Integrative Medicine Doctors Maryland
We believe in practicing medicine that focuses on whole-body health. As integrative medicine doctors, we focus on the root cause of your condition with comprehensive treatments that heal the body rather than just masking the symptoms of your illness.
About Us
Our practice believes enhancing your vitality is possible through holistic lifestyle changes. Integrative medicine focuses on the relationship between your mind, body, and soul. We are mindful of this significant union when supporting your path to whole body wellness.
Our healing-oriented therapies combine complementary and conventional medicine to promote whole body health and wellness.
Shakthi Health and Wellness is a practice that believes in putting the patient first. The focal point for exemplary patient care comes from considering the patient as a whole and not just a sum of their conditions. Dr. Jyothi Rao combines modern medicine with integrative practices to elevate your health and vitality. As an Integrative Medicine Doctor,, Dr. Rao focuses her care on supporting the relationship between mind and body.
The word ‘Shakthi’ means strength, empowerment, and an agent of change. Our practice believes through holistic integrative therapies patients can find that whole-body wellness operates as an agent of change that elevates your strength and enhances your empowerment.
We believe patients shouldn't settle. Our practice is not a revolving door. We listen, and most importantly, we hear you. Check out our blog for more information about us.
Our practice believes enhancing your vitality is possible through holistic lifestyle changes. Integrative medicine focuses on the relationship between your mind, body, and soul. We are mindful of this significant union when supporting your path to whole body wellness.
Our healing-oriented therapies combine complementary and conventional medicine to promote whole body health and wellness.
How We Got Started
Previous to opening her practice, Dr. Jyothi Rao worked for a well-established primary care practice for many years. Many of the patients that visited the practice were consistently being impacted by insurance limitations. Insurance companies would dictate the limitations of care, preferring a quick solution over actual healing.
Dr. Rao understood a “band-aid” solution is only temporary. And typically, the cause for one physical ailment can be found in another aspect of the patient’s overall health. Motivated to provide genuine and superior care to patients, Dr. Rao decided to open Shakthi Health and Wellness Center as a direct primary care practice.
Direct Primary Care provides patients the opportunity to receive treatment without obstacles to insurance places. Patients have the luxury to see Dr. Rao as a specialist for specific conditions or as their regular primary care doctor. Your appointments will be guided by the principles of integrative medicine for supporting whole-body health.
More Helpful Resources:
What does Shakthi Mean?
Shakthi (Shuk-thee) means Strength, Empowerment, and Agent of Change.
Frequently Asked Questions
We value the importance of the relationship between the doctor and the patient. That is why Dr. Jyothi Rao has taken the time to answer some of the most commonly asked questions at Shakthi Health & Wellness. View our FAQ page here.
What To Expect
Meet Our Doctors
We don't believe that health and wellness come in the form of a pill. Our integrative medicine approaches focus on the whole of you, not just illness. Your health and vitality deserve a more comprehensive, holistic approach that is patient-centered and customized to your needs.
Jyothi Rao
MD, ABAAHP, FAARFM
Dr. Jyothi Rao has been practicing medicine for over 20 years. She received her Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and completed her internship and residency at the prestigious New England Medical Center (Tufts) in Boston. Before opening Shakthi Health & Wellness Center, Dr. Rao practiced medicine in New York and Maryland.
Sudhir Rao
MD, ABAAHP
Dr. Sudhir Rao obtained his Medical Doctorate from St. George's University School of Medicine and is the founder of Pain and Spine Specialists. Despite Dr. Rao's years of training focusing on traditional medicine, he developed a strong interest in Functional and Integrative Medicine to treat chronic illness with alternative methods after a personal experience with limitations in traditional medicine.
What Is Integrative Medicine
Many physicians focus solely on treating the symptoms. But with integrative medicine, our doctors feel that treating the symptoms with just the standard pills and treatments will never solve the problem completely. This is where our integrative medical treatments come into play. Integrative medicine takes the focus of your treatment of the symptoms and looks deeper for the root cause.
