Chiropractic and naturopathic medicine

When chiropractic and naturopathic practitioners work together in an interdisciplinary and integrative setting, the combined treatment focus offers more comprehensive therapeutic options for improved patient outcomes.

Chiropractic and naturopathic medicine are holistic approaches using natural therapies and remedies to support the body’s innate ability to heal itself.^1,2 Chiropractic medicine is a healthcare profession focusing on diagnosing, treating and preventing disease. Some healing modalities used by chiropractic medicine practitioners include adjusting techniques and therapeutic modalities including orthotics, physical rehabilitation programs, assisted soft tissue techniques, therapeutic taping, nutritional supplementation, dietary recommendations, acupuncture and meridian therapy.

Naturopathy is based on the idea that nature is the most effective healer, and that illness has an underlying cause that must be addressed.

Origins

Naturopathic medicine emphasizes prevention and the body’s self-healing process, using natural remedies to prevent illness and assist the body in healing. It encompasses a variety of therapies, including herbal tinctures, massage therapy, hydrotherapies, acupuncture, homeopathy and nutritional counseling. Chiropractic medicine can be traced back to ancient times. Writings from ancient China and Greece, dating back to 2700 BC and 1500 BC, contain evidence of spinal manipulation and other manual healing techniques.

Daniel David (DD) Palmer is known as the founder of the chiropractic profession. DD Palmer performed the first chiropractic adjustment on September 18, 1895, in Davenport, Iowa. He founded Palmer School and Cure (now Palmer College of Chiropractic) in Davenport in 1897.

Naturopathy was introduced to the US from Germany in the 1800s, although some treatments date back centuries. Benedict Lust, a key figure in the early development of naturopathy in the 20th century, was trained in chiropractic medicine. Lust established the American School of Naturopathy in 1902. In 1903, Lust established the Naturopathic Society of America, later renamed the American Naturopathic Association. Naturopathy has since evolved into a diverse field combining various disciplines aimed at treating the body naturally while respecting and promoting the power of the body to heal itself, a vital energy inherent in the human system.

Although the therapies may vary, chiropractic and naturopathic medicine share a common goal: to enhance health and support the body’s healing processes. Chiropractic and naturopathic medicine complement each other and combine to promote integrative medicine (IM), merging traditional healing practices focused on patient-centered care with contemporary medical tools and applications.³

This comprehensive approach to holistic care is gaining momentum for its clinical relevance and potential applications in nontraditional healthcare. More than one-third of American adults engage in some form of IM.

Chiropractic and naturopathic medicine share similar origins and focus on natural care to support the body’s innate healing abilities. This connection is especially relevant in the case of Lust, who, with a chiropractic background, introduced other natural therapies including herbology, meditation and hydrotherapy modalities.

Differences in focus

The distinction between chiropractic and naturopathic medicine is that chiropractic medicine focuses on spinal adjustment. Naturopathic medicine has maintained a set of seven principles for developing patient treatments.

The seven principles: First, do no harm (Primum Non Nocere), healing power of nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae), treat the cause (Tolle Causam), treat the whole person (Tolle Totum), doctor as teacher (Docere), disease prevention/health promotion and well-being. The principles sound remarkably close to chiropractic foundations: First, do no harm, treat the whole person and find the cause of the disease.

Chiropractic medicine is continuously evolving. Chiropractic and naturopathic medicine still face limitations based on the scope of practice permitted by state regulations.

These approaches are implemented to address a wide range of health conditions, including acute and chronic pain, a variety of musculoskeletal disorders, from headaches and temporomandibular joint disorder to plantar fasciitis and arthritis, fertility issues, obesity, hypertension, gastrointestinal and hormonal conditions.

DCs primarily employ spinal manipulation to alleviate pain, improve mobility and enhance the body’s natural healing abilities. Many patients report improvements in overall well-being, including better sleep, increased energy levels and enhanced immune function. Additionally, chiropractic care can serve as a preventive measure, maintaining optimal health and preventing future health issues.

A combined approach

Numerous studies have shown IM is increasingly accepted and applied in healthcare. The key to safely incorporating IM is collaboration between healthcare providers and patients. A comprehensive, well-coordinated treatment plan can be developed, ensuring patient safety while optimizing health outcomes.

Positive individual encounters, successful patient outcomes and feedback underscore the significant benefits of IM. Interdisciplinary collaboration promotes patient well-being and improves healthcare outcomes.

The co-management of care between chiropractic and naturopathic practices has been shown to improve patient outcomes. The most critical factor in this approach is communication between practitioners and patients, which helps ensure accurate patient diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Final thoughts

By uniting their distinct yet complementary strengths, chiropractic and naturopathic practitioners can deliver more nuanced, patient-centered care; broadening access to natural, integrative therapies that support long-term health and well-being.

Sonia V. Joubert, DC, ND, earned her doctor of chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College (NYCC); her doctor of naturopathic medicine and master of science in clinical practice degrees from the National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) and her bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York. She is also certified in meridian therapy (NYCC) and acupuncture (NUHS) and is a certified kinesiology taping practitioner. She is an associate professor and attending clinician in the chiropractic department at NUHS. Her background includes more than 25 years of private practice in a sports injury clinic and experience in multidisciplinary settings working with emergency medicine practitioners, internists, orthopedists, oncologists and pediatricians at various hospitals in the Chicago area. For more information, go to footlevelers.com/more.

References

1. Homola S. Chiropractic: History and overview of theories and methods. ClinOrthop Relat Res. 2006;444:236-242. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16446588/ . Accessed July 8, 2025.
2. Litchy AP. Naturopathic physicians: Holistic primary care and integrative medicine specialists. J Diet Suppl. 2011;8(4):369-377. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22432775/ . Accessed July 8, 2025.

3. Madsen C, et al. Use of integrative medicine in the United States Military Health System. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:9529257. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28690665/ . Accessed July 8, 2025.