An Integrative Care Visit: Building a Complete Therapy List

An integrative care visit works best when every provider involved can see the full picture. A complete therapy list is simply a written record of everything you're using to manage your health — prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, herbal products, dietary supplements, and hands-on approaches like acupuncture or chiropractic care — gathered in one place before you walk into an appointment.

The list itself doesn't diagnose anything or replace a conversation with a qualified provider. What it does is remove the guesswork, so nothing gets left out by accident.

What Belongs on the List

A therapy list is only useful if it's complete. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), people often leave things off because they don't think of them as “medical” — but a provider can't account for something they don't know about. Categories to include:

Prescription medications — including dose, how often you take them, and the prescribing provider.
Over-the-counter drugs — pain relievers, allergy medication, sleep aids, antacids.
Herbal products and botanicals — the specific herb name, brand, and dose. “A daily herbal tea blend” is not specific enough; the individual ingredients matter.
Dietary supplements — vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and specialty formulas.
Manual and movement-based therapies — acupuncture, chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, physical therapy.
Mind-body practices — meditation, yoga, or breathing programs, if they're part of a treatment plan a provider is tracking.
Recent changes — anything started, stopped, or adjusted in the last few months, even if you no longer take it regularly.

Myth vs. Reality: What a Therapy List Is For

A few misconceptions keep people from building this list in the first place. Here's what's accurate and what isn't:

Myth: “Herbal and natural products don't need to be on a medical list.” Reality: NCCIH is direct about this — “natural” does not mean “safe,” and herbal products can affect how medications work in the body.
Myth: “If I'm only taking something occasionally, it doesn't count.” Reality: Occasional use still matters, particularly before surgery or procedures, when timing and dosage history can change a provider's recommendations.
Myth: “My acupuncturist and my primary care doctor don't need to know about each other.” Reality: Coordinated care depends on each provider knowing the full picture, not just their own piece of it.
Myth: “A therapy list is the same as a diagnosis or a treatment plan.” Reality: It's neither. It's a reference document that helps a qualified provider make informed decisions — the decisions themselves are theirs to make with you.

Why Disclosure Matters More Than It Seems

NCCIH's guidance on using dietary supplements wisely is specific about the stakes of leaving something off the list. Two situations stand out:

Before surgery or procedures: certain dietary supplements may increase the risk of bleeding or affect how your body responds to anesthesia. NCCIH advises discussing all supplements with your care team as far in advance of any operation as possible — not the morning of.
Alongside medications: some herbal products change how prescription drugs work. St. John's wort, for example, is flagged by NCCIH for making a range of medications less effective. A provider can only account for an interaction like this if they know the supplement is being used at all.

NCCIH also notes that dietary supplements are not regulated the same way as prescription drugs, and what's listed on a label isn't always a reliable guide to what's actually in the product. That's another reason a specific, written list — not a general mental note — is worth the extra few minutes.

A Step-by-Step Checklist for Building Your List

Start with what's in your medicine cabinet. Walk through every bottle, including anything used only occasionally.
Write down exact names and doses. “Fish oil” is less useful than “1000 mg fish oil, twice daily.” For herbal products, include the specific herb and brand, not just the product's marketing name.
Note who recommended each item. A provider, a practitioner, a friend, or your own research — this context helps your care team understand how the item fits into your overall plan.
List ongoing hands-on therapies — acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, physical therapy — along with how often you attend and who provides them.
Flag anything used specifically around surgery, procedures, or pregnancy. These are the situations where NCCIH's disclosure guidance is most direct.
Bring the list to every appointment, not just the first one. Update it as things change rather than rebuilding it from memory each time.

Where to Check a Specific Herb or Supplement

If an item on your list is unfamiliar — even to you — NCCIH maintains Herbs at a Glance, a public directory of brief, plain-language fact sheets covering common names, what the current research shows, and known side effects or cautions for dozens of herbs and botanicals. It's a reference tool, not a substitute for asking your provider directly, but it's a useful starting point before a visit.

What This List Can't Do

A therapy list organizes information. It does not:

Diagnose a condition or confirm that a product is working.
Tell you whether a specific combination is safe for you — that determination belongs to a qualified provider who knows your full medical history.
Replace a conversation about starting, stopping, or changing anything you're currently taking.
Guarantee that every provider you see will coordinate automatically. You may need to actively share the list with each one.

NCCIH's research summaries also vary in strength — some herbs have substantial human clinical trial data, others have limited or preliminary evidence. A complete list doesn't imply that everything on it is equally well studied.

A Conversation Worksheet for Your Next Visit

Once your list is built, these questions — drawn directly from NCCIH's guidance on talking with health care providers — can help structure the conversation:

“Here is everything I'm currently taking or using, including supplements and hands-on therapies. Is there anything here you'd want more detail on?”
“Do any of these interact with something you're prescribing or recommending?”
“Is there anything on this list I should pause or discuss further before an upcoming procedure or surgery?”
“Who else should have a copy of this list — my other providers, a pharmacist, anyone else involved in my care?”
“If I notice a side effect, how should I report it and to whom?”

When to Get Help Right Away

A therapy list is a planning tool, not an emergency resource. If you experience a severe reaction — difficulty breathing, chest pain, sudden swelling, or any symptom that feels serious — contact local emergency services immediately rather than waiting to discuss it at a scheduled visit. For non-urgent side effects, NCCIH recommends stopping use and contacting your provider, and notes that safety concerns can also be reported through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Safety Reporting Portal.

Medical Information Disclaimer

This article is provided for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not diagnose any condition, recommend or endorse any specific therapy, or tell you to start, stop, or change any medication or treatment. Decisions about your care, including any use of herbal products, supplements, or complementary therapies, should be made with a qualified, licensed health care provider who knows your medical history. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, contact local emergency services immediately.

Sources: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), “Herbs at a Glance” and “Using Dietary Supplements Wisely.” Page last updated September 22, 2026.

By NewEasternHealth.com Research Team