Integrative Medicine Specialists Maryland

Our Integrative Medicine specialists in Maryland provide personalized primary care services that are custom tailored to each of our patients. 

What To Expect

Meet Our Doctors 

We don't believe that health and wellness comes in the form of a pill. Our integrative medicine approaches focus on the whole you, not just illness. Your health and vitality deserves 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.

Patient Testimonials

Patient Testimonials

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Susan Doyle

I started by seeing Dr. Sudhir Rao for my Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) Syndrome. I had an accident in July 2010 that caused nerve damage in my ankle. After treatments and surgery, it spread up the entire left side of my body. The only way to describe how you feel is by saying you’re a human pinball machine ? you just never know where the pain is going to be that minute. I had asked about acupuncture because someone had told me that it worked for them. I was at the point of trying anything to lessen the pain because it was getting worse every day.

Anonymous Patient

I am actually a relatively healthy 50-year-old woman. I try to eat well and exercise, but I (like many) felt the creep of age in the form a subtle pounds and decreasing energy. Dr. Rao helped point me in the direction of the correct detox program for me (Core Restore!) as well as the supplements I needed to boost my metabolism and increase my energy! I still need to eat what works for me and avoid the things that don't, and I still have to exercise every day, but my clothes fit better and I have more energy!!

- Shakthi Patients

Anna Smoot

I came to see Dr. Rao with symptoms of chronic fatigue, abdominal pains, depression, and weight gain. I had seen a couple other doctors and they had found that I had very high inflammation levels and over 15 food allergies/sensitivities. They wanted me to just take prescription drugs, but I wanted more than a quick fix. I wanted my health and my life back! When I scheduled the appointment, I was surprised how by helpful Kelly was on the phone. I didn’t know the details of my insurance coverage and Kelly offered to call my insurance for me. I’ve never had anyone at a doctor’s office do that before.

Debbie Helman

After visiting the Shakthi website and reading other patient testimonials, I was curious about the wide variety of treatments that were available. I have a very slow metabolism, was fatigued, had insomnia, back pain, and just didn’t feel as well as I wanted to in general. I had more allergic reactions and respiratory issues in the preceding months before coming to see Dr. Jyothi Rao. I had completed three courses of prednisone while under the treatment of my traditional doctor and was fed up with that cycle and was looking for another path.

- Debbie Helman

Linda J.

I was given the gift of Dr. Rao's primary care for Christmas in 2016. I didn?t take advantage of it until March of 2017. My mindset at the time was negative. I had heard about changing eating habits and I felt that I liked the foods I was eating and I was nearly 70, so why change now? After meeting with Dr. Rao and hearing her suggestions, I said I would take it one small step at a time and see what happens.

I was in the worst shape of my life

I was in the worst shape of my life with depression and anxiety. I had given up. Shakthi provided me with a manageable plan that included supplements, diet, and an exercise program that has transformed my body and given me a new outlook on life. Perhaps the most surprising outcome was learning how to be healthy and have a good relationship with my body. I am now more productive, energetic, and focused. The fog that had been clouding my thoughts has lifted.

- Shakthi Patient

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What Does An Integrative Medicine Specialist Do?

For some, ‘wellness’ can imply the speed in which you can recover from injury or illness. But being well should mean illness and injury are prevented. The best way to achieve this is by taking full control of your health to superiorly maintain the body’s inherent functionality. 

Integrative medicine is the key to fully embracing whole body wellness. But what does integrative medicine mean? Our integrative medicine specialists understand the vital role the relationship between physician and patient play for your health. Integrative medicine focuses on the best therapies that encourage your body, mind, and soul maintaining balance. 

A progressive combination of modern medicine and holistic therapies are incorporated in patient care to provide optimal health. An integrative medicine practitioner will take consideration of all patient factors that impact health and disease, such as lifestyle and stress. 

Diagnoses and Treatment 

Integrative health practitioners determine diagnoses and provide recommendations based on scientifically backed (and proven) medical treatments and alternative therapies (like acupuncture) to promote total wellness. Integrative medicine physicians concentrate on the cause of disease as opposed to solely treating a disease. 

Shakthi Health and Wellness Center believes in enhancing your vitality through holistic lifestyle changes and modern medical therapies. Our patients are provided with healing-oriented therapies, combining complementary and conventional medicine to promote whole body wellness.  

Our practice focuses on the patient as a whole and not just the illness they suffer from. Our integrative medicine practitioners are invested in the enhancement and vitality of your health. We don’t believe true health comes in the form of a pill. We believe in determining the damaging source of disease and providing treatments that consider all aspects of your body’s wellness.  

