I can understand the appeal of naturopathic doctors. They take an individualized, patient-centered approach to care and spend a great deal of time with patients, which makes people feel understood and that their concerns are being taken seriously. Accordingly, we’re seeing a growing number of people seeking out care with naturopathic doctors. To the extent that naturopathic doctors provide patients with evidence-based guidance, this isn’t a problem. The problem is that patients are hard-placed to know which treatment recommendations are evidence-based and which are not. The undeniable reality is that naturopathic medicine, at least as it is taught at naturopathic colleges, incorporates treatments that are safe and evidence-based (e.g., an anti-inflammatory diet) and treatments that are not evidence-based (e.g., homeopathy) and/or that may pose a potential safety risk (e.g., Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM incorporates the use of herbs whose biochemical and physiologic effects and potential interactions with medications are often poorly understood). 

I would also be remiss if I didn’t point out that medical doctors have also been guilty of recommending treatments that are not evidence-based (e.g., recommending a low-fat, high-carb diet as the optimal diet to prevent heart disease).