Integrative medicine takes into account the whole of your being – mind, body, and spirit. It is a practice that feels that our health has more to do with just the physical than most traditional medical practices consider. Because of this core philosophy, integrative medical practitioners utilize a wider range of therapies and address lifestyle as well.
Integrative medicine also delivers a much more hands-on approach because the physician and the patient are partners in developing the treatment plans that address the health concerns in question. These therapies are comprehensive and involve both traditional healthcare approaches as well as complementary therapies like yoga and acupuncture.
Together we will look at everything from your family medical history to your environment to address those root causes and prevent any further issues from coming up as well. We will use evidence-approved alternative therapies along with traditional ones to help you find your way to a happier and healthier life.
During your first consultation, we will look at your health history and discuss other factors like your emotional well-being, social life, spiritual health, and environment. After we have sat down and dissected all of these factors we can then choose the tests needed to further your treatment plan and begin customizing your treatment plan.
In order to understand what the integrative practice we offer is, you have to have a working knowledge of what we mean by complementary therapies. These therapies are evidence-proven techniques that don’t fall into the standard forms of medical practice.
Some may look at these as alternative medicines but that is too broad of a categorization. Here are some examples of treatment that could fall under the complementary therapies umbrella:
Herbal Medicine
Massage
Reiki
Yoga
But why should you consider integrative medicine?
There are many benefits when it comes to integrative medical treatments. This type of treatment uses techniques that consider everything as a factor in your health journey and find ways to enhance your body’s natural abilities to heal.
Looking at addressing everything from your physical health to your spiritual and emotional health can help reduce stress and anxiety which are often the root cause or at the very least agitators of the symptoms of many illnesses and diseases.
Through using complementary therapies and lifestyle and combining those into a comprehensive treatment plan you will be addressing every aspect which will, in the end, give you more whole-body wellness. By doing this you will be able to lie a more healthy and satisfying life.
About Us
We believe in practicing medicine that focuses on whole body health. As integrative medicine doctors we focus our on root cause of your condition with comprehensive treatments that actually heal the body rather than just masking the symptoms of your illness.
Helpful Resources
Digital Guide
A comprehensive guide to our services, providers, and locations.
Contact us
What does Shakthi Mean?
Shakthi (Shuk-thee) means Strength, Empowerment, and Agent of Change.
Direct Primary Care
Our Direct Primary Care model provides patients with in-depth consults without the restrictions of time limits or insurance hoops. Our Integrative medicine doctors have the same medical training, licensing, and certifications as any primary care physician, but our model provide a more comprehensive approach to patient care.
Our Services
Our doctors and staff take time to get invested in your health and well-being. We've taken a step back from mainstream medicine and are challenging the norm. Everyone's healthcare needs are different. You are different. We believe patients shouldn't settle. Our practice is not a revolving door. We listen, and most importantly, we hear you.
We Specialize In
By combining the very best therapies for healing, proven practices and modern medicine, we are better able to help relieve chronic pain, reduce stress, restore well-being and transform the resilience of our patients.
We work with our patients to heal the gut and restore good health. Good gut health is key to reducing hormone imbalance, inflammation, stress and food sensitivities. Inactivity, poor diet, hormone imbalance, poor gut health, stress, exposure to environmental toxins and nutritional imbalance can all contribute to obesity.
Nutritionist works with the Shakthi team to recommend personalized testing for our patients.
We use specialty laboratory and diagnostic testing to assess body composition. We develop a tailor made program that will achieve the results of the individual. Our weight loss therapy targets resetting the weight control center of the brain. Utilizing all natural (non-hormonal) herbal appetite suppressants, nutritional supplements, nutrition counseling, calorie reduction and education, we work closely with you to develop a weight management plan that is nutritionally sound.
At Shakthi we offer personalized, comprehensive consultations focusing on preventative cardiology care and nutrient deficiencies to develop a plan to correct a body out of balance.
If you are experiencing stress, fatigue, weight gain, loss of sleep, lack of energy and focus, you may being putting unnecessary stress on your heart.