We provide patient-centered care so you don’t have to settle. Our integrative specialists of Maryland are highly skilled medical professionals with a deep understanding of holistic therapies.  

Shakthi Health and Wellness Center offers holistic treatment options like infrared sauna therapy, acupuncture, and Bio-Mat therapy.  

Infrared Sauna

Without using traditional heating elements, an infrared sauna uses infrared lamps that use electromagnetic radiation. This type of sauna penetrates more deeply than warm air, with better intensity at a lower temperature. Our infrared sauna improves sleeps, promotes better circulation, and enhanced recovery for sore muscles.  

Acupuncture: 

An alternative treatment that treats patients with thin needles placed strategically in the body. Based off of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture follows traditional medical belief rather than science.  

Bio-Mat:

Our Bio-Mat is embedded with Amethyst crystals (a quartz mineral) that generates far infrared radiation (FIR) and negative ions when heated. When the body absorbs FIR, circulation is improved, muscle recovery is supported, joint pain can be relieved, all while encouraging healthy cell functioning.  

Nutrition Consultation

The integrative health specialists at Shakthi Health and Wellness Center will also consult with you on nutrition and recommend any diagnostic testing to better identify your needs.  

Whether you arrive to our center with health concerns you’ve had little luck treating, or simply want to improve upon your health, our integrative medicine specialists in Maryland can effectively and skillfully manage your whole body wellness and address any health concerns you may have.  

If you are interested in learning about Integrative Medicine or our holistic approaches to wellness Call Shakthi Health and Wellness Center today! Dr. Jyothi Rao is a highly skilled and experienced physician who can effectively evaluate your symptoms and optimize your body’s vitality. Call (301) 703-5067 and speak to our integrative speciality care staff to schedule your appointment today! 

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

February 2

Our Team

Our Team

Digital Guide


A comprehensive guide to our services, providers, and locations.

Contact us

  • info@raowellness.com
  • (301) 703-5067
  • Schedule Consultation

What does Shakthi Mean?


Shakthi (Shuk-thee) means Strength, Empowerment, and Agent of Change.

Shakthi Digital Guide

At Shakthi Health and Wellness we offer a la carte and yearly plans that are more comprehensive and often cheaper than traditional insurance plans.

Stay Connected!

The latest books, talks, and podcasts that we wish to share in hopes they may help you on your journey to good health, healing, and wellness.

Conditions We Treat


• Chronic Fatigue

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

• Chronic Pain

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.

• Diabetes

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.

• Hair Loss

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

• Hormone Imbalance

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

• Inflammation

There are several approaches one can take to treat inflammation:

  • Anti-Inflammatory Diet
  • Medications
  • Home remedies

• Leaky Gut

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 

• Arthritis

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) 

• Yeast Overgrowth

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 

• Headaches / Migraines

Acupuncture, Biomat, Infrared Sauna, and IV Therapies are great ways to reduce symptoms of headaches and migraines.

• Acid Reflux

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.

• Hypertension

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

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.

• Diagnostic Testing

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. 

• Vitamin B12 Injections

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.

• Acupuncture

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. 

• Infrared Sauna

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.

• Biomat

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 Therapies

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.

• Elimination Diets

Some foods can negatively affect the body. The elimination diet helps to identify these foods on an individual basis.

• Detox Programs

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

• Fast Mimicking Diets

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.

Body On Fire

Anti-Inflammatory Cookbook


New Book Dr. Jyothi Rao and Dr. Monica Aggarwal! Your guide to eating plant foods that fight disease. This companion volume to Body on Fire reiterates essential concepts about the nature of inflammation and its relationship to chronic illness.

Our Podcast


At Shakthi Health our integrative medicine approach focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all forms of therapies to help you reach optimal health and healing. In this podcast, we will be covering topics in health, wellness, and fitness. Our goal is to help you feel good and live a healthier lifestyle.

Upcoming Events


Get information on upcoming events and see our past events!  Dr. Jyothi Rao is a regular guest on podcasts, meet-ups, Facebook lives, and webinars with other healthcare professionals. These discussions cover a variety of interesting topics like diet, disease prevention, mental health, integrative medicine, and more!

Contact Us

Locations

Mt Airy

2702 Back Acre Circle, Mt. Airy, MD 21771

Elkridge

6816 Deerpath Rd Elkridge, MD 21075

Contact

Phone

(301) 703-5067

Email

info@raowellness.com

Fax

(301) 703-8880