What Does a Licensed Naturopathic Physician (NMD) Do?

One of the most common misconceptions about naturopathic medicine is that patients have to choose between modern medical care and natural therapies.

They do not.

Modern naturopathic medicine can incorporate many of the same tools used throughout healthcare—including a detailed medical history, physical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging, medications, preventive screening, and specialist referrals—while also considering nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, nutritional supplementation, botanical medicine, and other complementary approaches when appropriate.

The important question is not simply whether a treatment is “natural” or “conventional.”

The more useful questions are:

• What is the diagnosis or medical problem being addressed?

• What does the available scientific evidence show?

• What are the potential benefits and risks?

• Are there medication or supplement interactions?

• Does the patient require conventional treatment, natural treatment, or both?

• How will we know whether the treatment is working?

That combination of medical evaluation, individualized decision-making, prevention, and evidence-informed treatment is an important part of contemporary naturopathic medicine.

If you are new to this type of care, you may want to begin with our complete guide to naturopathic medicine or explore our Naturopathic Medicine Resource Center.

Naturopathic Medicine Is Not About Rejecting Modern Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is sometimes described as an alternative to conventional healthcare. That description can be misleading.

For many licensed naturopathic physicians, the goal is not to replace modern medicine with natural therapies. The goal is to determine which combination of available medical tools is appropriate for the individual patient.

A patient may need lifestyle changes.

Another may need medication.

Another may benefit from both.

Someone else may require imaging, specialist evaluation, surgery, or emergency treatment rather than a naturopathic intervention.

Good medical care requires recognizing these differences.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes complementary approaches as therapies used alongside conventional medical care and emphasizes that individual therapies should be evaluated according to their evidence, effectiveness, and safety.

Likewise, Arizona regulates licensed naturopathic physicians through the state's Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board. Arizona law defines the practice of naturopathic medicine as a medical system involving diagnosis and treatment and recognizes multiple therapeutic approaches within the profession.

In practice, this means naturopathic care can be much broader than simply recommending herbs or supplements.

Modern Science Begins With Understanding the Diagnosis

Before deciding how a condition should be treated, the first priority is understanding what may actually be happening.

That may involve reviewing symptoms, medical history, medications, family history, previous diagnoses, lifestyle factors, and prior treatment.

Depending on the situation, additional evaluation may include a physical examination, blood work, urinalysis, imaging, medical-record review, or referral to another healthcare professional.

This distinction is important because similar symptoms can have very different causes.

Fatigue, for example, could potentially relate to inadequate sleep, medication effects, anemia, thyroid disease, nutritional deficiency, mood disorders, metabolic disease, infection, or numerous other conditions.

Simply recommending an energy supplement without considering these possibilities would miss one of the most important responsibilities of medical care: determining whether there is an identifiable condition requiring evaluation or treatment.

The same principle applies to digestive symptoms, headaches, hormonal concerns, sleep problems, pain, weight changes, and many other complaints.

Naturopathic medicine therefore works best when natural therapies are integrated after appropriate medical assessment, not used as a substitute for it.

Laboratory Testing Can Help Guide Individualized Care

Laboratory testing is another area where modern medicine and naturopathic care frequently overlap.

Depending on a patient's symptoms and medical history, a physician may consider commonly used tests such as a complete blood count, metabolic panel, thyroid testing, lipid testing, hemoglobin A1c, iron studies, vitamin levels, urinalysis, or other clinically appropriate testing.

Laboratory testing should have a purpose.

A test may help:

identify a possible diagnosis, investigate symptoms, screen for disease, establish a baseline, monitor treatment, evaluate medication safety, or assess an important health risk.

The result is then interpreted in the context of the patient rather than treated as an isolated number.

You can learn more in our Routine Laboratory Testing Resource Center.

Testing is only one part of the evaluation, however. More testing is not automatically better care, and unusual or advanced testing should not be ordered merely because it is available. The potential clinical usefulness, limitations, costs, and implications of a test should all be considered.

Where Natural Therapies Fit Into Medical Care

Once a physician has a clearer understanding of the patient's health, natural or complementary therapies may become part of the treatment plan.

The appropriate options differ significantly from patient to patient.

Nutrition

Food affects many aspects of health, including body weight, glucose regulation, cardiovascular risk, gastrointestinal function, nutritional status, and overall well-being.

Nutrition recommendations may therefore be used alongside other medical treatments rather than viewed as a separate form of care.

Importantly, individualized nutrition does not necessarily mean following an extreme or restrictive diet.

For many patients, the greatest improvements come from practical changes that can be maintained over time.

Physical Activity

Exercise is another example of something that is both completely “natural” and firmly grounded in modern healthcare.

Depending on a patient's health and physical abilities, a treatment plan may include aerobic activity, strength training, mobility work, rehabilitation, or other forms of movement.

