What’s the difference between the several types of “medicine” offered?”

What’s The Big Picture? It is important to clarify what the differences are and to address all forms of medicine as patients are often confused because these fields overlap in language but differ in philosophy, scope, and integration.

Think of healthcare approaches as different lenses for understanding the body. Each lens offers something valuable but Integrative Medicine uses the widest lens, allowing us to see the whole person, the interconnections, integral parts, and the full range of therapeutic options. Below will explain why Integrative Medicine is the most comprehensive, interconnected model, without diminishing the value of the other fields.

Clear Differences Explained Simply:  Many people hear terms like integrative, natural, functional, or naturopathic medicine used interchangeably but they are not the same. Each approach works with the body differently and has a different scope of practice.

Integrative Medicine Doctor- IMD (Whole-Person, Whole-Systems Care)

What it is: Integrative Medicine is a comprehensive, whole-person, whole-systems approach that blends evidence-based conventional medicine with natural, nutritional, lifestyle, mind-body, and complementary therapies intentionally, collaboratively and thoughtfully.

How it works:

• Focuses on the interconnection of all body systems
• Focuses on the integral parts that play a role in the bodies abilities to heal itself.
• Care is personalized, collaborative, and relationship-based
• Addresses physical, emotional, mental, lifestyle, nutritional, environmental, and spiritual influences on health
• Emphasizes a strong therapeutic partnership with patients -a team approach
• Works alongside allopathic (MD/DO) care when diagnoses or medical management are needed
• Treats the whole person, not the diagnosis, label, or symptom(s)
• Honors the interconnection of mind, body, emotions, lifestyle, environment, relationships, and spirit – as ONE body not seprate
• Uses therapies to address underlying causes rather than just symptoms in order to really find the root cause(s). It’s a domino effect.
• Uses both modern medical tools and natural therapies

Why it’s different:
Integrative Medicine doesn’t choose one philosophy, instead it integrates everything that works, safely and evidence-informed, to support healing, resilience, and vitality.

👉 This is why it captures the full picture where others do not.  Dr. Hartman holds a Ph.D. and Doctorate in Integrative Medicine (IMD)

Key features:

Important for patients to know: In Indiana, medical diagnoses come only from MDs or DOs. As a non-medical integrative doctor, Dr. Hartman does not diagnose, medically claim to treat or prescribe pharmaceutical drugs, but collaborates closely with medical physicians to support healing, resilience, and whole-body wellness.

👉 Integrative Medicine is not defined by licensure, it is a lens, framework, and philosophy of care. It see the whole picture of what patients are dealing with, instead of individual pieces.

Alternative Medicine Doctor (DAM)

What it is:
Alternative medicine refers to approaches used instead of conventional medical care.

Key distinction:

• Often rejects, excludes, or replaces conventional medicine
• Not always evidence-based
• Lacks evidence or integration
• Can create an “either/or” mindset

Why this matters:
Integrative Medicine is not alternative—it’s inclusive. It blends therapies rather than forcing a choice between them.

Naturopathic Medicine, Naturopathic Doctors & Traditional Naturopathic Doctors

What it is:
Naturopathic medicine emphasizes nutrition, food-as-medicine, supplementation, botanical therapies, lifestyle interventions, and mind-body practices to support the body’s natural healing processes. A system of care rooted in natural and nutritional therapies, lifestyle counseling, and prevention. It focuses on natural therapies and the body’s innate healing ability, often using nutrition, botanicals, lifestyle, and physical medicine.

Strengths:

• Strong emphasis on prevention and natural healing
• Strong nutritional foundation
• Root-cause oriented
• Gentle and restorative
• They are not licensed and may not have formal medical training
• They focus on natural health practices but cannot legally diagnose or treat medical conditions.

Limitations:

• Often works primarily within a natural-only framework
• Not fully integrate conventional diagnostics or treatments in complex cases
• May or may not be licensed

Naturopathic Physicians (NDs)

What they are:
Naturopathic physicians are licensed clinicians trained in naturopathic medicine. Some complete a four-year doctoral program in naturopathic medicine, pass the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX), and are licensed to diagnose and treat patients using natural therapies. Their scope and training vary significantly by state and program, and they are not the same as naturopathic doctors.

