complementary approaches, and your providers coordinate the two.
- It is not alternative medicine. Alternative care replaces conventional treatment, while integrative care works alongside it.
- It is most often used for long-lasting or complex concerns such as chronic pain, fatigue, sleep problems, and digestive issues.
- Evidence varies from one therapy to the next, so ask what the research shows for your condition.
- It does not replace your primary care doctor or emergency care.
- Tell every provider about every therapy and supplement you use.
What Is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine is an approach to care that brings conventional treatments, such as medication, physical rehabilitation, and psychotherapy, together with complementary approaches, such as acupuncture, yoga, and nutrition, in a coordinated way. The National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) describes it as care for the whole person rather than a single organ system.
Mayo Clinic explains that integrative medicine includes practices not traditionally part of conventional medicine, such as herbs and supplements, meditation, wellness coaching, acupuncture, massage, movement, and nutrition. You may also see it called integrated medicine. The meaning is the same.
The whole person view matters because health is shaped by more than a diagnosis. Diet, sleep, activity, stress, and environment all play a part. Dr. Habib makes the same point with his patients, and he is clear that integrative medicine is not alternative medicine.
Is Integrative Medicine the Same as Alternative or Complementary Medicine?
No. The three terms describe different things. NCCIH explains that a non-mainstream approach used together with conventional medicine is complementary, and one used in place of conventional medicine is alternative. Integrative care goes a step further by coordinating both under one plan.
In a 2012 national survey cited by NCCIH, more than 30 percent of American adults used health approaches outside conventional care, and most of them also used conventional care. Most people who try these approaches are adding to their medical care, not walking away from it.
How Does Integrative Medicine Work?
An integrative visit usually runs longer than a standard appointment, because the plan depends on understanding you as a person. The process generally looks like this:
- Your doctor reviews your health history, symptoms, lifestyle, and goals.
- Testing is ordered when it can explain what is happening in your body.
- You receive a plan that combines conventional and complementary options matched to your needs.
- Your care is reviewed over time and shared with your other providers.
At Next Health, Dr. Habib uses detailed medical testing to look for the cause behind a condition, then builds a custom program around the results. Testing and treatment choices are made for each patient individually.
What Is the Difference Between Integrative Medicine and Functional Medicine?
The two overlap heavily, and many clinics practice integrative and functional medicine together. Integrative medicine looks at the whole person and draws on many types of therapy. Functional medicine centers on finding and treating the underlying cause of a condition, often with detailed lab testing.
NCCIH notes that the term functional medicine is sometimes used for a concept similar to integrative health. It can also refer to an approach closer to naturopathy, so it helps to ask any practice exactly what it means by the term. Dr. Habib’s approach draws on both. Next Health also connects this work to longevity medicine, which focuses on staying well for as long as possible.
What Conditions Can an Integrative Medicine Doctor Help With?
Integrative care is mainly used to prevent and manage chronic or complex conditions. Healthy people use it too, usually to stay well. Concerns commonly addressed include:
- Chronic pain, headaches, and migraines
- Autoimmune conditions
- Fatigue
- Digestive problems
- Menopausal symptoms
- High blood pressure
- Weight management
- Stress, anxiety, and low mood
Patients come to Next Health with concerns such as hormone imbalance, sleep problems, fatigue, and heart disease prevention. Integrative physicians generally do not manage acute emergencies. Sudden chest pain, stroke symptoms, or severe injury need immediate conventional care.
What Treatments Does Integrative Medicine Include?
It depends on the practice and on you. NCCIH groups complementary approaches by how they are delivered: nutritional approaches such as special diets, supplements, and probiotics, psychological approaches such as mindfulness, and physical approaches such as massage. Some blend two, like yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture.
The research is stronger for some than others. NCCIH reports that acupuncture may ease low back pain, neck pain, and knee osteoarthritis pain, and that meditation may help lower blood pressure and ease anxiety and depression symptoms.
Services offered at Next Health include nutritional counseling, hormone treatment, IV vitamin therapy, chelation therapy, platelet rich plasma therapy, regenerative therapies, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, brain optimization, and far infrared sauna at the Ashburn location. Therapies are chosen after lab testing and Dr. Habib’s recommendation, so not every patient receives every service.
Is Integrative Medicine Safe, and Does It Work?
Safety and results depend on the specific therapy, not on the label. NCCIH points out that large, rigorous studies of a few dietary supplements often found they did not work for the conditions studied. It also says more needs to be learned about safety and interactions with prescription medicines.
That is why coordination matters. Mayo Clinic is a member of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health, a group of academic health centers working in this field. NCCIH also offers guidance for people considering a complementary health approach. Before starting anything, ask these questions:
- What does the research show for this therapy and my condition?
- Could it interact with my medications?
- How will you share information with my primary care doctor?
- When will we review whether it is working?
What Is an Integrative Medicine Doctor, and How Do You Choose One?
An integrative medicine doctor is a physician who combines conventional diagnosis and treatment with complementary approaches. The care team may also include nutritionists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners. When you compare practices, look for a licensed physician, clear explanations of the evidence, testing that is explained to you, and no promises of a cure.
Dr. Habib studied medicine in England, where he was introduced to complementary treatment methods during his medical education. He has treated many types of patients and conditions over many years.
Where Can You Find Integrative Medicine Near You in DC, Maryland, and Virginia?
Next Health has two locations serving the Washington DC area:
- Ashburn, VA: 44121 Leesburg Pike, Suite 115, Ashburn, VA 20147
- Bethesda, MD: 5101 River Road, Suite 106, Bethesda, MD 20816
Both clinics welcome patients from across the DMV, including Washington DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland. If you want to talk through whether this approach fits your health goals, you can schedule a free discovery call.
Integrative Medicine FAQs
Can integrative medicine replace my primary care doctor?
No. Integrative care works alongside your primary care doctor and specialists, and your providers should communicate with each other. It is not a substitute for regular medical care.
Is integrative medicine the same as holistic medicine?
Not exactly. Holistic medicine is a broad term for care that looks at the whole person. Integrative medicine shares that view but specifically combines it with conventional treatment.
Can I use integrative therapies while taking prescription medication?
Often yes, but tell your prescriber first. Some supplements and herbal products can interact with medicines, so every provider on your team needs the full list.
Who should consider integrative medicine?
People with long lasting or complex health concerns often find it helpful, and healthy people use it for prevention. If you are unsure, a consultation is a good way to learn what is appropriate for you.
