Naturopathic Medicine vs. Integrative Medicine: Understanding the Differences
Written by YiQiu Hu, NMD
Arizona-licensed naturopathic physician and virtual concierge medicine provider
Published August 2026 | Medically reviewed August 2026
Patients interested in personalized or whole-person healthcare often encounter several similar terms: naturopathic medicine, integrative medicine, functional medicine, holistic medicine, and complementary medicine.
Because these terms overlap, it can be difficult to understand what they actually mean—or what type of healthcare professional you are choosing.
Naturopathic medicine and integrative medicine share several important ideas. Both may consider nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, prevention, lifestyle, and complementary therapies alongside conventional medical care.
But they are not the same thing.
The most important distinction is this:
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct healthcare profession with its own educational pathway, philosophy, licensing requirements, and scope of practice in jurisdictions that regulate naturopathic physicians. Integrative medicine is a broader approach to healthcare that combines conventional medicine with complementary treatment approaches when appropriate.
In other words, a physician may practice integrative medicine without being a naturopathic physician, while a naturopathic physician may also practice in a highly integrative way.
Understanding that distinction can help you look beyond labels and choose a healthcare professional based on their actual education, license, experience, treatment philosophy, and ability to address your individual medical needs.
If you are new to naturopathic medicine, you may want to begin with our complete guide to naturopathic medicine or explore the Naturopathic Medicine Resource Center.
What Is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of healthcare.
Licensed naturopathic physicians complete doctoral-level naturopathic medical education that includes biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, diagnosis, physical examination, laboratory medicine, pharmacology, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and naturopathic therapeutic approaches.
The profession is traditionally guided by principles emphasizing prevention, identifying contributing causes of illness, treating the whole person, patient education, minimizing unnecessary harm, and supporting health and recovery.
You can explore these concepts in greater detail in The Principles of Naturopathic Medicine Explained.
Importantly, modern naturopathic medicine is not necessarily limited to herbs, supplements, or other natural treatments.
Depending on the physician, the patient's needs, and the laws of the state where care is provided, naturopathic medical care may involve:
Medical history and diagnostic evaluation
Physical examination
Routine laboratory testing
Diagnostic imaging
Preventive healthcare
Nutrition counseling
Exercise and lifestyle medicine
Sleep and stress management
Nutritional supplementation
Botanical medicine
Prescription medications where legally permitted
Physical or office-based treatments
Coordination with specialists
Referral for higher levels of care when appropriate
You can read more about these responsibilities in What Does a Licensed Naturopathic Physician (NMD) Do?.
In Arizona, naturopathic physicians are licensed and regulated by the state, and Arizona law defines naturopathic medical practice as a medical system involving diagnosis and treatment of diseases and other health conditions.
What Is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine is somewhat different because the term generally describes an approach to healthcare rather than one specific professional license.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes integrative health as bringing conventional and complementary healthcare approaches together in a coordinated way while emphasizing care of the whole person.
For example, an integrative treatment plan might combine conventional medical treatments with carefully selected approaches such as:
Nutrition counseling
Exercise
Stress-management techniques
Acupuncture
Mind-body practices
Certain nutritional supplements
Lifestyle interventions
Physical rehabilitation
Other evidence-informed complementary therapies
The important concept is integration.
Instead of automatically viewing conventional and complementary therapies as competing philosophies, an integrative approach asks whether different strategies can be used together safely and appropriately.
An integrative physician treating a patient with chronic pain, for example, might use medication when indicated while also incorporating physical therapy, exercise, sleep improvement, acupuncture, stress management, or another complementary intervention.
The appropriate combination depends on the diagnosis, available evidence, treatment risks and benefits, patient preferences, and the qualifications of the healthcare professionals involved.
The Biggest Difference: Profession vs. Approach
This is the simplest way to understand naturopathic medicine versus integrative medicine.
Naturopathic Medicine Is a Professional Pathway
A licensed naturopathic physician has completed a specific type of medical education and met the requirements for professional licensure in a jurisdiction that regulates naturopathic medicine.
The person's license determines what they are legally permitted to diagnose, prescribe, order, or perform.
Integrative Medicine Is a Treatment Philosophy or Model
There is not one universal professional license called an “integrative medicine license.”
A variety of healthcare professionals may incorporate integrative principles into their practices.
