Short answer: For new, severe, or sudden symptoms, start with your primary care doctor. If your basic workup is done and you still feel tired, your hormones still feel off, or your gut still is not settled, many people look for a holistic, natural doctor who takes more time. In Maryland, that is often a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND), such as Dr. Ryan Kneessi of Move Forward Natural Health, who sees adults in person and by video statewide.
Why it is hard to know who to call
Fatigue, hormone changes, and digestive trouble rarely have one simple cause, and they often show up together. Many people go from appointment to appointment, hear that their labs are “normal,” and still do not feel like themselves. It is completely understandable to wonder whether you need a different kind of doctor, and what to even call that doctor when you search.
People describe this kind of care in many ways: a holistic doctor, a natural doctor, a root cause doctor, an integrative doctor, a functional medicine doctor, or a naturopathic doctor. The words overlap. What matters most is the person’s training, their license, and whether they will take the time to listen.
If your main concern is fatigue
Your primary care doctor is a good first stop, because basic blood work can check common medical causes. If you have done that and still feel drained, a naturopathic visit can be a place to look at the whole picture together, including sleep, stress, meals, movement, and patterns in your lab work. You can read more in our guides on ME/CFS and fibromyalgia support and iron markers.
If your main concern is your thyroid
Many people search for a thyroid doctor because they feel tired, cold, foggy, or unlike themselves, or because they have been told they have Hashimoto’s. An endocrinologist or your primary care doctor manages thyroid medication and testing. Many people also want a functional medicine or naturopathic conversation about how sleep, stress, nutrition, and their full thyroid panel fit together, including TSH, free T4, free T3, and thyroid antibodies. Dr. Kneessi can walk through those results with you in plain language and work alongside your thyroid doctor.
For a deeper look, read Thyroid Doctor in Maryland: A Natural, Functional Medicine Approach.
What causes chronic fatigue? A plain-language overview
Ongoing tiredness can have many contributors, which is why it is worth a careful look. Common ones include poor or short sleep, sleep apnea, ongoing stress, low iron or anemia, thyroid changes, blood sugar swings, low vitamin B12 or vitamin D, depression or anxiety, medication side effects, recent infections, and conditions such as ME/CFS. Your primary care doctor can check many of these with basic blood work. A functional medicine approach then looks at how these pieces may connect for you, so you can talk through next steps with your care team.
If your main concern is hormones, perimenopause, or menopause
Gynecologists and endocrinologists play an important role in hormone care. Many people also want a natural, whole-person conversation about how sleep, stress, nutrition, and labs fit together. A licensed naturopathic doctor can offer that conversation and work alongside your other doctors. Our educational articles on DHEA-S and pregnenolone explain a few of the markers people ask about.
If your main concern is your gut
For bloating, irregularity, or discomfort, start with your primary care doctor or a gastroenterologist, especially if symptoms are new, severe, or getting worse. Many people then want more time to talk through food patterns, stress, and past test results. A naturopathic doctor can help you understand that bigger picture in plain language. Our article on gut health and the intestinal lining is a good place to begin reading.
When to get help right away
Please seek urgent care or call 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, blood in your stool, black stools, unexplained weight loss, a high fever, or any symptom that feels severe or sudden. A naturopathic visit is not a substitute for emergency or urgent care.
What a holistic, natural doctor actually does
A licensed naturopathic doctor is trained in whole-person, natural approaches, including nutrition, lifestyle, sleep, stress, and the thoughtful use of lab testing and practitioner-grade supplements. Visits are longer than a typical office visit, which leaves room for your full story. Dr. Kneessi works alongside your existing doctors rather than replacing them, and his visits are educational and collaborative.
If you would like to read more, see Naturopathic Doctor in Maryland, Functional Medicine Doctor in Maryland, Holistic Doctor in Maryland, and Integrative Doctor in Maryland.
How to get started
- Book a free 15-minute consult. This is a short conversation to share what is going on, ask questions, and see whether the practice is a good fit. There is no exam and no plan at this step.
- Schedule your first visit if it feels right. The first visit is the in-depth appointment where Dr. Kneessi reviews your history, your habits, and any labs you already have.
- Leave with clear next steps. You will have a practical plan that fits your life and your other care.
Visits are available in person in Odenton or by secure video anywhere in Maryland. The practice is cash-pay, and HSA and FSA cards are accepted.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of doctor should I see for fatigue?
Start with your primary care doctor, who can run basic blood work and look for common medical causes. If you have already done that and still feel worn out, many people also choose a naturopathic or integrative doctor, who takes extra time to look at sleep, stress, nutrition, and lab patterns together.
What kind of doctor should I see for hormone problems?
Depending on the concern, people see a primary care doctor, a gynecologist, or an endocrinologist. Some people also want a holistic, natural approach and choose a licensed naturopathic doctor who can work alongside those doctors and look at sleep, stress, nutrition, and labs as a whole.
What kind of doctor should I see for gut issues like bloating?
A primary care doctor or gastroenterologist is the right place to start, especially for new, severe, or worsening symptoms. Many people also see a naturopathic doctor to talk through eating patterns, stress, and past testing in more depth.
Is a holistic doctor a real doctor?
The word holistic describes an approach, not a license. In Maryland, naturopathic doctors (NDs) are licensed by the Maryland Board of Physicians, and you can look up any ND’s license on the Board’s website. Dr. Ryan Kneessi holds an active Maryland naturopathic doctor license.
What is the difference between a natural doctor and a naturopathic doctor?
People often say natural doctor when they mean a naturopathic doctor. A licensed naturopathic doctor has completed a four-year, accredited naturopathic medical program and passed national board exams, and in Maryland must hold a license from the Board of Physicians.
Can I see a naturopathic doctor and keep my regular doctor?
Yes. A naturopathic doctor works alongside your primary care doctor and specialists. Dr. Kneessi encourages you to keep your existing care and share information with your other doctors.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. You can book a free 15-minute consult to ask questions and see whether the practice is a good fit.
Can I use my HSA or FSA card?
HSA and FSA cards are accepted for visits. Whether a specific service counts as an eligible expense depends on your plan, so please check with your plan administrator.
If you are still unsure what kind of doctor you need, a short conversation is a good place to start.