At Shakthi we work with you to identify the imbalances you are experiencing. Using an integrative approach to healing, we use diagnostic testing to identify the underlying causes. Our thorough testing approach allow us to work with you to develop an integrative treatment plan to reduce your stress and bring your body back into balance.
We focus great medical attention on good health and healing for the inside of your body. We also offer skin and body rejuvenating products and procedures that are aimed at improving the way you feel on the outside.
Good nutrition is the foundation for a healthy body and mind. Nutrition is how the body uses food for growth and maintenance. Chronic illness, type 2 diabetes, inflammation, heart disease and some cancers are directly influenced by nutritional habits. It all starts with food. The positive impact of eating a whole food diet high in nutrients can directly influence your quality of life. When you begin to look at making changes in your nutritional intake, whole foods are favored over processed, refined foods.
Acupuncture, Biomat, and our Infrared treatments are great ways to reduce anxiety and stress.
We conduct food intolerance testing to see if specific foods are causing inflammation or an allergic reaction.
We use a combination of blood tests and examinations to diagnose you appropriately. The first tests performed is the antinuclear antibody test (ANA) when your symptoms indicate an autoimmune disorder. A positive result indicates the presence of the disease but not which one specifically. Other tests may be needed to examine for specific antibodies that are released by certain autoimmune diseases. Learn more about our Autoimmune services here.
Conditions We Treat
Our doctors may recommend various approaches to manage and mitigate your chronic fatigue symptoms. Sometimes a combination of approaches will allow the individual to regain their functionality. Some of these approaches include:
- Nutritional Diet
- Supplements/Vitamins
- Meditation
- Massage
- Yoga
- Counseling
- Light exercise
- Medications
Getting to the root cause of your chronic pain is what we do best. We evaluate, address and treat the physical causes, not just the symptoms of chronic pain and inflammation. Putting a focus on food sensitivities, diet and other potential triggers for pain, we are able to help patients get well and get to the next level in their wellness journey.
Depending on the type of diabetes you may be suffering from will dictate the best course of treatment for you. Some may require medication, while others may be treated with lifestyle changes. There is no cure for diabetes, but different treatment methods can allow individuals to live healthy, and functioning lives.
Individuals suffering from hair loss may choose to be treated in a variety of ways. When hair loss is diagnosed early, in many cases you will be able to prevent further damage and encourage regrowth.
With a diagnosis from a medical professional, individuals suffering from hair loss can incorporate the following treatments:
- Vitamins
- Acupuncture
- Medical Treatment
- Steroid Injections
Depending on the specific hormone imbalance you are suffering from, treatment may vary.
The most common medical approaches for treating hormonal imbalances are:
- Weight loss
- Thyroid medication
- Hormonal birth control (women)
- Hormone replacement therapy
There are several approaches one can take to treat your inflammation symptoms:
- Anti-Inflammatory Diet
- Medications
- Home remedies
There are several ways to begin treating your Leaky Gut. Some of these treatment approaches are:
- Diet Change
- Medication Usage
- Removing all the components that damage your intestinal wall
Common arthritis treatments include combinations of pharmacological approaches and home remedies. These include:
- Medications (NSAIDs, steroids, DMARDs)
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
- Healthy weight management
- Light exercise
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Cognitive therapy (to help you emotionally cope with your symptoms)
Typically, some type of anti fungal medication will be incorporated when treating Yeast Overgrowth. WE may prescribe a cream, capsule, powder, or even injection depending on the location of infection. Some home remedies you can incorporate to support treating Yeast Overgrowth are:
- Garlic: the use/consumption of garlic is helpful because it has anti fungal properties
- Coconut Oil: high in lauric acid which can fight candida
- Aloe vera: Can inhibit the growth of candida
- Probiotics: reduce yeast growth and protect against infections
Acupuncture, Biomat, Infrared Sauna, and IV Therapies are great ways to reduce symptoms of chronic headaches and migraines.
Often times acid reflux is caused by your diet. At Shakthi, we work closely with you to help restore good nutrition and diet in your life. We won't just give you a list of things to do and send you on your way. Through careful testing and study, we'll identify the best nutrition plan for your individualized needs and desired outcome.