For example, an MD, DO, NMD, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, psychologist, physical therapist, registered dietitian, acupuncturist, or another appropriately trained healthcare professional may incorporate certain aspects of integrative care within their respective scope of practice.
This makes the provider's underlying credentials especially important.
The words integrative, holistic, or whole-person tell you something about how a provider may approach healthcare—but they do not, by themselves, tell you what professional education or license that person holds.
Who Can Practice Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine can be practiced by physicians from different educational backgrounds.
An MD or DO may pursue additional education in nutrition, lifestyle medicine, acupuncture, mind-body medicine, supplements, or other complementary approaches and describe their practice as integrative medicine.
A licensed naturopathic physician may also provide integrative care because naturopathic medical practice frequently combines conventional diagnostic and treatment methods with nutrition, lifestyle medicine, preventive healthcare, and evidence-informed natural therapies.
Other healthcare professionals may participate in an integrative healthcare team as well.
This creates one of the greatest strengths of integrative care: appropriately coordinated professionals from different disciplines can contribute their expertise to the same patient's care.
It can also create confusion.
Two people calling themselves “integrative practitioners” may have completely different degrees, licenses, scopes of practice, and clinical training.
That is why patients should evaluate the specific provider rather than the label alone.
How Are Naturopathic Physicians Trained?
Licensed naturopathic physicians complete an educational pathway specifically focused on naturopathic medicine.
Their training incorporates biomedical and clinical sciences alongside the therapeutic approaches traditionally associated with the profession.
Coursework may include areas such as:
Anatomy
Physiology
Biochemistry
Pathology
Pharmacology
Clinical diagnosis
Physical examination
Laboratory medicine
Nutrition
Botanical medicine
Lifestyle medicine
Preventive medicine
Clinical therapeutics
Supervised patient care
Licensing requirements vary by jurisdiction.
Arizona is one of the states that licenses and regulates naturopathic physicians through a dedicated state regulatory board.
The distinction between a licensed naturopathic physician and someone simply using terms such as “naturopath,” “natural health practitioner,” or “holistic practitioner” is therefore important.
Patients should verify credentials rather than assuming that similar terminology indicates equivalent medical education.
How Are Integrative Physicians Trained?
There is no single educational pathway for everyone practicing integrative medicine.
An integrative physician may begin as an MD or DO and later pursue continuing education, fellowship training, certification, or clinical experience involving complementary and lifestyle-based approaches.
A naturopathic physician may also practice integratively based on the training already included within naturopathic medical education and additional professional education obtained after graduation.
Other licensed healthcare professionals may receive training relevant to their individual professions.
This is why asking simply, “Are you an integrative doctor?” does not provide enough information.
Better questions include:
What professional degree do you hold?
Where did you receive your medical or healthcare training?
What type of professional license do you have?
What is your scope of practice?
What additional integrative medicine training have you completed?
What medical conditions do you commonly evaluate or treat?
Can you prescribe medications?
Can you order laboratory testing or imaging?
Do you coordinate care with specialists?
How do you evaluate whether a complementary treatment is supported by evidence?
The answers provide far more useful information than the word “integrative.”
Do Naturopathic Medicine and Integrative Medicine Use Similar Treatments?
Often, yes.
There can be considerable overlap between the treatment options used by naturopathic and integrative clinicians.
Both approaches may consider:
Nutrition
Nutrition can influence cardiovascular health, blood glucose regulation, body weight, digestive health, nutrient status, and many other aspects of long-term health.
Individualized nutrition counseling is therefore common in both naturopathic and integrative care.
Lifestyle Medicine
Physical activity, sleep, stress, tobacco exposure, alcohol use, daily habits, and other lifestyle factors can meaningfully affect health.
Both approaches commonly recognize lifestyle modification as an important part of prevention and chronic disease management.
Preventive Healthcare
Identifying risk factors before they lead to complications is another area of overlap.
Preventive care may include blood-pressure monitoring, metabolic health evaluation, cardiovascular risk assessment, age-appropriate screening, laboratory monitoring, and individualized health planning.
Our Preventive Care & Health Optimization resources explain this approach in greater detail.
Laboratory Testing
Both naturopathic and integrative physicians may use laboratory testing when clinically appropriate.
Blood work can help evaluate symptoms, identify risk factors, monitor medical conditions, assess medication safety, or determine whether a particular treatment is necessary.
However, more testing is not automatically better.