The appropriate type and intensity should reflect the patient's age, medical conditions, fitness level, symptoms, and goals.

Sleep and Stress Management

Sleep, stress, and behavioral health can influence how a patient feels and functions.

A naturopathic physician may therefore ask about sleep quality, work schedules, psychological stress, daily routines, alcohol use, caffeine, physical activity, and other factors that may contribute to symptoms.

Lifestyle recommendations can then become part of a broader medical plan rather than simply being offered as generic wellness advice.

Nutritional Supplements and Botanical Medicine

Vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, and botanical products may also be considered when there is an appropriate reason to use them.

However, this is an area where careful medical decision-making is particularly important.

A supplement should not automatically be recommended simply because it is natural.

The decision should consider the indication, dose, quality of evidence, potential adverse effects, other medications and supplements being used, underlying medical conditions, and whether laboratory monitoring is appropriate.

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements maintains evidence-based information on vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other dietary supplements, including potential medication interactions.

“Natural” Does Not Automatically Mean Safe

One of the most important principles of evidence-informed naturopathic medicine is recognizing that natural substances can have real biological effects.

That is often the reason people use them—but it is also why they can sometimes cause side effects or interact with medications.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health specifically cautions that the safety of complementary therapies depends on the individual treatment. The agency also notes that dietary supplements can interact with medications and that product quality and contamination may sometimes be concerns.

The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements likewise provides information about supplement effectiveness, safety, dosing considerations, and medication interactions.

This is one reason it is helpful for your physician to know everything you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbal products, and other supplements.

Natural medicine should be practiced with the same attention to safety that should apply to any medical treatment.

Evidence-Informed Care Does Not Mean Every Naturopathic Therapy Has Equal Evidence

Naturopathic medicine encompasses many different interventions, and the evidence supporting them is not identical.

Nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation, adequate sleep, weight management, and many preventive interventions have substantial scientific support.

Research on specific supplements, botanical medicines, acupuncture, physical therapies, mind-body approaches, and other complementary treatments varies considerably depending on the treatment and the condition being studied.

Some approaches have reasonably strong evidence for particular uses.

Others have promising but incomplete research.

Some have limited evidence.

And certain treatments may ultimately prove ineffective or inappropriate.

The scientifically responsible approach is therefore not to ask:

“Is naturopathic medicine evidence-based?”

as though every treatment within an entire medical discipline could receive a single yes-or-no answer.

A better question is:

“What is the evidence for this specific treatment, for this specific condition, in this specific patient?”

That is the standard I believe should guide naturopathic medical decision-making.

When Conventional Treatments Are the Better Choice

Natural therapies are not always the appropriate first treatment.

There are many circumstances in which prescription medication, surgery, emergency treatment, hospital care, specialist management, or another conventional intervention may offer the greatest benefit.

A naturopathic approach should not delay necessary medical care simply because a natural alternative exists.

For example, significant infections, serious cardiovascular conditions, severe metabolic abnormalities, acute neurological symptoms, traumatic injuries, surgical emergencies, and many other conditions may require prompt conventional treatment.

Even with less urgent conditions, medication may sometimes be the most appropriate treatment—or one component of the treatment plan.

Naturopathic medicine does not have to be anti-medication to remain naturopathic.

The goal is appropriate care.

Natural Therapies and Prescription Medications Can Sometimes Be Used Together

Another misconception is that a patient receiving naturopathic care should discontinue conventional medications.

That is not generally appropriate.

Prescription medications can be essential for managing many medical conditions, and patients should not discontinue prescribed medications simply because they are interested in natural therapies.

Instead, a physician may look for opportunities to improve the overall treatment plan while continuing necessary medications.

For example, the broader plan might also address nutrition, exercise, sleep, weight, stress, nutritional deficiencies, smoking, alcohol consumption, or other modifiable factors that influence long-term health.

If health improves substantially over time, medication needs can sometimes change—but those decisions should be based on the patient's clinical response and made with appropriate medical supervision.

In Arizona, licensed naturopathic physicians practice within a state-defined medical scope that includes various diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Exact scope of practice varies by jurisdiction, which is another reason patients should understand the credentials and licensing of the practitioner they are seeing.

Prevention Is Where Modern and Natural Medicine Often Meet

Perhaps one of the clearest examples of modern science and naturopathic philosophy working together is preventive medicine.

Many of the most important strategies for long-term health are not exotic treatments.

They include maintaining a healthy blood pressure, managing cholesterol and blood sugar, exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, obtaining appropriate cancer screenings, avoiding tobacco, maintaining a healthy body composition, sleeping adequately, receiving appropriate vaccinations, and addressing health risks before serious complications occur.

Modern medicine provides increasingly sophisticated tools for identifying disease and estimating risk.

Lifestyle medicine provides patients with tools that may help modify some of those risks.

