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.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
What naturopathy is
Naturopathy, also called naturopathic medicine, is described by the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) as a medical system that evolved from traditional practices and health care approaches popular in Europe during the 19th century. [1] It is not one treatment. It is a care model that combines several approaches, usually delivered in one-to-one visits.How it is traditionally explained
Naturopathy says it aims to prevent and treat disease by addressing its "root cause," based on the belief that symptoms are the body's way of signaling a problem. [1] This is a traditional explanation and a guiding philosophy. It is not a measured biological mechanism, and it does not tell you whether any particular treatment works. That has to be tested treatment by treatment.What naturopathic practitioners do
NCCIH lists dietary and lifestyle changes, stress reduction, herbs and other dietary supplements, homeopathy, manipulative therapies, exercise therapy, practitioner-guided detoxification, and psychotherapy and counseling. [1] These parts do not all have the same evidence behind them (see the table below). A visit usually involves a long conversation about history and goals; see what to expect at a consultation.Who practices it
NCCIH describes three groups in the United States. [1]- Licensed naturopathic physicians (N.D. or N.M.D.) complete a graduate program at a naturopathic medical school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education.
- Traditional naturopaths may train through various non-accredited programs of differing length and content, and are not eligible for licensing.
- Other health care providers may offer some of the same treatments, for example chiropractors giving diet counseling.
The terms sound alike, so titles matter. See credentials, licensing and scope of practice.
What research shows
Naturopathic medicine as a whole has been studied less than single treatments. Reading the research means asking which part of a package, for which condition, compared with what.| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-system naturopathic care | A scoping review of 33 studies (9,859 people) concluded it was effective for conditions including musculoskeletal pain, type 2 diabetes and depression. [2] | Promising but limited |
| Chronic low back pain | In one trial of 75 postal employees, 12 weeks of naturopathic care (diet counseling, deep breathing and acupuncture) beat a physiotherapy-instructions booklet on a disability questionnaire. [3] | Promising but limited (single small trial) |
| Homeopathy (one part of some practices) | NCCIH says there is little evidence it works for any specific health condition. [4] | No good evidence of benefit |
Three cautions apply. A scoping review maps the research that exists; its authors worked at naturopathic research units, and the included studies delivered two or more modalities together, so they cannot say which element helped. [2] In the back pain trial the comparison was written instructions, not an equal amount of personal attention, and people knew which group they were in. [3] Finally, the useful parts may be ones also offered in conventional care, such as exercise, diet advice and stress management.
Safety and who should take extra care
Natural does not mean safe. Herbs and supplements can interact with medicines and some are poorly made; see medication interactions and how supplements are regulated. NCCIH says not to use a product or practice that is unproven as a reason to postpone seeing your health care provider, and that stopping or not starting conventional treatment can have serious consequences. [5] Get conventional care first, or alongside, for chest pain, severe or worsening symptoms, cancer, diabetes, infections and symptoms in babies. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without talking to the prescriber.Regulation depends on where you live
- United States: state governments decide credentials. [6] An NCCIH page last updated in 2018 said only 17 states and the District of Columbia license naturopathic physicians; check your state board for the current position. [6]
- Ontario, Canada: the College of Naturopaths of Ontario regulates the profession, and "naturopath" and "naturopathic doctor" are protected titles. [7]
- British Columbia, Canada: the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC regulates naturopathic physicians. [8]
- Australia: a 2012 review described naturopaths as entirely unregulated. [9] Rules may have changed since, so confirm with a current government source.
A license is not a guarantee of quality. [1] For how to compare naturopathy with integrative medicine, see naturopathy vs integrative medicine.
Frequently asked questions
Is a naturopathic doctor the same as a medical doctor?
No. NCCIH describes naturopathic physicians as graduates of accredited naturopathic medical schools, whose scope of practice varies by state license. [1] A medical doctor follows a different training and regulatory route; check what your local law allows each to do.
Does naturopathy work?
It depends on the treatment and the condition. Studies of whole-system care show promising but limited results, mostly for chronic conditions. [2] Some parts, such as homeopathy, lack good evidence. [4]
Can a "naturopath" practice anywhere?
No. Rules differ by country, state and province, and some places do not regulate the title at all. [6][7][9]
Is naturopathy safe?
Safety depends on what is actually done. Herbs and supplements can interact with medicines or be contaminated, and delaying proven treatment is a risk. [10][5]
Should I use naturopathy instead of my doctor?
NCCIH describes the use of a non-mainstream approach together with conventional care as complementary and use in place of it as alternative, and advises against using unproven approaches as a substitute. [11][5]
References
- 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.
- Szczurko O, et al. Naturopathic care for chronic low back pain: a randomized trial. PLoS One. 2007. PubMed 17878954. 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.
- College of Naturopaths of Ontario. About Naturopaths. Read 2026-10-22.
- College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. Home page. Read 2026-10-22.
- Reid R, et al. A review of tensions and risks in naturopathic education and training in Australia: A need for regulation. 2012. UTS Open Publications. Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH. Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. Last updated January 2019. Read 2026-10-22.
- 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.