Integrative medicine
Integrating holistic healing with proven science for your total well-being
Integrative medicine combines standard medical treatments with holistic therapies that support healing, resilience, and overall well-being. It’s designed to complement, not replace, conventional care. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, integrative medicine seeks to address the biological, psychological, social, and lifestyle factors that influence your health.
At Penn Medicine, integrative medicine is guided by scientific research, clinical expertise, and your individual goals. We emphasize:
- A collaborative partnership between you and your care team
- Prevention, wellness, and self-care
- The importance of nutrition, movement, stress management, sleep, and mental health
- The use of complementary and alternative medicine when backed by science
Integrative medicine services we offer
Penn Medicine’s integrative medicine services are provided by highly trained professionals, including dual board-certified physicians in integrative medicine and family or internal medicine, licensed acupuncturists, and registered dietitians.
An integrative medicine physician can help you explore how factors such as nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress, and other lifestyle habits may affect your health. At your consultation, we work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that uses complementary and alternative approaches alongside your conventional medical care.
Like any other specialist visit, our integrative medicine consultations are billed to your health insurance and are subject to copays.
Acupuncture uses thin needles inserted at specific points on the body to support the body’s natural healing processes. As one of the most extensively studied integrative therapies, there is strong evidence supporting acupuncture to help address:
- Chronic and acute pain
- Sports injuries and musculoskeletal recovery
- Oncology-related symptoms and treatment side effects
- Stress, sleep, and mental health
- Chronic headaches
Our acupuncture sessions are available on a cash-pay basis, with a discounted rate available to adults enrolled in the Penn Care PPO insurance plan.
Oncology massage provides comfort, relief, and a healing presence to people actively receiving chemotherapy infusions. Our therapists are specially trained in the adaptations required to safely and effectively work with oncology patients. Benefits may include:
- Reduced anxiety during treatment
- Reduced post-treatment fatigue
- Pain management
- Reduced nausea
- Improved sleep quality
- Enhanced sense of well-being and inner peace
Our oncology massage services are complimentary for Penn Medicine patients receiving chemotherapy infusions.
Who benefits from integrative medicine?
Integrative medicine can be part of your care at many stages, whether you are managing an illness, recovering from treatment, or simply want to take a more active role in disease prevention and long-term health and wellness. It may be particularly beneficial for people who:
- Are experiencing stress, fatigue, sleep concerns, or other challenges that affect well-being
- Want to develop healthier habits related to nutrition, movement, sleep, or stress management
- Want to support cardiovascular health through lifestyle changes and risk-factor management
- Are seeking supportive care during or after cancer treatment, including help managing symptoms and treatment-related side effects
- Are managing an autoimmune condition and seeking additional support through lifestyle approaches
- Are dealing with gastrointestinal symptoms such as those associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Are navigating women’s health concerns, including menstrual changes or perimenopause
Our doctors
Our providers work with you to plan and deliver exceptional treatment and personalized care.
Locations
Our hospitals, multispecialty medical centers, pharmacies, labs and more offer outstanding, personalized care for patients all across the region.