The two approaches are complementary rather than contradictory.

This is also why preventive healthcare and health optimization play such an important role in our approach to care.

You can also read our physician guide, Preventive Healthcare: Why Prevention Is Better Than Treatment.

Treatment Should Be Personalized Rather Than Ideological

Perhaps the most important concept is that healthcare should not become an argument between “natural” and “conventional” medicine.

Patients are individuals.

Two people with the same diagnosis may have different medical histories, risk factors, medications, preferences, lifestyles, resources, and treatment goals.

A thoughtful treatment plan considers those differences.

For one patient, lifestyle intervention may be enough.

Another may require medication immediately.

Another may benefit from medication plus nutritional changes.

Someone else may require evaluation by a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, surgeon, physical therapist, psychologist, or another healthcare professional.

The goal should be to choose the safest and most appropriate tools for the situation—not to force every patient into the same treatment philosophy.

Monitoring Matters Just as Much as Choosing the Treatment

A treatment plan is not complete simply because something has been recommended.

The next question should be:

How will we know whether it is working?

Depending on the condition, monitoring might involve symptoms, blood pressure, body weight, blood glucose, laboratory values, medication requirements, physical function, sleep, pain levels, adverse effects, or other measurable outcomes.

Follow-up allows treatment to evolve.

An intervention that is ineffective should be reconsidered.

A treatment causing side effects may need to be changed.

Improvement may allow the plan to be simplified.

New symptoms may require further evaluation.

This process—evaluate, treat, monitor, and adjust—is fundamental to good medical care regardless of whether the treatment being used is conventional, natural, or a combination of both.

What This Approach Looks Like at Ask Dr. Hu

At Ask Dr. Hu, our approach to naturopathic medicine begins with understanding the patient rather than beginning with a predetermined treatment.

That may involve reviewing your medical history, symptoms, medications, supplements, previous testing, nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress, family history, and long-term health goals.

From there, recommendations may include lifestyle changes, preventive care, laboratory testing, medications, nutritional supplementation, natural therapies, additional diagnostic evaluation, or referrals when appropriate.

Not every patient needs every type of treatment.

The goal is to create a practical plan based on the information available and adjust it as your health changes.

If you are considering naturopathic care for the first time, our Patient's Guide to Your First Naturopathic Medicine Appointment explains what you can expect during the evaluation.

The Bottom Line

Naturopathic medicine does not have to mean choosing natural medicine instead of modern science.

At its best, it means using modern medical knowledge to understand a patient's health and then thoughtfully considering the full range of appropriate options.

That may include laboratory testing.

It may include medication.

It may include nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress management, supplements, botanical medicine, or other complementary treatments.

And sometimes it means recognizing that another physician, specialist, hospital, or emergency department is the right place for care.

The distinction should not be natural versus conventional.

The goal should be safe, evidence-informed, individualized medicine.

To learn more, explore the Naturopathic Medicine Resource Center, review our medical services, or contact Ask Dr. Hu with questions about care.

Medical Review & Editorial Standards

This article was written and clinically reviewed by YiQiu Hu, NMD, an Arizona-licensed naturopathic physician whose clinical work includes naturopathic medicine, concierge medicine, preventive healthcare, health optimization, laboratory interpretation, and individualized treatment planning.

The article was developed for patient education using information from authoritative medical and regulatory resources, including the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, and the Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board.

These organizations emphasize several principles reflected throughout this article: complementary therapies should be evaluated individually according to scientific evidence and safety; natural products may cause adverse effects or medication interactions; and licensed naturopathic physicians must practice within applicable state laws and professional standards.

Scientific evidence and clinical recommendations continue to evolve. Individual treatments should be evaluated according to the condition being treated, available research, patient-specific risks and benefits, and the judgment of an appropriately licensed healthcare professional.

Last medically reviewed: August 2026

About the Author

YiQiu Hu, NMD

Dr. YiQiu Hu is an Arizona-licensed naturopathic physician, founder of Ask Dr. Hu, and medical director. His clinical work focuses on concierge medicine, naturopathic medicine, preventive healthcare, health optimization, laboratory evaluation, medical weight management, hormone care, integrative pain management, and individualized treatment planning.

Dr. Hu earned his Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from Sonoran University of Health Sciences and a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Northern Arizona University. His approach combines thorough medical evaluation, evidence-informed naturopathic care, thoughtful laboratory testing, clear explanations, and practical treatment planning.

Learn more about Dr. Hu and the Ask Dr. Hu physicians →

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for general educational purposes only. It does not provide individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and does not establish a physician-patient relationship. Do not start, stop, or change prescription medications or supplements based solely on information contained in this article. Seek appropriate medical evaluation for new, worsening, or concerning symptoms. If you are experiencing a potentially life-threatening medical emergency, call 911 or seek emergency medical care.