Integrative Practitioner Top Stories of 2025

By Allison Proffitt, Executive Editor, [email protected]

December 29, 2025 | Last year was a year of many changes in integrative medicine around the world, among them: new ownership for Integrated Practitioner and the Integrative Health Symposium. While some of the faces here are new, we are thrilled to enter 2026 with many of the same advisors and leadership that have built IHS and the Integrative Practitioner community.

The top stories from the past year are also a mix of old and new—both recurring themes and new ones. Neurodegenerative disease and mental health were top issues both in the past and in 2025; dietary interventions were new areas of focus.

As we look ahead to 2026, we’d love to hear from you. What topic areas are you eager to read more about? What kinds of content would you like to see? Will we see you at the Integrative Healthcare Symposium in New York next month? Check out the full 2026 agenda.

Read more for our list of the most-read articles of 2025.

Nutraceuticals to Consider for Chronic Migraine

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), headache disorders are “underestimated, under-recognized, and under-treated throughout the world.” WHO reports that globally about 40% of the population has a headache disorder such as chronic migraine. A recent paper in JAMA Insights reminds us that “migraine is the most common neurologic disease and the second-most disabling condition worldwide.” Read more.

Harnessing Nature’s Remedy: Local Raw Honey as Immunotherapy for Allergic Rhinitis and Seasonal Allergies

Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects nearly one in six Americans and is responsible for as much as $2 to $4 billion in annual lost productivity.1 For those suffering from allergic rhinitis and seasonal allergies, local raw honey may offer a promising complementary therapy. This article explores the potential benefits of using local raw honey as an immunotherapy approach, backed by recent studies, while also pointing out concerns regarding conventional treatments. Read more.

How Much Do You Know About Kaempferol?

Flavonoids are a group of compounds found in a variety of natural sources from fruits, vegetables, and tea to bark, roots, and stems that have been widely studied over the past few decades. Kaempferol is one of those flavonoid compounds found in fruits and vegetables that has significant anti-inflammatory effects. Its anti-inflammatory effects can be attributed in part to its ability to inhibit NF-kB binding activity, suppress the release of key interleukins and tumor necrosis factor, increase mRNA and Nrf2, and inhibit toll-like receptor 4. In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, research demonstrates that kaempferol also has antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and anticarcinogenic effects. Preliminary research also shows that kaempferol can help regulate intestinal health and is a potential neuroprotective agent. Read more.

Fish Oil and Prostate Cancer

When prostate cancer is less aggressive, slow moving, and/or caught early, the previous strategy was termed “watchful waiting.” That term was transitioned to “active surveillance” which involves more monitoring and can be more empowering for some patients. But it can still be difficult for men to forgo conventional treatment for a surveillance strategy. Offering complementary interventions may be appealing to men who would like to be more proactive. Adding fish oil to the protocol and recommending a low omega-6 diet may help further improve outcomes for men using active surveillance. Read more.

New Research on Psilocybin for Depression

The research regarding the therapeutic potential of the psychedelic compound psilocybin found in mushrooms continues to grow. The latest double-blind randomized clinical trial was published recently in JAMA and featured physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who provided frontline care during the pandemic. These clinicians had no pre-pandemic mental health issues but after the pandemic were experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of depression and burnout. Read more.

Luteolin May Prevent Hair from Graying, Study Finds

Graying hair is widely recognized as a hallmark of aging, often accepted as an inevitable process. However, recent research from Nagoya University in Japan suggests that an antioxidant may suppress this process. The study, published in Antioxidants, identified luteolin, an antioxidant found in vegetables such as celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers, as a potential anti-graying agent. Researchers say the findings open the door for potential applications in human hair care. Read more.

A Guide to Dosing Herbal Medicine

The most important aspects to consider are the patient’s age, weight, and sensitivity. Are you aware of any allergies or adverse reactions that the patient has had against any foods or plants, and if so, make sure you are potential herbs to avoid in case of sensitivity to a plant family? This is common with the ragweed and daisy families. It’s important to explain to patients that they need to start with herbs slowly but be specific around how to incrementally increase the dose until they get to their full dose. Explain that they might notice some initial changes in energy or symptoms but warn them to discontinue if they feel any significant adverse side effects at any point. If a patient is on medications or supplements, the timing of their herbal dosages needs to be considered in order to avoid potential interactions. If the patient has assimilation issues, consider what form would be best to use. Read more.

Early Interventions Can Significantly Reduce the Risk of Depression, Study Finds

A recent meta-study reveals that therapeutic interventions for individuals experiencing early symptoms of depression can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing clinical depression, offering new hope for mental health prevention strategies. The study, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, was conducted by researchers from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg in Germany. The study examined data from approximately 3,600 participants from 30 studies, comparing those who received therapeutic interventions to a control group. These interventions targeted “subclinical symptoms” of depression—symptoms that don’t yet meet the diagnostic criteria for clinical depression, such as persistent sadness, lack of motivation, difficulty sleeping, and loss of interest. Read more.

ALS and MS May Be Influenced by Environmental Factors

While ALS and MS have different prognoses and pathological markers, they are both incurable neurodegenerative diseases that have devastating impacts on both patients and families—and they are both of unknown etiology. Melissa Schilling, professor at New York University’s Stern School of Business, analyzed the distribution of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) in the U.S. using mortality data, and she found a significant geographic association of the mortality crude rates, even while controlling for race, gender, latitude, and access to neurological care and resources. Read more.

Ketogenic Diet Shows Long-Lasting Impacts on Metabolic Health

The ketogenic diet has gained popularity for weight loss and managing conditions, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. There have also been speculations that a ketogenic diet can improve metabolic health. Researchers from the University of Utah investigated the long-term effects of the ketogenic diet and the impact it may have on an individual’s metabolic health. Read more.