Whole body Approach
What Is Integrative Medicine
Integrative Medicine is a health care approach that addresses the root cause of your illness rather than just treating the symptoms.
Integrative Health Meaning
Integrative Health Meaning
Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine and holistic therapies to enhance a patient’s vitality, focusing on whole body wellness.
Many people experience feeling like a cog in the wheel of a factory assembly line when it comes to receiving medical care. Healthcare needs feel detached from the individual patient entirely. And unfortunately, when most people go to their doctor for an ailment, they are immediately given a prescription with very little conversation outside of their immediate symptoms.
Our Services
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.
We Focus On
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.
Our Process Takes Time and Careful Study
What To Expect
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.
Appointments
Appointments are conducted on an as-needed basis. Patients can expect appointments to be more thorough and focused on their needs. As direct primary care doctors, we see a limited number of patients which means each of our patients receives dedicated care without the concern of being “rushed” our of an appointment.
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. To learn more about the specific tests we offer visit this page here.
Costs Involved
Patients receive personalized and tailored care in exchange for a flat fee. Overall cost will be discussed during your initial consultation. Each subsequent appointment will not need to be individually paid for. All patients receive unlimited access to their physicians which leads to better overall health and wellness.
What does Shakthi Mean?
Shakthi (Shuk-thee) means Strength, Empowerment, and Agent of Change.
What does Shakthi Mean?
Shakthi (Shuk-thee) means Strength, Empowerment, and Agent of Change.
How Integrative Medicine Works
Many people experience feeling like a cog in the wheel of a factory assembly line when it comes to receiving medical care. Healthcare needs feel detached from the individual patient entirely. And unfortunately, when most people go to their doctor for an ailment, they are immediately given a prescription with very little conversation outside of their immediate symptoms.
This type of interaction between patient and healthcare system can be frustrating and infuriating. Patients crave more and practitioners want to provide more. But how do you define integrative medicine? Integrative medicine is an approach to your healthcare that encapsulates all aspects of you as an individual. Integrative Medicine (IM) values the relationship between mind, body, and spirit to provide total body care. Integrative medicine combines conventional medicine and holistic therapies to enhance a patient’s vitality, focusing on whole body wellness.
Traditional medical approaches (such as diagnostic tests and medications) will be incorporated with complementary and alternative medical practices. However, it is important to note that the holistic approaches an integrative medicine doctor would incorporate in their treatment is evidence based. This includes scientific research to support its addition to conventional medical practices.
How Is Integrative Medicine Different?
An IM physician will review non-traditional medical topics such as your emotional state, spiritual state, lifestyle habits, environmental influences that may have an impact on your physical state.
Integrative medicine emphasizes the relationship between patient and practitioner. In order for your integrative medicine doctor to be able to treat your ailment, they will want to consider all aspects of your life. The relationship between your doctor and yourself should be therapeutic and healing oriented.
An IM physician will address the root cause of your illness and not just treat your symptoms. By determining what the root is, you and your practitioner can devise a health plan to successfully treat the disease. Your IM provider will take into account other factors in your life that may be preventing the root cause of your illness or disease from fully healing. Patients will work closely with their IM provider to address their immediate health needs while developing a personalized wellness plan that encourages whole body wellness.
The point of integrative medicine is to maintain your body’s inherent functions at peak performance. Integrative medicine healthcare providers will encourage personal responsibility in their lifestyle choices for their patients. When patients take control of their health care needs, they can be empowered to improve any and all aspects of their health.
Integrative Medicine Treatments:
Shakthi Health and Wellness Center offers patients various methods they can include in their daily health routines. And the best way to provide these services is through concierge medicine.
Our practice offers patient-centered care with emphasis on developing a meaningful rapport with patients. Concierge medicine liberates patients from restrictions that insurance burdens many patients with. Dr. Jyothi Rao makes quality health care accessible to her patients without the restrictions of time limits and jumping through insurance hoops. Her patients are provided with in depth consults with each appointment, reaffirming confidence in their treatment plans.
Dr. Rao offers patients nutrition recommendations and advice when training for physical activity. She can evaluate your eating habits and determine ideal ways to incorporate plant-based food to improve gut health. Shakthi Health and Wellness Center also offer diagnostic testing to evaluate inflammation levels, hormone balances, and recommendations to reduce stress.
Other tools Dr. Rao enjoys incorporating for patients are the amethyst bio mat and infrared sauna. 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. An infrared sauna uses infrared lamps that use electromagnetic radiation as opposed to traditional heating elements. 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. Shakthi Health and Wellness Center offers patients Alternative, Holistic, Natural, Preventative and Functional Medicine approaches to enhance your vitality.
Get Started
If you are interested in learning how Integrative Medicine can help you or would like more information about holistic approaches to enhancing your health, CALL Shakthi Health and Wellness Center today! You will speak to one of our dedicated integrative medicine staff members who will set up your consultation with Dr. Jyothi Rao. Dr. Rao is a deeply experienced specialist who will effectively evaluate your symptoms and optimize your body’s vitality. Call (301) 703-5067 and speak to direct primary care staff to schedule your appointment today!
Get in touch
(301) 703-5067
2702 Back Acre Circle Suite 190c Mt. Airy, MD 21771
Testimonials
Above And Beyond
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!
Anna Smoot
Shakthi Blogs
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Our Doctors
Our Integrative Medicine Providers
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 team is composed of skilled medical professionals who are highly knowledgeable in the practice of holistic integrative therapies. We believe patients shouldn’t have to settle for “quick fixes” for their health.
Our patients are provided with healing-oriented therapies, combining complementary and conventional medicine to promote whole body wellness.
