What to Know About Integrative Medicine Doctors

Since the standardization of medical training in the early 20th century, conventional (or so-called Western) medicine and “alternative” medicine have often been viewed as opposing practices. Despite a solid body of evidence showing that many nonconventional therapies, such as acupuncture and herbal medicine, can be effective in treating a variety of symptoms, these methods have been historically uninsured and unendorsed by mainstream physicians. 

This bias has made the world of complementary medicine feel like uncharted territory, especially to those for whom the treatments are not culturally traditional. But an approach to healthcare that marries the two practices, known as integrative medicine, is growing in popularity. This type of care offers a sweet spot for people who trust conventional medicine but also understand that treating the mind, body, and spirit as interconnected can improve their health. 

Integrative medicine focuses on the whole person, rejecting the modern-day siloed approach to health, where the main subject of an appointment is the organ or system a doctor specializes in — our thyroid, our heart, our bones, our brain. More and more people, especially those with chronic conditions who are frustrated that their symptoms don’t seem to be improving with conventional medicine, are turning to integrative doctors. At the same time, many medical centers like Mount Sinai, Northwell Health and the Mayo Clinic are embracing integrative care, particularly for pain, musculoskeletal issues, and cancer treatment-related symptoms.  

In a 2025 survey of leaders in healthcare organizations worldwide, 60% said that the use of integrative care within their organization is prevalent or very prevalent. And 80% said the health outcomes for patients receiving integrative care are better compared to the general population. Those perceptions are supported by a large-scale observational study from 2022, which found that people who use integrative practices like acupuncture, massage, biofeedback, and chiropractic care have significant improvements in a number of measures, including physical function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, and sleep.

From Disease Management to a Deeper Understanding

Integrative medicine is a whole-person approach to care. “Whole person care means I’m treating your biology, behavior, environment, stress load, and values — not just your lab results,” says Tokunbo Akandé M.D., a dual board-certified pediatrician and integrative medicine physician.

Of course, any good primary care physician is going to ask a patient about their lifestyle and living environment at their annual exam, and many now recommend relaxation therapies and other mind-body modalities if a person feels stressed. The difference is that integrative medicine doctors have completed a specialized fellowship focused on evidence-based holistic health and complementary therapies. Fellowships, recognized by the American Board of Physician Specialties, range from one to two years and often combine online learning with practical hands-on training. 

Integrative medicine doctors have medical degrees and follow all the protocols of conventional medicine: they order many of the same screening and diagnostic tests, and they prescribe medications and procedures when warranted. But they also dive deeper in an attempt to understand all the factors that might be driving an illness, whether it be underlying stress, diet, lifestyle, or environment. “[Integrative medicine] is like a three-legged stool. There’s an important role for pharmaceuticals, surgery, and self-care,” says Darshan Mehta, M.D., medical director at the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

An integrative doctor may recommend conventional treatments like medication, but they often don’t stop there. Their clinical toolbox often includes evidence-based complementary approaches, such as:

• Dietary changes (special diets, dietary supplements, herbs, probiotics)
• Mind-body techniques (meditation, hypnosis, music-based interventions, relaxation therapies, yoga, tai chi, dance therapies) 
• Body-based interventions (acupuncture, massage, chiropractic manipulation)

What an Integrative Medicine Appointment Is Like

Like a conventional physician, an integrative medicine doctor will take your medical history, do a clinical exam, and order diagnostic tests. But they’ll often ask deeper and broader questions, focusing on all areas of your life, not just your symptoms. 

“We spend time understanding the patient’s story — sleep, nutrition, stress, relationships, work demands — because those are often where the answers to the underlying problems live,” says Dr. Akandé. 

With that wider context in mind, doctors may recommend a mix of conventional and nonconventional treatments.

For instance, a person with anxiety might be prescribed medication, but the physician may also introduce mind-body tools designed to help calm their nervous system, either as a supplemental treatment or as an eventual replacement for medication. Or a patient with chronic pain might be given pain medication, but also hypnosis, which is designed to reduce their need for that medication, explains Manuela Kogon, M.D., an integrative medicine internist and clinical professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. 

