What Is the National University of Natural Medicine Clinic?

The National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) Clinic is a teaching clinic operated by the National University of Natural Medicine, a private institution in Portland, Oregon that trains naturopathic doctors and other natural medicine practitioners. Understanding what it is—and what it isn't—matters if you're considering naturopathic care or trying to evaluate the credentials behind a practitioner you're considering.

The Basics: Institution, Clinic, and Training Model 🏥

The NUNM Clinic operates as a working laboratory where students in naturopathic medicine programs provide patient care under faculty supervision. This is a common model in clinical education: dental schools run clinics, acupuncture colleges operate treatment centers, and naturopathic colleges do the same. The clinic serves both the public and the educational mission of training future practitioners.

The National University of Natural Medicine is accredited by the Commission on Massage Therapy Accreditation (COMTA) and holds regional accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). This means the institution itself meets recognized standards for higher education—a meaningful distinction, since it indicates the university operates within an external accountability framework rather than as a purely independent entity.

However, accreditation of the institution does not equal licensure of the practitioners or automatic acceptance of the degree in all states. That's a critical distinction we'll address next.

Naturopathic Licensure: The Foundation for Understanding Any Naturopathic Clinic

To make sense of what the NUNM Clinic represents, you need to understand the broader regulatory landscape of naturopathic medicine in the United States.

Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are regulated very differently depending on where you live. In some states—including Oregon, where NUNM is located—naturopathic doctors must meet specific educational and licensing requirements to use the title "naturopathic doctor" or "ND." In other states, the title is unregulated, meaning anyone can call themselves a naturopath without formal training or credentials.

Because Oregon licenses naturopathic doctors, practitioners at the NUNM Clinic operate within a regulated framework—a factor that shapes the clinic's standards and accountability, at least in Oregon's jurisdiction.

What Happens Inside the NUNM Clinic

The clinic provides naturopathic services—typically herbal medicine, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, and lifestyle counseling—to patients who schedule appointments. Student practitioners conduct the visits under the direct or indirect supervision of faculty members. This supervision model is designed to balance real-world clinical experience with educational oversight.

The student-led model creates several practical realities:

• Lower cost: Student-provided care typically costs less than care from established practitioners, since the clinic doesn't carry the overhead of an independent practice.
• Extended appointment times: Initial consultations are often longer than in conventional medical settings, reflecting the educational model and naturopathic philosophy of detailed case-taking.
• Faculty oversight: Clinical decisions are reviewed or co-managed by experienced instructors, which can add a layer of professional review.
• Variable experience: Student practitioners range from early-stage to advanced in their training, which naturally affects their depth of experience.

This model is not unique to NUNM—naturopathic colleges, acupuncture schools, and herbal medicine programs across the country operate teaching clinics in similar ways.

Credentials and Training: What NUNM Education Represents

NUNM offers Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degrees. Graduating from an accredited naturopathic program requires completion of coursework in sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathology, biochemistry), botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy, and clinical practice—typically over three to four years.

This is different from:

• A medical doctor's (MD/DO) training, which includes medical residency and is governed by different state boards.
• A nurse practitioner or physician assistant, whose scope is defined differently in law.
• An herbalist or nutritionist without formal naturopathic degree credentials (though some herbalists have rigorous training through other pathways).

The key variable: What an ND can actually do depends on state law. In Oregon, licensed NDs can order certain lab tests, prescribe botanical medicines, and practice within a defined scope. In an unregulated state, an ND's scope is essentially unlimited by law—but also unprotected and unaccountable in the same way.

Why Someone Might Seek Care at NUNM or a Similar Clinic

People choose naturopathic clinics for various reasons:

• Philosophy alignment: They prefer or are curious about approaches emphasizing botanical medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle factors.
• Cost: Student-led clinics typically charge less than established practitioners.
• Appointment time: Naturopathic initial consultations often allow more time for detailed intake than a brief conventional medical visit.
• Specific concerns: They may want support with chronic conditions, preventive health, or concerns they feel weren't fully addressed elsewhere.
• Complementary care: They use naturopathic services alongside conventional medical care.

None of these reasons inherently points to naturopathic care being the right or wrong choice—that depends entirely on the individual's situation, goals, and medical context.

Critical Questions to Ask When Considering Any Naturopathic Clinic

If you're evaluating the NUNM Clinic or any naturopathic provider, several factors matter:

1. Licensure status

• Is the practitioner licensed in your state (if your state licenses NDs)?
• If not, does the clinic operate transparently about this?

2. Scope and collaboration

• Will the provider work with your primary care doctor?
• Do they understand when to refer you to conventional medical specialists?
• Will they order standard lab work if appropriate?

3. What they claim to treat

• Are they offering to replace necessary medical care (e.g., antibiotics for bacterial infection, insulin for diabetes)?
• Or are they positioning themselves as complementary to conventional care?

4. Practitioner experience

• How far along is the student in their program?
• Who supervises, and how closely?
• What qualifications does the supervising faculty member have?

5. Safety practices

• Do they screen for herb-drug interactions?
• Do they take contraindications seriously?
• Do they ask about all medications and supplements you're taking?

The Bigger Picture: Where Naturopathic Care Fits

Naturopathic medicine occupies a middle space in U.S. healthcare. It's neither integrated into conventional medical training nor wholly outside the system. In regulated states like Oregon, it operates within legal boundaries. In unregulated states, it exists in a gray zone.

This means:

• Evidence exists for some naturopathic approaches (e.g., certain herbal remedies have published research). Other approaches have less rigorous evidence.
• Naturopathic doctors receive training in anatomy and physiology, but their depth in these areas differs from an MD's.
• A naturopathic degree is not a substitute for medical training, though some naturopathic practitioners have strong scientific knowledge.

Whether a naturopathic clinic is right for your situation depends on what you're seeking, what your medical needs are, and whether you're using it as a complement to or a replacement for conventional care. That evaluation can't be made generally—it's specific to you.

Making an Informed Decision

The NUNM Clinic represents a legitimate educational institution with accreditation, located in a state with regulated naturopathic licensure. That's more transparent and accountable than an unregulated naturopathic practice in an unlicensed state. But institutional credibility and individual appropriateness for your care are two different questions.

Understanding the clinic's role—as a teaching institution where students provide care under supervision—allows you to evaluate whether that fits your needs, your budget, and your comfort level. A regulated environment and accredited school create a different framework than unregulated practice, but they don't determine whether naturopathic care is the right approach for your specific health situation. That requires conversation with your healthcare provider and honest assessment of what you're hoping to achieve.