Naturopathic and Integrative Care Warning Signs Checklist: When to Stop and Seek Another Opinion

Urgent first

In the US, call 911 for chest pain or pressure, signs of stroke, trouble breathing or a severe allergic reaction. [1][2][3] For a possible poisoning call Poison Help, 1-800-222-1222. [4] Details are at emergencies and poisoning during natural treatments. Information only; this page does not replace medical care.

How to use this checklist

One sign is a reason to ask a question. Several signs, or any sign combined with a serious illness, are a reason to pause and get a second opinion. The list applies to any practitioner or seller, licensed or not, and says nothing about any group of people. A licence or certificate does not guarantee safe, effective treatment. [5]

The checklist

About claims

• [ ] Promises a cure, "guaranteed results" or a "secret ingredient". [6]
• [ ] One product or program is said to treat a wide range of diseases. [6]
• [ ] Relies on personal success stories instead of studies you can look up. [6]
• [ ] Says natural means safe. [6]
• [ ] Says doctors or the government are hiding the cure. [6]

About your care

• [ ] Suggests replacing or delaying treatment for a serious condition such as cancer. NCCIH advises against using unproven products to replace or delay medical treatment for cancer, [7] and a registry study linked alternative medicine alone for curable cancers to a greater risk of death. [8]


• [ ] Is unwilling to work with your other health care providers. NCCIH suggests finding out whether a practitioner will. [9]


• [ ] Discourages you from telling your doctor what you are using. NCCIH advises telling all providers. [9]


• [ ] Advises you to stop or change a prescribed medicine without talking to the prescriber. This is our caution, not a sourced finding: ask the prescriber first.


• [ ] Advice about vaccines or screening that conflicts with your health authority. Use CDC, WHO or your national health service; see vaccines and naturopathic care.

About credentials and honesty

• [ ] Cannot say what license, registration or certificate they hold, or uses a protected title without one. [10]


• [ ] Diagnoses where the local rules do not allow it. In California the Board says unlicensed people may not diagnose. [11]


• [ ] Does not give required written notice about license status where that applies. [11]

About money and products

• [ ] Pressure to pay for a package up front. Proper evidence not found in the sources we read about how common this is; ask for terms in writing. [9]


• [ ] Secret formula or unlisted ingredients. Some supplements have contained prescription drugs not listed on the label. [12]


• [ ] Many supplements or tests you cannot explain, sold by the practitioner. See costs, packages and supplement sales.

About your body

• [ ] New or worsening symptoms after starting something. Contact a doctor or poison center. The FDA says health fraud can delay proper diagnosis and treatment. [13]

What to do if you see signs

1. Pause before paying or starting.
2. Ask for the evidence and the license details. See questions to ask a naturopath or integrative practitioner.
3. Tell your regular doctor and consider a second opinion.
4. For a serious condition, NCCIH says delayed cancer treatment reduces the likelihood of remission or cure, [7] so do not wait for the second opinion to start standard care your doctor advises.
5. Report problems: reporting complaints and adverse events.

Extra care

Pregnancy, children, older adults, cancer, kidney or liver disease, several medicines, anticoagulants, surgery and eating-disorder history are all reasons to check with a clinician first. NCCIH says supplements may interact with medicines and pose risks before surgery. [12] See also red flags in marketing.