Naturopathy & Integrative Practices
Naturopathy, integrative medicine and functional medicine are not the same thing. This category explains each, what a consultation involves, and how to judge a proposed plan.
Some tests and treatments sold in these settings lack proper evidence, and some carry risks. Dedicated pages examine them critically.
Start here: What Is Naturopathy? History, Practice, Evidence and Regulation
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Safety first
- Complementary therapies can interact with medicines and some are unsafe in pregnancy, in children or with certain health conditions.
- Do not delay or stop medical care for a serious or worsening condition to try a therapy.
- Choose a practitioner whose qualifications you have checked, and tell every clinician what you are using.
Overview
What this category covers
This section explains naturopathy, integrative medicine, functional medicine and lifestyle medicine in plain language. These words are often used as if they meant the same thing, and they do not. NCCIH, the US government's lead agency for research on complementary and integrative health, separates "complementary" (used together with conventional medicine) from "alternative" (used in place of it). [1] Integrative health brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. [1] Naturopathy is a distinct medical system that evolved from traditional practices and health care approaches popular in 19th-century Europe. [2]How the pages are organized
- Definitions and care models: what is naturopathy and integrative, functional and lifestyle medicine, with a side-by-side comparison.
- Consultation and care planning: what to expect, medication review and judging a plan.
- Common components: nutrition, lifestyle, botanicals, supplements and mind-body practices, linked to full guides elsewhere on the site.
- Tests and treatment claims: critical, educational pages on broad testing, detox programs and chelation and IV vitamin and ozone therapy.
- Qualifications and safety: credentials and scope of practice and red flags and informed consent.
Traditional ideas and evidence
Naturopathy describes its aim as treating the "root cause" of illness on the belief that symptoms are the body's signal. [2] That is a guiding philosophy, not a laboratory finding. Evidence is judged for each treatment and each condition. Research on whole-system naturopathic care is promising but limited, and the studies combine several treatments, so it is hard to tell which part helped. [3] Some parts of naturopathic practice, such as homeopathy, have little evidence of benefit. [4] We hold every approach to the same standard, whether traditional or modern.Safety pointers
- Natural does not necessarily mean safe, and supplements and herbs can interact with medicines. [5]
- NCCIH advises against using unproven approaches to postpone seeing your health care provider. [5]
- Credentials differ greatly by place; in the US they are set state by state. [6]
- Tell all your providers about everything you use. [7]
For urgent problems, get emergency care first. In the US call 911; for poisoning call 1-800-222-1222.
Explore Naturopathy & Integrative Practices
Definitions & Care Models(2)Naturopathy, integrative, functional and lifestyle medicine, and complementary vs alternative care: not interchangeable.
- What Is Naturopathy? History, Practice, Evidence and Regulation
What naturopathy is, where it comes from, who practices it, what research on whole-system naturopathic care shows and does not show, and how regulation differs by place.
- Integrative Medicine, Functional Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine and Complementary vs Alternative Care
Plain definitions of integrative, functional and lifestyle medicine and of complementary versus alternative care, with what evidence exists and how integrative care diff…
Consultation & Care Planning(1)What to expect, medication and supplement review, coordination, evaluating a plan and costs.
- Naturopathic and Integrative Consultation: What to Expect, Medication Review, Coordination and Evaluating a Care Plan
What to expect at a naturopathic or integrative visit, how to prepare for medication and supplement review, coordinating with your doctor, judging a care plan and asking…
Common Components(1)Nutrition counseling, lifestyle support, botanicals, supplements and mind-body practices, linked to their canonical guides.
- Common Components of Naturopathic and Integrative Care: Nutrition, Lifestyle, Botanicals, Supplements and Mind-Body Practices
A guide to the six parts of naturopathic and integrative care: nutrition counseling, lifestyle support, botanicals, supplements, mind-body practices and referrals, with …
Tests & Treatment Claims(3)Critical educational pages on testing and treatment claims sold in integrative settings.
- Tests Sold in Integrative Practice: Evidence-Based Testing vs Broad Panels, Food IgG, Hair Mineral, "Adrenal" and Microbiome Tests
A claim check of tests sold in integrative practice: food IgG, hair mineral analysis, "adrenal fatigue" cortisol tests and commercial microbiome kits, and what each is a…
- Detox Programs and Chelation Claims
A claim check of detox programs and chelation therapy: what research shows for cleanses, and when chelation is a legitimate treatment for metal poisoning versus an unpro…
- IV Vitamin Therapy and Ozone Therapy Claims
A claim check of IV vitamin drips such as the Myers cocktail and of ozone therapy: legitimate medical uses, what evidence shows for wellness claims, and regulation and r…
Qualifications & Safety(2)Credentials, licensing, scope of practice, red flags and informed consent.
- Credentials, Professional Titles, Licensing Differences and Scope of Practice for Naturopathic and Integrative Practitioners
How titles, licensing and scope of practice for naturopathic and integrative practitioners differ by country and state, and how to check a credential before you book.
- Red Flags in Health Claims, Unnecessary Testing, Delayed Treatment, Informed Consent and Second Opinions
Warning signs in health claims, how unnecessary tests and supplement piles build up, the risk of delayed treatment, what informed consent means, and when to get a second…
Comparisons(1)Naturopathy vs integrative medicine.
- Naturopathy vs Integrative Medicine
A side-by-side comparison of naturopathy and integrative medicine: what each is, who practices, how they relate to conventional care, regulation and evidence.
Related comparisons
Research connections
Our pages cite the studies and official sources behind each statement. For the underlying records, see the evidence page for this goal and the Research Library.
Therapies Research and Evidence: How Much Research Exists and How to Read It Research Library Wellness Goals
Frequently asked questions
Is naturopathy the same as integrative medicine?
No. Naturopathy is a specific medical system. Integrative medicine is a coordinated way of combining conventional and complementary approaches. [2][1]
Does the evidence support naturopathic medicine?
For whole-system care, studies are promising but limited, and results depend on the condition. [3] Individual parts must be judged separately.
Are naturopathic doctors licensed?
In some places. In the US, states decide, and NCCIH says traditional naturopaths are not eligible for licensing. [6][2]
Can I use these approaches along with my medicines?
Often people do, but tell your providers, because supplements and herbs can interact with medicines. [8]
Should I trust a test or detox program sold in a clinic?
Check what the test is for and what evidence supports it. Start with our pages on broad testing and detox claims. [5]
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What's In a Name? Last updated April 2021. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Naturopathy. Last updated April 2025. Read 2026-10-22.
- Myers SP, Vigar V. The State of the Evidence for Whole-System, Multi-Modality Naturopathic Medicine: A Systematic Scoping Review. J Altern Complement Med. 2019;25(2):141-168. PubMed 30785315. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Homeopathy. Last updated April 2021. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Are You Considering a Complementary Health Approach? Last updated September 2016. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Credentialing, Licensing, and Education. Last updated May 2018. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. 6 Things To Know When Selecting a Complementary Health Practitioner. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Last updated January 2019. Read 2026-10-22.
Content last updated . This section has not been medically reviewed.