Naturopathic medicine merges modern science and natural therapies to support the body’s ability to heal. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are highly trained healthcare practitioners who specialize in prevention and long-term wellness. They provide personalized, primary care for people of all ages and genders.
During a naturopathic visit, NDs explore multiple aspects of a patient’s health to create a tailored treatment plan. Plans may include elements of clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, physical and behavioral therapies, prescribed medications, and lifestyle modifications. Guided by the therapeutic order, NDs lean toward treatments that offer the most benefit with the least risk, while also considering patients’ preferences and unique circumstances.
NDs support patients in managing a wide range of health concerns, from temporary illnesses to chronic conditions, such as pain, gastrointestinal disorders, fertility challenges, and cardiovascular complications.
What is the Therapeutic Order?
The Naturopathic Therapeutic Order1Guide to Using the Naturopathic Medicine Therapeutic Order in Publications and Education. Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine Institute. Published 2019. Accessed August 25, 2025. https://fnminstitute.org/therapeutic-order-use is a core framework in whole-person health, guiding practitioners to consider the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of a patient’s health. It emphasizes individualized care and prioritizes identifying and addressing the root causes of illness, rather than simply managing symptoms. There are seven steps in the therapeutic order:
- Remove obstacles to health. The first step in restoring health is addressing disruptive factors, such as poor diet, digestive issues, chronic stress, inadequate sleep, and lack of exercise. Naturopathic doctors develop personalized plans to resolve these issues, creating a strong foundation for effective treatment.
- Stimulate self-healing mechanisms. NDs strengthen and activate the body’s self-healing abilities with clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, mind–body medicine, and acupuncture.
- Restore weakened systems. NDs identify imbalances and work to restore optimal function.
- Correct structural integrity. Physical modalities, such as spinal manipulation, massage therapy, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercise, and craniosacral therapy, maintain and improve the musculoskeletal system.
- Natural substances restore and regenerate. When addressing specific conditions, NDs prioritize safe, effective treatments that minimize toxicity and avoid additional stress on the body.
- Pharmacologic substances to slow progressive pathology. Naturopathic doctors are trained in pharmacology and specialize in identifying drug–herb and drug–nutrient interactions. Depending on their jurisdiction, NDs may prescribe medications or refer patients to medical colleagues.
- High-force interventions to halt pathology. When necessary, NDs may recommend or prescribe radiation and other conventional measures to suppress disease pathology. Naturopathic medicine works alongside high-force care to help keep patients as healthy and supported as possible during treatment.
Naturopathic medical school & training
Naturopathic medical schools complement conventional medical training, with coursework on biomedical science, innovative natural therapies, and supervised clinical practice. All ND students must attend accredited naturopathic medical colleges and pass a two-part standardized licensing exam. While practicing, NDs meet continuing education requirements to maintain certification.
Scope of naturopathic practice
Licensed naturopathic doctors perform and order physical exams, nutritional and dietary assessments, metabolic analyses, allergy tests, gynecological exams, x–rays, and other diagnostic assessments. In many states, they can prescribe medication and perform minor surgeries, including superficial wound repair and removal of cysts or masses using local anesthesia as needed. Scope is determined by state, and more aggressive therapies are initiated only when necessary.
Specialty areas for naturopathic practitioners
Naturopathic doctors are fully trained to provide primary care, addressing a wide range of health concerns and guiding patients toward long-term wellness. While many practice as generalists, others choose to focus their expertise in a specific area of medicine. These diverse specialties allow NDs to combine a whole-person approach with deep, targeted knowledge, helping patients navigate even the most complex health challenges.
Naturopathic specialties include endocrinology for hormonal health, environmental medicine for toxin-related conditions, gastroenterology for digestive disorders, and parenteral therapy for nutrient support. Others concentrate on pediatrics, providing natural and preventive care for children, or psychiatry, supporting mental health through an integrative lens. NDs who work in naturopathic oncology offer complementary care that supports patients through cancer treatment and recovery.
Personalized lifestyle counseling
Naturopathic medicine takes a whole-health approach to support lifelong wellness, with nutrition guidance, lifestyle counseling, and stress management incorporated into every treatment plan. Central to this philosophy is personalized care, tailored to an individual’s unique needs and goals, which empowers people to take an active role in their well-being. Naturopathic doctors work with patients to lower the risk of chronic disease, restore balance, and build resilience. Personalized care encourages people to take an active role in their well-being, for sustainable good health that goes far beyond the treatment room.
Herbal medicine & clinical nutrition
Botanical (or herbal) medicine incorporates plant-based remedies to support healing and promote overall wellness. Herbal therapies can treat a wide range of health conditions, from digestive issues and sleep disturbances to hormonal imbalances and autoimmune disorders.
Clinical nutrition is a cornerstone of naturopathic medicine, with food as a foundation for lasting health. Dietary recommendations are highly personalized, shaped not only by symptoms and medical assessments but also by genetics, family history, and individual preferences. By aligning nutrition guidance with each person’s distinctive health goals, naturopathic doctors create sustainable plans that often include targeted vitamin and nutrient therapies, delivered orally or through IV when appropriate.
Complementary, integrative care
Naturopathic medicine approaches patient care through a whole-person lens, recognizing the interplay between physical, mental, and environmental factors. By aligning clinical interventions with the body’s natural healing processes, naturopathic doctors aim to improve patient outcomes, enhance quality of life, and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
NDs work alongside medical doctors and other healthcare practitioners to provide coordinated, comprehensive care that draws on the strengths of multiple disciplines. In this collaborative setting, conventional and naturopathic perspectives inform a shared understanding of the patient’s needs, blending modern diagnostics and evidence-informed natural therapies. Communication between providers ensures care plans are aligned, reducing redundancies and keeping the patient’s best interests at the center of every decision. This partnership fosters more precise diagnoses, safer care, and better overall outcomes.
Naturopathic vs. conventional medicine
For people seeking alternatives to conventional care, naturopathic medicine provides a path to lasting wellness. With sustainable lifestyle changes, personalized nutritional guidance, and targeted natural interventions, patients have the right tools to actively shape and optimize their health for the long term.
Footnotes
- 1Guide to Using the Naturopathic Medicine Therapeutic Order in Publications and Education. Foundations of Naturopathic Medicine Institute. Published 2019. Accessed August 25, 2025. https://fnminstitute.org/therapeutic-order-use
