Understanding the Types of Integrative Medicine Doctors

Welcome to Fullscript’s integrative medicine education series. Discover how integrative medicine improves patient outcomes and why it’s being adopted by forward-thinking practitioners across North America. 

In 2002, Dr. Ralph Snyderman, MD, Duke University, and Dr. Andrew Weil, MD, University of Arizona, wrote that integrative medicine is bringing medicine back to its roots. They concluded, “the integrative medicine of today will simply be the medicine of the new century.” (13)

Leading the charge to integrate the best of conventional and complementary medicine are a diverse group of integrative medicine doctors working to make integrative medicine “the medicine of the new century.” Continue reading to learn more about some of the different types of integrative medicine doctors and how they’re taking a holistic approach to treating patients.

Integrative healthcare providers combine conventional medicine practices with integrative medicine therapies to treat the whole person.

Types of integrative medicine doctors

Integrative doctors take the best that conventional and complementary medicine has to offer to create evidence-based, individualized whole-health treatment plans that focus on body, mind, and spirit. (9) Integrative doctors can be medical doctors, chiropractors, naturopathic physicians, osteopaths, Ayurvedic practitioners, doctors of oriental medicine, and homeopaths.

Having such a diverse group of integrative doctors adds to the efficacy of integrative medicine as a whole. “Utilizing a team of providers with diverse perspectives and experiences will further enhance patient outcomes,” explained Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO, who is the Associate Program Director of the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.

“The diversity within integrative medicine is key because it allows for more patients to access this paradigm of health promotion,” said Jeff Gladd, MD, founder of GladdMD Integrative Medicine and Chief Medical Officer at Fullscript. “It’s also important for every level of provider to know their limitations and when to seek a higher level of care.” Dr. Gladd encourages all integrative providers to seek education from entities that have an evidence-based formal certification. “This helps ensure that the practice of integrative medicine maintains a consistent standard of care, and the more we all work together at this level the better,” he said.

Dr. Alschuler agrees, stating that “the more integrative health and medicine training that providers have the greater the benefits for both the patient and provider.”

Let’s take a closer look at the key types of integrative medicine healthcare providers.

There are various types of practitioners who use an integrative medicine approach that combines conventional treatments with complementary and alternative therapies to address health concerns and promote overall well-being.

Chiropractors

Chiropractic doctors focus on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of neuromusculoskeletal disorders and use mostly manual techniques, known as adjustments, to positively influence health. (12) Most chiropractors provide nutrition and lifestyle advice and many of them also recommend dietary supplements to help enhance health and reduce the risk of illness. (6)

Conventional medical doctors

Conventional medical doctors (MDs) are sometimes also referred to as allopathic physicians. Integrative MDs are also referred to as holistic medical physicians as they work to expand their medical knowledge beyond the conventional medical system.

“There is a growing number of conventional medical doctors desiring additional integrative medicine fellowship training, such as our program at the University of Arizona,” said Dr. Alschuler who is also a clinical professor at the University and maintains a private oncology practice in Arizona. Dr. Alschuler recognizes that there are several quality certification programs for physicians in various aspects of holistic and integrative medicine that help advance the field as well as the skills of the provider.

As of 2020, 70 different medical and nursing schools were offering integrative medicine fellowships throughout the United States. (8)

Naturopathic doctors

Naturopathic doctors have unique training that emphasizes diet- and lifestyle-based self-care, supplements, homeopathy, manual therapies, and non-drug-based treatments with a philosophy codified by these seven principles:

1. Doctor as teacher
2. Emphasize the healing power of nature
3. First do no harm
4. Focus on wellness
5. Promote health to prevent disease
6. Treat the cause
7. Treat the whole person (14)

There have been many studies conducted showing that naturopathic medicine is effective at treating a variety of health conditions including heart disease, mental health issues, type 2 diabetes, and a wide range of complex chronic diseases. (10)

Osteopathic doctors

Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) practice alongside MDs, but they also are trained in manual manipulation and their philosophies of prevention and whole-patient care are more aligned with integrative medicine doctors. (17) Much of the research on osteopathic medicine focuses on the efficacy of manipulative treatments for musculoskeletal issues and low back pain. (2)

Ayurvedic practitioners

Derived from India, one of the oldest traditional medical systems still utilized worldwide is Ayurvedic medicine, a complex combination of elements, humors, and body constitutions that help practitioners devise whole-body treatment strategies. (5) There is scientific evidence demonstrating its efficacy to promote well-being. (11)

Doctors of oriental medicine

A practitioner who studies oriental medicine is often referred to as a doctor of oriental medicine (DOM) or a doctor of acupuncture and oriental medicine (DAOM). These practitioners focus on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is a healing system that dates back to 200 BC. (15) TCM utilizes a holistic approach that looks at the Chinese philosophy of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, with the fundamental concept that Qi (vital energy) influences health along meridians mapped out on the human body. (4) The World Health Organization has included TCM diagnostic patterns into the International Classification of Diseases code, which is the global standard for diagnostic health information. (3)

Homeopathic doctors

Homeopathics are highly diluted, targeted remedies that trigger a therapeutic reaction in the patient to create homeostasis and correct physiologic illness imbalances. (1) Homeopathy remains controversial; however, research does show that individualized homeopathic remedies may be superior to placebo. (16)

Other integrative medicine practitioners

There are many other types of healthcare professionals who utilize an integrative approach. This includes acupuncturists (many of whom are also DOMs), massage therapists, nurses, nurse practitioners, and nutritionists.

Collaboration is key

All types of integrative medicine doctors aim to improve patient outcomes, and research shows that one way to do this is through interprofessional collaboration. (7)

“The premise of integrative medicine is that it is an individualized journey for each patient,” said Dr. Gladd. “That means there has to be a variety of providers from different disciplines, backgrounds, and experiences to deliver the best integrative medicine possible to the masses.”

“Openness to collaboration based on mutual respect for the expertise and training of other provider types is critical to harmony within the field and helps ensure optimal patient care,” said Dr. Alschuler.