Integrative Medicine
Combining evidence-based conventional care with complementary approaches tailored to your needs.
At Three Rivers Concierge Medicine, your physician offers integrative medicine services that focus on addressing the root causes of illness rather than just masking symptoms. By looking at your unique genetics, lifestyle, and biochemistry, we work together to create a customized treatment plan that promotes long-term wellness. Our goal is to optimize your health by using a holistic, patient-centered approach that enhances your quality of life.
Integrative Medicine Q & A
What is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine is a comprehensive, patient-centered approach to healthcare that focuses on finding the root causes of illness and treating them through a combination of lifestyle changes, nutrition, supplements, and, when necessary, medication. Unlike conventional medicine, which often focuses on treating symptoms, integrative medicine aims to improve your overall well-being by addressing the underlying issues that contribute to health problems.
What Conditions Can Integrative Medicine Treat?
Integrative medicine can help with a wide range of health conditions, including:
- Hormonal imbalances
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Digestive issues, like IBS or bloating
- Autoimmune diseases
- Cardiovascular issues
- Chronic pain
- Weight management
- Skin problems
- Mood disorders, like anxiety or depression
By addressing the root causes of these issues, integrative medicine offers a holistic way to support health and restore balance to your body.
What Services Are Included in a Integrative Medicine Appointment?
When you see your physician for a integrative medicine appointment, you’ll receive a comprehensive evaluation that may include:
- Diet and nutritional counseling to address food sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, and support overall health.
- Stress management techniques to help regulate cortisol and reduce chronic stress effects.
- Preventative care to assess and address potential risks before they develop into serious health conditions.
- Hormonal optimization to balance hormones and improve energy, mood, and metabolism.
- Genetic testing to tailor treatments based on your unique genetic profile.
- Sleep recommendations to improve sleep quality and address sleep disorders.
- Digestive health to address issues like bloating, constipation, and food intolerances.
- Exercise recommendations that suit your body’s needs and health goals.
- Medications and nutritional supplements tailored to support your health goals and enhance healing.
What Happens During a Integrative Medicine Appointment?
During your first integrative medicine appointment, your physician will conduct a thorough assessment, reviewing your medical history, lifestyle factors, and current symptoms. After gathering this information, your physician may order laboratory tests, such as blood work, urinalysis, or genetic testing, to gain a deeper understanding of your health. Once all relevant data is collected, a personalized care plan will be created, designed to address your specific needs and restore balance in your body.
Integrative Medicine Tailored to You
Combining evidence-based medicine with complementary approaches — personalized to your health needs and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is integrative medicine?
Integrative medicine — as defined by the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine & Health — combines the best of conventional medicine with evidence-informed complementary approaches including nutrition, supplementation, stress management, hormonal optimization, and lifestyle modification to address root causes of illness rather than just treating symptoms. At Three Rivers Concierge Medicine in Creve Coeur, Dr. Shoemaker uses your genetics, lab data, and health history to create a plan that's truly personalized. This is medicine that asks "why" before it asks "what do we prescribe."
How is integrative medicine different from holistic care?
While the terms overlap, integrative medicine at Three Rivers emphasizes a data-driven, lab-guided approach — using genetic testing, advanced bloodwork, and clinical diagnostics to identify root causes before selecting treatments. Holistic care focuses more broadly on whole-person wellness and may include modalities like acupuncture and manual therapy. Both are offered under Dr. Shoemaker's oversight, and many patients benefit from elements of each.
What conditions respond well to integrative medicine?
Hormonal imbalances, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders like IBS (which affects an estimated 10–15% of the global population according to the American Gastroenterological Association), autoimmune conditions, chronic pain, mood disorders, cardiovascular risk factors, and stubborn weight management issues are among the most common reasons patients seek integrative care. These conditions often have multiple contributing factors that conventional symptom-focused treatment addresses incompletely. Dr. Shoemaker at Three Rivers in St. Louis identifies and treats the underlying drivers.
Do you use genetic testing in integrative medicine?
Yes — genetic testing including Tempus xG+ can reveal predispositions to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and medication sensitivities that inform a more precise treatment strategy. For mental health, pharmacogenomic testing identifies which medications are most likely to be effective for your specific genetics — reducing the trial-and-error approach that the American Psychiatric Association acknowledges leads to prolonged suffering for many patients. This level of personalization is central to how integrative medicine works at Three Rivers.
Will I still take prescription medications?
When they're the right tool, yes — integrative medicine isn't anti-medication. Dr. Shoemaker prescribes pharmaceuticals when clinically indicated, but also evaluates whether lifestyle changes, nutritional interventions, or supplementation can address the root cause more effectively or reduce the need for long-term medication. The goal is the right combination for your specific situation, not an ideological stance against any one approach.
How do I know if integrative medicine is right for me?
If you've been managing a condition with conventional treatment alone and aren't seeing the results you want, or if you've been told "your labs are normal" when you still feel unwell, integrative medicine may uncover what's been missed. It's also a strong fit for patients who want a proactive, prevention-oriented approach that goes deeper than standard care. Schedule a consultation at Three Rivers in Creve Coeur to explore whether this approach aligns with your goals.