Testing should have a reasonable clinical purpose and should be interpreted within the context of the patient's medical history and overall clinical picture.
You can learn more in our physician guide to Understanding Laboratory Testing.
Complementary Therapies
Depending on the provider and clinical situation, both approaches may incorporate complementary therapies.
These might include nutritional supplementation, selected botanical products, acupuncture, physical therapies, mind-body interventions, or other approaches.
However, each treatment needs to be evaluated individually.
A therapy should not be assumed to be effective simply because it is described as natural, holistic, naturopathic, or integrative.
Do Both Approaches Use Conventional Medicine?
They can.
This is another area where terminology often creates unnecessary confusion.
Integrative medicine, by definition, involves bringing conventional and complementary approaches together.
Licensed naturopathic physicians may also use conventional medical approaches depending on their legal scope of practice and clinical training.
In Arizona, for example, naturopathic physicians have a comparatively broad scope of medical practice under state law.
That can allow an Arizona naturopathic physician to consider conventional medical tools alongside naturopathic approaches rather than requiring patients to choose one category of treatment exclusively.
You can learn more about this philosophy in How Naturopathic Medicine Combines Modern Science with Natural Therapies.
The appropriate question is therefore rarely:
Should I choose conventional medicine or natural medicine?
A better question is:
Which treatment—or combination of treatments—offers the most appropriate balance of expected benefit, risk, evidence, practicality, and patient preference for this particular situation?
How Does the Treatment Philosophy Differ?
There is significant overlap, but naturopathic medicine has a formally defined philosophical foundation.
Traditional naturopathic principles include concepts such as:
First, do no harm
Identify and address contributing causes
Treat the whole person
Support health and recovery
Emphasize prevention
Physician as teacher
These principles influence how many naturopathic physicians think about assessment, treatment planning, patient education, and long-term healthcare.
Integrative medicine does not necessarily follow the same formal naturopathic principles.
Instead, integrative care generally emphasizes whole-person healthcare and the coordinated use of conventional and complementary treatment approaches.
In practice, however, an integrative physician and a naturopathic physician may have remarkably similar conversations with a patient about nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, medications, prevention, and long-term health goals.
Is Naturopathic Medicine a Type of Integrative Medicine?
There is substantial overlap, but I would not describe the terms as interchangeable.
Naturopathic medicine is its own profession.
Integrative medicine describes a broader healthcare approach.
A naturopathic physician may practice very integratively, but naturopathic medicine also has its own educational system, professional principles, licensing structure, and therapeutic traditions.
Likewise, an MD or DO practicing integrative medicine does not become a naturopathic physician simply because natural or complementary therapies are incorporated into treatment.
Understanding those distinctions is important when comparing healthcare professionals.
Is Integrative Medicine the Same as Functional Medicine?
Not exactly.
Functional medicine is another term frequently encountered in personalized healthcare.
While integrative medicine primarily describes the coordinated combination of conventional and complementary approaches, functional medicine generally emphasizes identifying interconnected biological factors that may contribute to chronic illness.
Like integrative medicine, however, functional medicine is practiced by professionals with many different underlying credentials.
The provider's original education and professional license still matter.
Patients comparing these approaches should therefore focus less on branding and more on what the individual clinician is actually qualified to do.
Is Integrative Medicine the Same as Holistic Medicine?
Not necessarily.
“Holistic” is an even broader term.
It generally suggests considering the patient as a whole rather than focusing narrowly on one diagnosis or organ system.
But holistic medicine is not itself one standardized medical license.
A conventional primary care physician, naturopathic physician, integrative physician, psychologist, physical therapist, dietitian, or another healthcare professional could reasonably describe their approach as holistic if they consider multiple dimensions of the patient's health.
Again, terminology alone does not establish professional qualifications.
Naturopathic Medicine vs. Integrative Medicine: Key Differences
The major distinctions can be summarized without viewing one approach as inherently superior to the other.
Naturopathic medicine:
Is a distinct healthcare profession
Has dedicated naturopathic medical schools
Has its own professional licensing pathway in regulated jurisdictions
Is traditionally guided by defined naturopathic principles
Commonly emphasizes prevention, nutrition, lifestyle, patient education, and individualized treatment
May incorporate conventional diagnostic and medical treatments within the physician's legal scope
May incorporate evidence-informed natural and complementary therapies
Integrative medicine:
Is primarily an approach to healthcare rather than one specific professional license
Can be practiced by clinicians with different underlying professional degrees
Emphasizes coordinating conventional and complementary treatment approaches
Typically emphasizes whole-person care
May incorporate nutrition, lifestyle medicine, mind-body approaches, acupuncture, supplements, and other complementary interventions
Depends heavily on the education, professional license, scope, and training of the individual provider
The overlap can be substantial.
