Most Australians have tried some form of complementary medicine. The RACGP puts the figure at more than 60% of the population, from a fish oil capsule to regular acupuncture (RACGP newsGP, 2025). What people find harder is working out what the labels mean. Naturopath, functional medicine, integrative GP and alternative medicine get used as if they were the same thing, and they are not.
This guide explains each term, what a consultation involves, how practitioners are trained and regulated, and how to judge whether an approach is backed by evidence. It also shows how these services fit together at Health104 in Middle Park, Melbourne, where general practice, allied health and complementary therapies sit under one roof.
In short
- Integrative medicine combines standard medical care with complementary therapies, chosen on the evidence and coordinated by a doctor who knows your full history.
- A naturopath uses herbal medicine, nutrition and lifestyle advice. Naturopaths are not registered with Ahpra, so checking qualifications and association membership is up to you.
- Functional medicine looks for the underlying drivers of chronic symptoms. It is an approach rather than a recognised medical specialty in Australia.
- Alternative medicine means a therapy used instead of conventional care. Used alongside it, the same therapy is called complementary.
Integrative medicine vs alternative medicine
The difference comes down to one question: is the therapy replacing standard medical care, or working alongside it? The RACGP describes integrative medicine as making use of all appropriate therapeutic and lifestyle approaches, health professionals and disciplines, with complementary medicine brought into conventional care on the evidence (RACGP newsGP, 2025).
- Conventional medicine: diagnosis and treatment by registered doctors and allied health professionals, using tested medicines and procedures. For example, a GP diagnoses iron deficiency, orders bloods and prescribes iron.
- Complementary medicine: a non-mainstream therapy used together with conventional care, such as acupuncture for back pain while you continue physiotherapy.
- Alternative medicine: a non-mainstream therapy used instead of conventional care, such as treating a diagnosed condition with herbs alone and stopping prescribed medicine.
- Integrative medicine: conventional and complementary care planned together and coordinated by a medical practitioner. A GP manages your blood tests and medication, and refers you to a nutritionist or acupuncturist as part of the same plan.
Integrative medicine is growing inside general practice. The RACGP Specific Interests Integrative Medicine group has more than 2,000 GP members. A doctor who practises this way can still diagnose, prescribe, order pathology and refer, which is the main thing that separates an integrative GP from a complementary therapist working alone.
Using a therapy as an alternative to proven treatment carries real risk, particularly for serious conditions. If you are thinking about stopping or replacing a prescribed treatment, talk to your doctor first.
What does a naturopath do?
A naturopath assesses your health history, diet, sleep, stress and lifestyle, then builds a plan that can include herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, dietary changes and lifestyle advice. Naturopathy is based on supporting the body’s own processes and on looking for contributing factors rather than a single symptom (Torrens University).
People often see a naturopath for digestive complaints, low energy, stress, sleep and general wellbeing. Evidence for naturopathic treatments varies widely from one remedy and condition to the next, so a good naturopath will be clear about what the research does and does not show for your situation.
What happens in a naturopathy consultation
A first appointment usually runs an hour or longer. Expect detailed questions, and come prepared with:
- Any recent blood tests or reports from your GP or specialist.
- A full list of the medicines, vitamins and supplements you take, with doses.
- A short note on your main concerns, when they started and what you have already tried.
Follow-up appointments are shorter and track how you are going against the plan.
How naturopaths are trained and regulated
Most practising naturopaths in Australia hold a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy). Naturopathy is not one of the professions registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Standards are set by professional associations instead, which set codes of conduct and continuing education requirements for members.
Because there is no national register, the title naturopath is not protected. Before booking, ask which qualification your practitioner holds and which association they belong to.
What is functional medicine?
Functional medicine is an approach that tries to find the underlying causes of chronic symptoms, rather than treating each symptom on its own. The Institute for Functional Medicine describes it as a systems biology approach built on the idea that one condition can have several causes, and one cause can contribute to several conditions (Institute for Functional Medicine).
In practice, that means long consultations, a detailed timeline of your health, and a focus on diet, sleep, stress, movement and environment. Doctors, naturopaths, nutritionists and other practitioners can all describe their work as functional medicine.
A note on functional testing
Functional medicine often involves extra testing, such as stool analysis, food sensitivity panels or detailed hormone profiles. Some of these tests are well validated and some are not, and many are not covered by Medicare. Before paying for a test, ask what the result will change about your treatment. If the answer is nothing, you may not need it.