If you are experiencing stress, fatigue, weight gain, loss of sleep, lack of energy and focus, you may being putting unnecessary stress on your heart.
We offer personalized, comprehensive consultations focusing on preventative cardiology care and nutrient deficiencies to develop a plan to correct a body out of balance.
Treatments We Offer
IV Therapy allows patients an alternative way to treat symptoms of various health conditions like chronic pain, adrenal fatigue, asthma, immune disorders, and fibromyalgia. The IV Therapy treatment can also be used as an alternative approach to boosting your immunity and your cellular health.
We offer patients scientifically backed health assessments to better understand the root causes of their health conditions. We evaluate any disruptions to your health and body to develop effective wellness plans to optimize your vitality. The diagnostic testing we offer fosters improved wellness and vitality for our patients.
These injections can be used as a supplemental way to encourage total body wellness. Vitamin B12 can be used as an integrative therapeutic tool to help a wide variety of conditions.
The injection encourages the body to make red blood cells, improving oxygen circulation throughout the body. Vitamin B12 encourages your body to use carbohydrates and fat for the creation of energy and additional protein the body needs.
The treatment consists of fine needles being inserted into the skin, at varying depths. The placement of the needles, or acupoints, stimulate specific regions to produce specific physical responses. The thought is that physical stimulation will promote self-healing and bodily wellness.
Once placed into the skin, the patient may feel a dull ache at the base of the needle. But acupuncture should never be painful. The dull ache will gently subside, leaving the individual in a relaxed state. In some practices, the steel needle may even be heated or stimulated as part of the treatment approach.
An infrared sauna uses far-infrared light to create heat. Far-infrared light is the wavelength that most closely resembles the infrared heat given off by the human body. Because of the similarity, far-infrared light can enhance and strengthen our energy.
Amethyst biomats utilize their mineral component and heat to enhance the body’s vitality through far infrared rays and negative ions. Amethyst biomats can be used as treatments for chronic pain, injury, and overall wellness.
Lymphatic enhancement therapy (LET) utilizes electronic instruments to improve circulation and restore lymphatic flow and function. The therapeutic tools use the vibration of light and sound to promote healthy lymphatic tissue and immunity.
Some foods can negatively affect the body. The elimination diet helps to identify these foods on an individual basis.
We teach our patients what good nutrition is and how it can affect their lives for the better. We help teach our patients how to prepare food with maximum health benefits. We offer a variety of health and diet detox programs to help get you back on track.
We teach our patients what good nutrition is and how it can affect their lives for the better. A Fast Mimicking Diet helps to achieve weight and nutrition goals.
Conditions We Treat
Our doctors may recommend various approaches to manage and mitigate your symptoms. Sometimes a combination of approaches will allow the individual to regain their functionality. Some of these approaches include:
- Nutritional Diet
- Supplements/Vitamins
- Meditation
- Massage
- Yoga
- Counseling
- Light exercise
- Medications
Getting to the root cause of your pain is what we do best. We evaluate, address and treat the physical causes, not just the symptoms of chronic pain and inflammation. Putting a focus on food sensitivities, diet and other potential triggers for pain, we are able to help patients get well and get to the next level in their wellness journey.
Depending on the type of diabetes you may be suffering from will dictate the best course of treatment for you. Some may require medication, while others may be treated with lifestyle changes. There is no cure for diabetes, but different treatment methods can allow individuals to live healthy, and functioning lives.
Individuals suffering from hair loss may choose to be treated in a variety of ways. When hair loss is diagnosed early, in many cases you will be able to prevent further damage and encourage regrowth.
With a diagnosis from a medical professional, individuals suffering from hair loss can incorporate the following treatments:
- Vitamins
- Acupuncture
- Medical Treatment
- Steroid Injections
Depending on the specific imbalance you are suffering from, treatment may vary.