The credentialing structure is the key difference.
Which Approach Is More Evidence-Based?
Neither term provides enough information to answer that question by itself.
Evidence should be evaluated at the level of the specific treatment for the specific condition.
Nutrition, exercise, medications, acupuncture, supplements, behavioral interventions, laboratory testing, physical therapy, botanical medicine, and other treatments each have their own research literature.
Some interventions are supported by extensive evidence for certain clinical uses.
Others have more limited, mixed, preliminary, or condition-specific evidence.
The label attached to the treatment does not determine its scientific validity.
This is an important principle for both naturopathic and integrative healthcare.
A responsible clinician should be willing to explain:
Why a treatment is being recommended
What evidence supports its use
What benefits are realistically expected
What risks or adverse effects are possible
Whether interactions with medications or supplements are possible
What reasonable alternatives exist
How treatment response will be monitored
When the plan should be changed if the treatment is not working
That approach is more meaningful than assuming that everything described as “natural” is beneficial or that everything described as “conventional” is automatically appropriate for every patient.
Can a Naturopathic Physician and an Integrative Physician Work Together?
Yes.
Healthcare does not need to be organized around competing philosophies.
A patient may receive care from several different healthcare professionals depending on their needs.
For example, someone could simultaneously work with:
A primary care physician
A licensed naturopathic physician
A medical specialist
A physical therapist
A registered dietitian
A mental-health professional
An acupuncturist
Another qualified healthcare provider
The priority should be coordination.
When multiple clinicians are involved, they should ideally be aware of relevant diagnoses, medications, supplements, laboratory findings, treatments, and major changes in the patient's health.
This becomes particularly important when prescription medications and dietary supplements are used together because interactions and overlapping effects can occur.
How Is Naturopathic Medicine Different From Conventional Medicine?
Integrative medicine is not the only comparison patients make.
Naturopathic and conventional physicians may overlap substantially in diagnosis, laboratory evaluation, preventive care, and management of common medical concerns, while differing in educational pathways, practice philosophy, treatment emphasis, and scope.
Rather than repeating that entire comparison here, you can read our detailed guide, Naturopathic Medicine vs. Conventional Medicine: What's the Difference?.
Which Approach Is Right for You?
Choosing between a naturopathic physician and an integrative physician is often the wrong question because the categories can overlap.
A better approach is to evaluate the specific clinician.
Consider whether you want a provider who can help with:
Medical diagnosis
Preventive healthcare
Chronic disease management
Prescription medication
Laboratory evaluation
Nutrition
Lifestyle medicine
Complementary treatment options
Long-term health planning
Coordination with specialists
More time discussing multiple health concerns
Then determine whether the provider you are considering has the professional training, licensing, experience, and scope necessary to provide those services.
For some patients, an MD or DO with substantial training in integrative medicine may be an excellent fit.
For others, a licensed naturopathic physician who combines conventional and naturopathic approaches may better match what they are looking for.
Many patients may benefit from both.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing an Integrative or Naturopathic Provider
Before establishing care, consider asking:
What professional degree do you hold?
Are you licensed in my state?
What professional board regulates your license?
What conditions do you commonly evaluate?
What is your approach to conventional medical treatment?
Do you prescribe medications when appropriate?
Can you order laboratory testing and diagnostic imaging?
How do you determine whether supplements or natural therapies are appropriate?
How do you evaluate scientific evidence?
How do you monitor whether treatment is working?
When do you refer patients to specialists?
How do you coordinate with my other physicians?
What services are included in the cost of care?
A qualified healthcare professional should be comfortable answering these questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are naturopathic medicine and integrative medicine the same?
No. Naturopathic medicine is a distinct healthcare profession with its own educational and licensing pathway in jurisdictions that regulate naturopathic physicians. Integrative medicine generally describes an approach that coordinates conventional and complementary treatments.
Can an MD practice integrative medicine?
Yes. An MD or DO may incorporate integrative approaches into medical practice after completing relevant education and training. The exact services provided depend on the physician's training, experience, specialty, and professional scope.
