Holistic Medicine

We have a variety of holistic providers at Cleveland Clinic. Each offers unique therapy and treatment options. There’s a common thread among these providers and your treatment options. They’re backed by science and designed to be safe and effective. Our integrative and functional medical doctors (MDs) combine holistic approaches with traditional medicine. The team also includes doctors of osteopathy (DOs) and chiropractic (DCs). And our fully licensed therapists use evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine techniques.

Holistic providers don’t replace your primary care provider (PCP). They work together with them and any other specialists to help you prevent and manage the symptoms of chronic (ongoing) conditions. Depending on your needs and health goals, you may benefit from:

Integrative medicine

This approach integrates (combines) conventional healthcare with scientifically proven complementary therapies like acupuncture, massage and yoga. It aims to understand and treat you as a whole person: mind, body and spirit.

Lifestyle medicine

Lifestyle medicine providers also blend conventional medicine with complementary therapies. They do this while making healthy life choices and behaviors a focus — things like eating well, reducing stress, physical activity, sleeping better and making positive social connections.

Functional medicine

Food is the foundation of this approach. With an emphasis on the right nutrition, functional medicine combines lifestyle and behavioral changes to help identify and treat the underlying cause of your condition and help you take control of your health.

Osteopathic medicine

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is what doctors of osteopathy (DOs) use to prevent and treat muscle, tendon or bone pain. By manually moving your muscles, soft tissues and joints, they can prompt your body to heal itself by making sure your bones and muscles are aligned and balanced.

Chiropractic medicine

Our licensed chiropractic physicians use pressure to manipulate your joints, especially in the spine, to reduce musculoskeletal pain and correct your body’s alignment. Chiropractic treatment can often help you avoid medications and surgeries.

Other therapies

Holistic medicine takes advantage of a variety of complementary therapies, including:

• Acupuncture. This traditional Chinese practice involves inserting sterile, thin, steel needles into your skin to rebalance your body’s energy, or qi (pronounced “chee”). It can help your body release natural chemicals to relieve symptoms of a health condition such as pain.
• Chinese herbal remedies. This therapy, which dates back centuries, uses a variety of safe Chinese herbs to treat a wide range of acute and chronic condition — like fatigue, digestive disorders, pain, menopausal symptoms and cold/flu.
• Yoga therapy. This gentle style of yoga is for all ages, physical abilities and experience levels. It focuses on your physical, emotional and mental health through movement, meditation, relaxation and mindfulness.
• Massage therapy. Our licensed massage therapists use different pressures, movements and techniques to manipulate your muscles and soft tissues. The goal? To release stress, heal injuries, get symptom relief and support overall wellness.
• Nutrition counseling. Our registered dietitians will help you reevaluate your eating habits and create a custom nutritional plan to match your goals, whatever they may be — weight loss, special diets (like vegan or Mediterranean), heart health, food intolerances and more.
• Culinary Medicine. Culinary medicine combines evidence-based nutrition with the joy and art of cooking. Our team of physicians, dietitians and chefs can help you learn to prep and cook healthy meals that taste good, too.
• Holistic psychotherapy. Our licensed social workers or counselors focus on the mind-body connection. Therapies include talk therapy, eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy (EMDR), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and guided imagery.