Integrative Medicine

Looking for effective treatment options to complement the conventional care you’re already receiving? Integrative medicine uses a holistic approach to help you restore your health and improve your well-being. This service is available in Duluth, Minnesota and Fargo, North Dakota.

What’s Integrative Medicine?

Integrative medicine pairs conventional medicine with other evidence-based natural treatments. We care for the whole you—mind, body, and spirit.

Our integrative medicine physician has training in both conventional and integrative health care. She can prescribe medications as needed and often recommend lifestyle solutions—such as diet changes and supplements—to prevent disease or treat your condition.

When to See an Integrative Physician

No matter your condition, integrative medicine can help you get back to better health. Even if you don't have a clear diagnosis, we can still work with you to meet your health goals. We often see patients looking to:

• Get help for stress, depression, anxiety or insomnia
• Find relief from chronic pain and conditions, such as headaches and arthritis
• Improve digestive issues
• Relieve menopausal symptoms and PMS
• Better manage auto-immune disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus

• Determine the cause of chronic symptoms that don’t fit a particular diagnosis

Your First Consultation

Our integrative medicine providers will meet with you and gather information about your physical, mental, and spiritual health as well as your relationships and home and work environment. We look at all areas of your life in order to understand the root cause of your condition; and with this full picture in mind, we walk you through the options you can use to reach your health goals.

Customized Care Plan

Your provider will explain all your treatment options and work with you to create a customized care plan. Depending on your condition, your care plan may include:

• Mind-body therapies, such as aromatherapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation, and yoga
• Nutrition counseling, including advice on nutritional supplements and eating plans
• Prescription medications
• Referrals to behavioral health, chiropractic, or osteopathic manipulative therapy providers
• Recommendations for classes and support groups in your community

Mind-Body Therapies

Your integrative medicine provider will explain how mind-body therapies can be safely and effectively incorporated in your care plan.

Aromatherapy

Breathing in the scent of essential oils from plants can help you relax and balance your mind, body, and spirit. The recommended aroma depends on your preferences and health condition.

Meditation

Meditation can help you relax, feel more peaceful, and clear your mind. It may help reduce blood pressure, as well as improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Your practitioner can guide you through meditation and teach you tools and techniques to meditate on your own.

Yoga

Through gentle exercise and breath control, yoga can help you relax and connect with your body. Certain styles or poses may also help reduce lower back pain, manage blood pressure and heart rate, and relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression. Your provider may recommend yoga resources within the community.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Your acupuncturist places very thin needles through your skin at specific points on the body. The needles usually remain in place for 10 to 20 minutes while you lie still and relax. The treatments don’t typically hurt. Acupuncture may be used to:

• Reduce nausea and vomiting after cancer treatment
• Relieve pain or discomfort
• Help regulate blood flow
• Treat chronic conditions like fatigue and menstrual problems

Medical Nutrition Therapy

A registered dietician offers Medical Nutrition Therapy for a variety of conditions, including weight issues, diabetes, digestive disturbances, nutritional deficiencies, and inflammatory conditions. A visit with our registered dietician will also include learning ways to manage stress and improve physical exercise.

Will Insurance Cover Integrative Medicine?

Many insurance plans cover integrative medicine services. Contact your insurance company to see what your plan covers. Some services, such as acupuncture and visits with our registered dietician, are not covered by all insurance plans for all conditions.  Physician visits are typically covered by most insurance plans.