Can a naturopathic physician practice integrative medicine?
Yes. Many naturopathic physicians use an integrative approach because naturopathic care may incorporate conventional diagnostic and treatment methods alongside nutrition, lifestyle medicine, preventive healthcare, and evidence-informed natural therapies.
Is an integrative doctor automatically a physician?
Not necessarily.
The term “integrative” does not independently establish a professional license. Patients should verify the provider's degree, professional license, regulatory board, and scope of practice.
Is a naturopathic physician the same as a naturopath?
Not always.
Terminology varies by jurisdiction. A licensed naturopathic physician has completed the educational and licensing requirements applicable where they practice. Someone using the word “naturopath” may not necessarily have the same education or license.
Do naturopathic physicians use prescription medications?
Some do. Prescribing authority depends on state law. Arizona licenses naturopathic physicians under a scope that includes certain prescription medications subject to applicable statutory and regulatory limitations.
Which approach is better for chronic health concerns?
There is no universal answer.
The right provider depends on the condition, the clinician's training and experience, the treatment required, whether specialist care is necessary, and the patient's individual preferences.
For many chronic conditions, coordinated care involving more than one healthcare professional may be appropriate.
The Bottom Line
Naturopathic medicine and integrative medicine share many characteristics, but they are not interchangeable terms.
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct healthcare profession with its own educational pathway, professional philosophy, and licensing structure in regulated jurisdictions.
Integrative medicine is a broader approach that brings conventional and complementary healthcare strategies together in a coordinated, whole-person model of care.
This means an MD, DO, NMD, or another appropriately qualified healthcare professional may incorporate integrative principles—but their underlying professional education and scope of practice remain different.
Rather than selecting a clinician solely because they use terms such as naturopathic, integrative, functional, natural, or holistic, look deeper.
Ask about education.
Verify the professional license.
Understand the provider's scope.
Ask how treatments are selected.
Ask how scientific evidence is evaluated.
And make sure the clinician recognizes when conventional treatment, specialist consultation, hospital-based care, or another level of medical care is necessary.
At Ask Dr. Hu, our approach to naturopathic medicine emphasizes comprehensive medical evaluation, preventive healthcare, nutrition, lifestyle medicine, laboratory testing, conventional treatment when appropriate, and evidence-informed naturopathic options.
The goal is not to choose between “natural” and “conventional” medicine.
The goal is to determine which combination of available medical tools is most appropriate for the individual patient.
If you are looking for personalized naturopathic medical care in Arizona, you can learn more about our physicians or contact Ask Dr. Hu to discuss your healthcare needs.
Medical Accuracy, Sources & Editorial Standards
This article was written and medically reviewed by an Arizona-licensed naturopathic physician for patient education.
Definitions and descriptions of complementary and integrative healthcare were reviewed using information from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), a center of the National Institutes of Health.
Information regarding naturopathic medical licensing and regulation in Arizona was reviewed using the Arizona Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board and the Arizona Revised Statutes governing naturopathic medicine.
NCCIH emphasizes that integrative health combines conventional and complementary approaches in a coordinated manner, while Arizona law separately defines naturopathic medicine and regulates licensed naturopathic physicians. The evidence supporting individual complementary or naturopathic treatments varies, so therapies should be evaluated according to their specific indication, safety, potential benefits, alternatives, and available clinical evidence.
Healthcare terminology, professional regulation, and scope of practice can vary by state and may change over time. Patients should verify the credentials and current professional license of any healthcare professional they are considering.
This article is intended for general educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and does not establish a physician-patient relationship.
About the Author
YiQiu Hu, NMD is an Arizona-licensed naturopathic physician and founder of Ask Dr. Hu. He provides concierge medicine, preventive healthcare, health optimization, diagnostic evaluation, laboratory testing, and individualized medical treatment for patients throughout Arizona.
Dr. Hu earned his Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree from Sonoran University of Health Sciences and his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Northern Arizona University.
His clinical interests include preventive healthcare, medical weight management, hormone care, integrative pain management, laboratory testing, and the ongoing management of complex health concerns.
His approach emphasizes thorough medical evaluation, evidence-informed decision-making, clear patient education, and thoughtful integration of conventional and naturopathic treatment options when appropriate.
Learn more about Dr. YiQiu Hu and the physicians at Ask Dr. Hu →