An integrative approach
to your health,
the best of both worlds
A different kind
of doctor
Dr. Kannankeril is a licensed, board certified Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine in Washington, DC. She is trained in both pharmaceutical medicine and natural medicine and uses an integrative medical approach with her patients. Her therapies include clinical nutrition, herbal medicine and nutritional supplements, as well as standard Western medical treatments and prescription medications.
Dr. Kannankeril received her bachelor's degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC. While pre-med, she became interested in natural forms of healing and went on to study Ayurvedic medicine in southern India and then pursued a Master's degree in Natural Health.
She completed her naturopathic medical degree at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon, the oldest accredited college of naturopathic medicine in the country. Dr. Kannankeril has completed internships in Cardiopulmonary Medicine and Women's Health.
Dr. Kannankeril was originally appointed by the former Mayor Anthony Williams as a member of the DC Board of Medicine's Advisory Committee on Naturopathic Medicine in 2006. She was reappointed to this position and made Chairperson of the Committee by Mayor Adrian Fenty in 2009 and regularly consults with the Board of Medicine under Mayor Muriel Bowser. She is also a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and takes pride in taking an integrative approach to her patients.
with a different kind of approach
Naturopathic Medicine is a distinctively natural approach to health and healing that recognizes the integrity of the whole person. This kind of medicine emphasizes the treatment of disease through the stimulation, enhancement, and support of the inherent healing capacity of the person. The treatments are chosen to work with the patient's body, respecting the intelligence of the natural healing process.
Identify and treat the cause
Every illness has an underlying cause. These causes must be discovered and removed or treated before recovery can begin. While modern medicine works to suppress symptoms, Dr. Kannankeril is trained to find and remove the underlying causes of illness.
Prevention
The ultimate goal of any health care system should be prevention. Dr. Kannankeril assesses environmental and hereditary risks, then educates patients about appropriate choices. Patients are taught tools for living a healthy life and preventing minor illnesses from becoming more serious or chronic, degenerative diseases.
Treat the whole person
Any imbalance in body, mind or spirit affects the entire person. Health and disease result from complex interactions of physical, mental, emotional, genetic, social, environmental and lifestyle factors. Dr. Kannankeril takes all of these factors into account when designing personalized and comprehensive treatments.
The practice of Naturopathic Medicine emerges from six underlying principles of healing:
The healing power of nature
The body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. Dr. Kannankeril's role is to facilitate and augment this process, to act to identify and remove obstacles to health and recovery, and to support the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.
The physician as teacher
Beyond an accurate diagnosis and appropriate prescription, Dr. Kannankeril works to create a healthy, sensitive interpersonal relationship with the patient. She educates her patients about their health and encourages self-responsibility in their healing processes.
First do no harm
Dr. Kannankeril uses the least invasive treatments to minimize risks of harmful side effects.
