Micaela Irvin
March 31st, 2025
I want to start by saying that had it not been for Dr. Kannankeril, I would not be where I am today. I have chronic Lyme disease and hypothyroidism. I was not functioning well when I first met her. She has handled my case with knowledge, meticulous care, and compassion. Let me preface that no physician can possibly know everything but what makes a great physician is the ability to see symptoms and body systems like moving puzzle pieces. I often feel in western medicine we think of these systems as separate when in reality they are all linked. With each new health issue I've had to tackle in my life, dr. Kannankeril has helped me navigate it. She is very good at what she does and I am so grateful to have her on my healthcare team. I do fundamentally believe you need both eastern and western medicine to be successful with treatments and she upholds that philosophy. I 15/10 recommend her to anyone struggling within tradition western medicine.
Dr Kannankeril is amazing and helped us through serious medical issues. With the lab tests she ran and the results she found she was able to heal in a non-toxic way. She orders blood tests not ordered by general practitioners that can help find the root of the problem. She writes all the recommendations out to follow and is very caring.
Shirley Buggs
October 16th, 2023
I went to Dr. Kannankeril in 2017 for Diverticulitis. She recommended I change my diet which I did. I still follow her instructions however recently, I called (09/23)to inquire about another physical matter. Someone in the office named Sean quoted me rates of $495 an hour with a $200 deposit to book. I told him I could not afford the fees at that time. Two weeks later, I received a bill for $147.50 called Broken Appt. I called and was advised it would be removed from my account. On October 5, another bill arrives for the same amount. The billing office again apologized and promised to remove the charge. I advised them I didn't want bad credit because of their error. 10/14 the third bill arrived for the same erroneous charges. On 10/16 I spoke to Ms. Teresa who again promised to have my account cleared.
I hope the doctor knows that the office staff is making inquiries about her business into bills. I'm feed up with getting the bills and being charged $147.50 for asking questions about the business. I never booked an appointment!!!
Candace H
November 21st, 2018
One of the best doctors I have ever seen. I've been going to her for years and she gets to the root of your issues, doesn't rush, and is meticulous, friendly and thorough. Because she is a naturopath (with traditional medicine credentials as well) the cost of out of pocket can be high but it was worth it to me go once or twice a year, at minimum. It's no exaggeration, but my life has changed since seeing her (weight loss, better stress management, less overall sickness, less inflammation/pain and more knowledgeable about my experience). For basic colds, etc. I go to my local clinic or deal with it myself but I highly recommend her for more serious issues with digestion and hormones and overall health check ups.
Edit: Regarding other (negative) reviews...
Seeing Dr. K, or any naturopath, is an investment for sure. It was definitely a financial stretch for me and my husband and we had to make sacrifices. After going to many other doctors I decided to look up an ND in DC and came across Dr. K. I not only told her about my health issues but I let her know my financial situation as well. She worked with me and I never felt pressured to buy anything. The things I did purchase were helpful to me (I know not everyone will have the same experience). And if I needed more space between appointments, because they're not cheap, then that's what I did.
I no longer live in the area but I still recommend her, especially to friends and family that have unsuccessfully tried "traditional" approaches.
Also it's customary to have a follow up appointment after blood work, or any tests. Most docs don't just call afterwards. It's not a scam but common practice, unless something is really wrong and even then a follow up appointment is usually warranted to give further info. While I know NIHA or no one doctor is for everyone I had a host of issues before seeing her in 2011 and she helped with each one when other doctors didn't. It can be hard finding the right provider and an ND definitely isn't for everyone, especially considering the cost, but to call an experienced, highly skilled, credentialed and compassionate provider a scammer is a bit much.
Trust me I've seen "scammers" in medicine (5 min rushed visits, suprise bills, pushing invasive procedures, etc.) and Dr. K doesn't fit that bill. In fact, one thing that sets her apart, and maybe this is true for any genuine medical professional, is that she didn't want me to just rely on her. She actually wanted me to get well, stay well and be knowledgeable about my health. To this day, I am way more aware of my health needs. Of course this is her business. But I truly believe she cares about her patients' wellness, not just exploiting their illnesses, like many other providers.
First, I'd like to mention that I don't believe I've ever left ANYONE a negative review in my life. It's important that other people have TRUE perspectives on their negative visit and therefore I'm now taking the time to let you know to decide for yourself. I chose to see Dr. Charlene Kannankeril because of all the reviews; however, it was a WASTE of time and money. Recently diagnosed w/a thyroid condition, I researched and also sought traditional medicine prior to meeting w/her. The sad truth is that I believe that I am more familiar w/thyroid conditions than her. Although I supplied her with lab results, she ignored them. She also NEVER even examined my thyroid. Ridiculous waste of my time and a lot of money for 1 appointment to see this doctor. My recommendation would be to find another doctor.