Common alternative medicine and complementary therapies
Alternative medicine covers a wide group of therapies with very different training, regulation and evidence. These are the ones people ask about most:
- Naturopathy: herbal medicine, nutrition and lifestyle advice based on a detailed health assessment. Not registered with Ahpra.
- Chinese medicine and acupuncture: fine needles at specific points, Chinese herbal medicine and related techniques. Practitioners are registered with the Chinese Medicine Board of Australia.
- Western herbal medicine: plant-based medicines prescribed by a herbalist, often as liquid extracts or tablets. Not registered with Ahpra.
- Nutrition and dietetics: dietary assessment and food-based advice. Dietitians also manage medical nutrition therapy and are credentialed by Dietitians Australia.
- Kinesiology: muscle monitoring used to guide changes in lifestyle, nutrition and stress management. Not registered with Ahpra.
- Homeopathy: highly diluted preparations based on the idea that like cures like. A 2015 NHMRC review found no reliable evidence it works for any health condition.
Registration matters because it means the practitioner has met national training standards, holds insurance and can be held to account by a board. It does not, on its own, tell you whether a given treatment works for your condition.
How to choose evidence-based complementary care
A therapy can be natural and still cause harm. Better Health Channel lists common examples: ginkgo can raise bleeding risk in people on warfarin, and St John’s wort can make the contraceptive pill, blood pressure medicines and some antidepressants less effective (Better Health Channel). These questions help you choose well:
- What is the evidence for this treatment, for my condition? A good practitioner will tell you plainly, including when the evidence is thin.
- What qualification do you hold, and which board or association are you with? Check Ahpra registration where it applies.
- How does this fit with my current medicines? Bring a full list, and ask whether anything should be checked with your GP or pharmacist first.
- How will we know if it is working, and by when? Agree on a review point before you start.
- What will this cost over the full course? Ask about the number of sessions, products and any tests.
Look for an AUST L or AUST R number on any supplement or herbal product. It means the product meets Australian manufacturing and quality standards. Products bought overseas or online may not.
How integrative care works at Health104
Health104 brings general practice, medical specialists, allied health, fitness, recovery and wellness services together at 104 Canterbury Road, Middle Park. The aim is coordinated care: one plan, with practitioners who can see the same history and talk to each other.
Depending on what you need, an integrative plan at Health104 can draw on:
- Integrative medicine with a registered GP who can diagnose, prescribe, order pathology and coordinate the rest of your care.
- Lifestyle medicine and a health coach for nutrition, sleep, stress and movement changes.
- A nutritionist or dietitian for food-based plans.
- Kinesiology and alternative medicine consultations, alongside your medical care rather than in place of it.
You can see the full list of services on the Integrative and Alternative Medicine page.
Key takeaways
- Integrative medicine is conventional care and complementary therapy planned together, ideally led by a GP who can diagnose, prescribe and refer.
- A naturopath works with herbal medicine, nutrition and lifestyle advice. Ask about their degree and professional association, since naturopathy is not Ahpra registered.
- Functional medicine is a way of investigating chronic symptoms. Before paying for a functional test, ask what the result will change.
- Using any therapy instead of proven treatment for a serious condition carries risk. Use it alongside your medical care.
- Tell your GP and pharmacist about every herb and supplement you take, and look for an AUST L or AUST R number.
If you would like care that brings medical and complementary approaches into one plan, start with an integrative medicine appointment or explore Integrative and Alternative Medicine at Health104. You can book online or call the Middle Park team on 03 9088 3323.
This article is general information only and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified health professional about your own situation.
References
Better Health Channel. Complementary medicines: tell your healthcare professionals. Victorian Department of Health. betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Burge, K. (2025). What is the GP’s role in integrative medicine? newsGP, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. racgp.org.au
Canstar (2026). Is naturopathy covered by health insurance? canstar.com.au
Institute for Functional Medicine. What is functional medicine? functionalmedicine.org
National Health and Medical Research Council (2015). NHMRC information paper: evidence on the effectiveness of homeopathy for treating health conditions. Canberra: NHMRC.
Southern Cross University (2025). Private health insurance rebates restored for natural therapies. scu.edu.au
Torrens University Australia. What is naturopathy? Naturopathic medicine explained. torrens.edu.au