The most common medical approaches for treating hormonal imbalances are:
- Weight loss
- Thyroid medication
- Hormonal birth control (women)
- Hormone replacement therapy
There are several approaches one can take to treat inflammation:
- Anti-Inflammatory Diet
- Medications
- Home remedies
There are several ways to begin treating your Leaky Gut. Some of these treatment approaches are:
- Diet Change
- Medication Usage
- Removing all the components that damage your intestinal wall
Common treatments include combinations of pharmacological approaches and home remedies. These include:
- Medications (NSAIDs, steroids, DMARDs)
- Physical therapy
- Surgery
- Healthy weight management
- Light exercise
- Acupuncture
- Massage therapy
- Cognitive therapy (to help you emotionally cope with your symptoms)
Typically, some type of anti fungal medication will be incorporated when treating Yeast Overgrowth. WE may prescribe a cream, capsule, powder, or even injection depending on the location of infection. Some home remedies you can incorporate to support treating Yeast Overgrowth are:
- Garlic: the use/consumption of garlic is helpful because it has anti fungal properties
- Coconut Oil: high in lauric acid which can fight candida
- Aloe vera: Can inhibit the growth of candida
- Probiotics: reduce yeast growth and protect against infections
Acupuncture, Biomat, Infrared Sauna, and IV Therapies are great ways to reduce symptoms of headaches and migraines.
Often times acid reflux is caused by your diet. At Shakthi, we work closely with you to help restore good nutrition and diet in your life. We won't just give you a list of things to do and send you on your way. Through careful testing and study, we'll identify the best nutrition plan for your individualized needs and desired outcome.
If you are experiencing stress, fatigue, weight gain, loss of sleep, lack of energy and focus, you may being putting unnecessary stress on your heart.
We offer personalized, comprehensive consultations focusing on preventative cardiology care and nutrient deficiencies to develop a plan to correct a body out of balance.
Treatments We Offer
IV Therapy allows patients an alternative way to treat symptoms of various health conditions like chronic pain, adrenal fatigue, asthma, immune disorders, and fibromyalgia. The IV Therapy treatment can also be used as an alternative approach to boosting your immunity and your cellular health.
We offer patients scientifically backed health assessments to better understand the root causes of their health conditions. We evaluate any disruptions to your health and body to develop effective wellness plans to optimize your vitality. The diagnostic testing we offer fosters improved wellness and vitality for our patients.
These injections can be used as a supplemental way to encourage total body wellness. Vitamin B12 can be used as an integrative therapeutic tool to help a wide variety of conditions.
The injection encourages the body to make red blood cells, improving oxygen circulation throughout the body. Vitamin B12 encourages your body to use carbohydrates and fat for the creation of energy and additional protein the body needs.
The treatment consists of fine needles being inserted into the skin, at varying depths. The placement of the needles, or acupoints, stimulate specific regions to produce specific physical responses. The thought is that physical stimulation will promote self-healing and bodily wellness.
Once placed into the skin, the patient may feel a dull ache at the base of the needle. But acupuncture should never be painful. The dull ache will gently subside, leaving the individual in a relaxed state. In some practices, the steel needle may even be heated or stimulated as part of the treatment approach.
An infrared sauna uses far-infrared light to create heat. Far-infrared light is the wavelength that most closely resembles the infrared heat given off by the human body. Because of the similarity, far-infrared light can enhance and strengthen our energy.
Amethyst biomats utilize their mineral component and heat to enhance the body’s vitality through far infrared rays and negative ions. Amethyst biomats can be used as treatments for chronic pain, injury, and overall wellness.
Lymphatic enhancement therapy (LET) utilizes electronic instruments to improve circulation and restore lymphatic flow and function. The therapeutic tools use the vibration of light and sound to promote healthy lymphatic tissue and immunity.
Some foods can negatively affect the body. The elimination diet helps to identify these foods on an individual basis.
We teach our patients what good nutrition is and how it can affect their lives for the better. We have a nutritionist on staff to help teach our patients how to prepare food with maximum health benefits. We offer a variety of health, wellness and nutrition classes on-site
We teach our patients what good nutrition is and how it can affect their lives for the better. A Fast Mimicking Diet helps to achieve weight and nutrition goals.