Ritu Goel, M.D., an integrative psychiatrist in Long Beach, California, and a member of MedShadow’s Health and Medical Advisory Panel, says she conducts a thorough evaluation before prescribing her patients integrative treatments like vitamins and supplements. 

“That includes a detailed psychiatric and medical history, current symptom presentation, diet patterns, sleep, stress load, medications, family history, and any underlying medical conditions,” says Dr. Goel. “I also review relevant lab work when indicated. Common labs include Vitamin D, iron studies, folate, and Vitamin B12, as deficiencies in these can meaningfully affect mood, energy, cognition, and attention.”

Dr. Goel says that while the condition she is treating matters, so does the individual’s physiology and risk profile; she makes sure to assess potential interactions with medications, comorbidities, inflammatory or metabolic factors, and overall treatment goals. 

A key part of integrative medicine is the doctor-patient partnership. “Typically, the provider will work with the patient to come up with a plan with one or two specific recommendations based on patient preferences, beliefs, expectations, what’s available locally, cost, and other factors,” says Gloria Yeh, M.D., director of clinical research at the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

A visit generally lasts 60 to 90 minutes.

It’s important to note that integrative medicine physicians vary widely in their treatment philosophies; some may prioritize non-pharmaceutical approaches first, while others combine medication with non-pharmacological treatments from the outset. “My personal philosophy is to use the most natural and least invasive options available and also make sure to discuss conventional options and necessities,” says Dr. Kogon.  

Why Many Integrative Doctors Don’t Take Insurance

Some integrative doctors take insurance, while others do not, in part because insurers typically reimburse only for brief appointments, usually lasting 10 to 15 minutes. “Integrative medicine often involves longer visits, counseling, and lifestyle-focused work that isn’t well reimbursed under current insurance models,” says Dr. Akandé. 

If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, you may be able to submit a claim that covers part of the visit cost.

Sometimes, the biggest expense with an integrative physician is not the consultation, but the treatments that are prescribed. Some complementary therapies may be covered by insurance for certain conditions, such as acupuncture for back pain, while others, like herbal medicine or massage, are unlikely to be deemed medically necessary by your insurance..

“I encourage patients to ask upfront about costs, insurance participation, and what’s essential versus optional,” says Dr. Akandé. 

To help clarify potential costs, here are a few questions to ask before booking an integrative medicine appointment:

• Do you accept my insurance?
• Are the treatments you recommend typically covered by insurance? If you get a vague answer like, it depends on your insurance plan, ask for a short list of typical treatments and then call your insurance provider to see if they are covered and to what extent.
• If treatments aren’t covered, what can I expect in terms of cost? What is the cost of an initial visit, follow-up visits?
• How many follow-up visits are typical?
• How expensive are the recommended blood tests and exams?
• Do you provide free support between visits, i.e. phone calls or messaging?

How to Vet an Integrative Practitioner

An integrative medicine doctor is a conventionally trained physician with additional fellowship training, but the label “integrative medicine” is not tightly regulated and is sometimes used broadly. Also, there’s a wide range of approaches to integrative medicine, so you may need to ask some questions to any providers you’re considering. 

• Are you an M.D. or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)? In the U.S., integrative medicine physicians hold one of these medical degrees. If a provider does not have an M.D. or DO, they are likely not an integrative physician, though they may offer integrative or complementary therapies.
• Where did you do your fellowship? A fellowship recognized by the American Board of Physician Specialties is required to claim board certification as an integrative medicine doctor.
• Do you have any philosophy or lean on any particular approaches? They may prefer to use traditional Chinese medicine, stress-reduction, diet and supplements, Ayurvedic practices, etc.
• What conditions do you treat? Make sure they have experience with your issue(s).
• What treatments do you typically recommend? If someone says they focus mostly on supplements or says they avoid conventional medications, they’re likely not practicing integrative medicine.  
• Do you sell supplements directly? Many doctors, such as dermatologists, often sell products, so it’s not necessarily a red flag. However, it may warrant closer scrutiny if supplements are routinely promoted or seem to be driving treatment decisions.  

An integrative medicine doctor may be a good fit if you’re looking for an evidence-based, guided way to explore complementary therapies. The approach may involve some trial and error to find the combination of treatments that works best for you, but it often feels more collaborative than conventional care.

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