--- title: "What are some common criticisms of naturopaths?" entity: "blog" canonical_url: "https://www.drdanwool.com/blog/what-are-some-common-negatives-about-naturopaths" markdown_url: "https://www.drdanwool.com/llms/blog/what-are-some-common-negatives-about-naturopaths" lastmod: "2025-08-16T07:00:00.000Z" --- Medically reviewed by [Dr. Dan Wool, NMD](https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdanwool/) Arizona-licensed Naturopathic Physician and Gastroenterology Specialist Updated: November 20, 2025 Summary: - Naturopathic Doctor Insurance and Cost Considerations: Naturopathic doctors don't accept health insurance—insurance carriers don't cover ND services in Arizona, requiring direct out-of-pocket payment for all care. Prescription medications that insurance covers through MDs remain expensive without coverage when prescribed by NDs. Health Savings Accounts (HSA) often allow fund application toward naturopathic healthcare expenses. The cash-pay model creates mutual motivation between doctor and patient for efficient, effective health outcomes. - Naturopathic Doctor Scope of Practice Limitations: NDs practice clinical medicine but aren't internists like MDs who receive additional years of hospital-based internship and residency training. Medical doctors can perform invasive screening procedures, surgeries, and prescribe higher-schedule controlled medications that naturopathic doctors cannot. While NDs provide comprehensive primary care and specialized treatments, they work within defined scope-of-practice boundaries established by state medical boards. - State Licensing and Jurisdictional Restrictions for Naturopathic Doctors: Only 26 jurisdictions nationally license naturopathic physicians through state legislation authorizing medical boards to regulate practice. Arizona licenses NDs with prescription rights, but unlicensed states prohibit naturopathic doctors from prescribing standard-of-care medications. State-to-state jurisdiction varies significantly—NDs need separate licenses for each state unlike MDs who have largely national practice privileges. Licensing establishes medical and ethical guidelines with patient recourse avenues. - Supplement Regulations and ND Credential Verification: Botanicals and nutritional supplements recommended by naturopathic doctors aren't FDA-approved treatments despite being well-researched, clinically-proven, and from reputable tested brands. These natural modalities may not work as effectively as prescription medications for certain conditions. CRITICAL: Verify practitioners are licensed naturopathic doctors (ND/NMD) with accredited medical school degrees and board exam completion, not "naturopaths" with weekend certification courses lacking clinical medicine training and scientific rigor. ## Keeping it 'real' about Naturopathic Doctors While I am obviously biased I believe that naturopathic medicine offers many benefits for individual health care and that is the best form of medicine for treating chronic conditions, NDs carry several limitations of which one should be aware when considering the best health care practitioner or even the best naturopathic doctor in Scottsdale, Phoenix or elsewhere. Some common criticisms or negatives about naturopathic doctors include: - NDs are not covered by health insurance. Naturopathic doctors do not take medical insurance, or rather insurance carriers do not take them. In Arizona, all care is paid for directly and out of pocket by the patient. Because insurance covers MDs, prescriptions for many medications that would otherwise be very expensive out of pocket are usually covered; this is not the case for licensed NDs. Many individuals have Health Savings Accounts (HSA) as part of their medical benefits and often these will allow you to use and apply funds toward naturopathic health care. One benefit of the cash pay model is that there is motivation from both doctor and patient to work more efficiently and effectively toward better health outcomes. - Naturopathic doctors are not internists. NDs and NMDs practice clinical medicine. While MDs also are clinicians, they are also internal medicine specialists. MDs receive several years more training through internships and residencies often in hospitals. This gives them the ability to perform invasive screening procedures and surgeries as well as the ability to prescribe higher schedules of certain medications. These are most often the standard of care for diagnosis or treatment. While naturopathic doctors respect this, they cannot perform them and must refer to others - so sometimes it's best to start there. - Naturopathic doctors are not licensed in many states. At this time, NDs are only licensed in 26 jurisdictions nationally. That is, these state governments passed legislation to authorize and empower medical boards to license naturopathic physicians for practice. These governing bodies - [including Arizona](/blog/does-arizona-recognize-naturopathic-doctors)- have established clear medical and ethical guidelines that regulate physician practice and offer clear avenues of recourse for patients and consumers of naturopathic medicine. While Arizona is a licensed state for naturopathic doctors and these physicians have medical prescription rights, naturopathic doctors in unlicensed states cannot prescribe medicines that might otherwise be standard of medical care. In addition, state-to-state jurisdiction over naturopathic doctors can vary. NDs are typically limited to the jurisdiction in which they practice; that is, NDs licensed in one state must obtain another separate license to practice in a different state where regulations and customs can be different. While some state rules can vary, MDs are largely national. - Botanicals and supplements are not FDA approved. Naturopathic doctors are well trained in clinical nutrition and botanical medicine and utilize tested, reputable brands for their supplement recommendations. While these modalities are well-researched, clinically-proven and thoughtfully recommended to patients as part of an integrated treatment plan, they are not officially approved treatments for a given condition and may not work as well as prescription medication. A good ND does well to pick the most effective modality, including medication. - Some “naturopaths” are not naturopathic doctors. This is important. Certain practitioners may obtain a certification in a natural modality in a weekend course and call themselves naturopaths. The confusion comes because naturopathic doctors colloquially may call themselves naturopaths. There are BIG differences. When it comes to selecting a practitioner, you want a naturopathic doctor who went through the scientific rigors of medical school (like MDs or DOs), passed medical board exams and works daily in the field of clinical medicine. They should have a medical degree vs. a certification. About the Author ## Dr. Dan Wool, NMD Dr. Dan Wool is a naturopathic doctor who specializes in gastroenterology, hormones and men's health in Scottsdale, Arizona. [Set up a free 15-minute discovery call with Dr. Wool today! ](https://drdanwool.com/booking) [Read more about Dr. Wool's Gut Health Journey](/about)