Important distinction for patients:
Not all natural or holistic providers are NDs, and not all NDs practice integrative medicine. The philosophy and scope depend on the practitioner, not just the title.

• Some NDs are permitted to use limited allopathic therapies, depending on state law
• They are not MDs or DOs nor do they go through the same training
• Prescriptive authority and diagnostic scope differ significantly across states

Natural Medicine Doctor (NMD or DNM)

What it is:
Natural medicine emphasizes natural therapies such as nutrition, supplements, herbs, homeopathic therapy, lifestyle interventions, and mind-body practices.

Strengths:

• Gentle, supportive, and preventative
• Aligns well with the body’s natural healing processes
• Uses natural mobilities to help the strengthen the body’s pathways

Limitations:

• Does not fully integrate medical diagnostics or conventional treatment when needed
• Works best when woven into a broader medical framework

(Dr. Hartman holds a PhD, Doctorate, and Masters in Natural Medicine (NMD) and incorporates these principles within an integrative framework.)

Functional Medicine Doctor (FM or FMCP or FMCP -M (if medical)

What it is:
Functional medicine focuses on biochemical pathways and root causes, often using advanced lab testing to understand how systems are functioning.

Strengths:

• Helpful for identifying metabolic, hormonal, and inflammatory imbalances
• Strong systems-biology model

Limitations:

• Can be lab-driven and reductionist
• Often underemphasizes the emotional, relational, environmental, and spiritual dimensions of healing
• May miss the lived experience of the patient by treating systems only

Why Integrative Medicine Benefits Patients More Fully Than All The Others

Integrative Medicine doesn’t replace these approaches it weaves them all together by:

• Addresses root causes AND lived experience
• Uses high-tech devices to ensure how to help interconnections
• Offers high-touch care – seeing each patient as an individual person, not a set group, which builds trust and a healthy relationship
• Offers more than a “One-Size-Fit’s approach by seeing each patient for their self not labeling them as their illness or disease.
• Treats all aspects of mind-body connections
• Treats all aspects of Mental-emotional connects
• Treats all aspects of Spiritual connections within the body
• Treats all organs, glands, and systems as a whole set system working together – not as individual pieces taught in medical school
• Treats all aspects of environmental such as endocrine disruptors etc.
• Treats all aspects of hormonal issues, cortisol levels, etc.
• Treats physical symptoms while also supporting emotional resilience, nervous system regulation, and quality of life
• Emphasizes the importance of nutritional aspects for overall health and wellness
• Emphasizes the importance of lifestyle and healthy habits
• Emphasizes the importance of stress, anxiety, sleep etc. Honors nutrition, lifestyle, and natural therapies
• Respects the role of medical diagnosis and conventional treatment
• Centers care on interconnected systems and the whole person
• Emphasizes high-touch relationships alongside evidence-informed tools
• Empowers patients as active participants in their healing
• Recognizes that healing happens across interconnected systems, not isolated organs, symptoms or lab results

In short: Integrative Medicine asks not only “What’s wrong?” but “Who is this person, and What does their body need to heal?” “What is the body saying?” “What interconnections are malfunctioning” and “What is the underlying cause(s) that will lead to what the real root cause(s)”

Integrative Medicine is the only model that intentionally holds all the pieces at once.

This table below is designed to help patients see the difference without sounding dismissive of other fields. It is compliant with Indiana scope considerations, and aligned with my philosophy at Whole Body Healthcare and Wellness.

Understanding Different Approaches to Care

Why Integrative Medicine Stands Apart

Integrative Medicine doesn’t ask patients to choose between approaches.
It asks: What combination of therapies best supports this unique person—right now?

• Nutrition ✔
• Natural therapies ✔
• Lifestyle medicine ✔
• Mind-body & emotional health ✔
• Evidence-based medical care ✔
• Collaboration with MDs/DOs ✔
• Personalization and partnership ✔

That’s why nothing is left out.

To  learn why Dr. Harman chose Integrative Medicine as her main focus visit “Why Dr. Hartman Practices Integrative Medicine“