Common Components of Naturopathic and Integrative Care: Nutrition, Lifestyle, Botanicals, Supplements and Mind-Body Practices

How to use this page

Naturopathic and integrative care is usually a mix of parts rather than one treatment. This page names the six common parts, says what each is, gives the main caution, and sends you to the full guide. Evidence belongs to each part and condition separately, not to the label of the clinic. [1] NCCIH groups complementary approaches into natural products (such as herbs and supplements) and psychological and physical approaches (such as yoga, meditation and acupuncture). [1]

Nutrition counseling

Dietary change is on NCCIH's list of what naturopathic practitioners do. [2] Food advice can be sound, as in lifestyle programs with strong trial results for preventing type 2 diabetes. [3] Be cautious about restrictive "elimination" plans sold on the basis of unproven tests, and tell your doctor if you have diabetes, kidney disease or a history of disordered eating. See eating patterns compared and eating disorders and disordered eating.

Lifestyle support

Physical activity, sleep and stress management are listed among naturopathic approaches. [2] They are also part of conventional preventive care. See sleep hygiene, how to relieve stress and integrative, functional and lifestyle medicine.

Botanicals

Botanical products are herbs and plant extracts, taken as teas, capsules or tinctures. NCCIH says "natural" does not necessarily mean safe, and that some herbal products interact harmfully with medicines. [4] The NHS says herbal medicines are not recommended for children, and should not be taken if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have kidney or liver problems, or take certain medicines. [5] See herb safety and interactions and herbal extracts and tinctures.

Supplements

Supplements include vitamins, minerals and many other ingredients. In the US the FDA can act against unsafe supplements only after they are on the market, and labels cannot claim to treat or cure disease. [6] What is on the label may not be what is in the product; the FDA has found prescription drugs in some products sold as supplements. [6] See vitamins and supplements, reading supplement labels and product quality and contamination. Some practitioners also sell supplements; ask about that.

Mind-body practices

NCCIH lists meditation, yoga, tai chi, relaxation techniques and acupuncture among psychological and physical approaches, and says research suggests several of them help for a variety of conditions, though the amount of research varies widely. [1] See meditation for stress, sleep and anxiety, yoga evidence by outcome and what is acupuncture.

Referrals

NCCIH notes that naturopathic practitioners may, if appropriate, refer patients to conventional providers. [2] A good practitioner knows the limits of their scope and refers on for problems that need diagnosis or treatment elsewhere. Ask how referrals work and see naturopathic and integrative consultation.

Other parts you may be offered

Naturopathic practitioners may also offer homeopathy, for which NCCIH reports little evidence of effect for any specific condition, and "practitioner-guided detoxification." [7][2] See detox programs and chelation claims.