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Maryland Board of Physicians


Naturopathic Formulary

Pursuant to the Maryland Naturopathic Medicine Act (§14-5F, Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland), licensed naturopathic doctors may:

  • Administer natural medicines of mineral, animal, or botanical origin, including food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and their extracts, botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, and all dietary supplements and nonprescription drugs listed in the formulary using various routes of administration, including oral, nasal, auricular, ocular, rectal, vaginal, and transdermal; AND
  • Dispense or order natural medicines of mineral, animal, or botanical origin, including food, extracts of food, nutraceuticals, vitamins, amino acids, minerals, enzymes, botanicals and their extracts, botanical medicines, homeopathic medicines, and all dietary supplements and nonprescription drugs listed in the formulary that use various routes of administration, including oral, nasal, auricular, ocular, rectal, vaginal, transdermal, and intramuscular.

Nothing on the following formulary list restricts naturopathic doctors from administering, dispensing, or ordering the substances noted above.

Formulary List

Maryland licensed naturopathic doctors may prescribe, dispense, or administer the following[1]:

  1. Prescription Auto-injectable Epinephrine
  2. Prescription Oxygen
  3. Prescription Diaphragms and Cervical Caps
  4. FDA-regulated Non-prescription Drugs
  5. FDA-regulated Non-prescription Devices

[1] A license does not authorize a licensee to prescribe, dispense, or administer any prescription or nonprescription drug or device listed in the formulary for cosmetic purposes. See ยง14-5F-14(b)(8), Health Occupations Article, Annotated Code of Maryland.

Approved 1/24/2018

In accordance with Health Occupations Article, §14-5F-01(k), Annotated Code of Maryland, naturopathic medicine means "the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human health conditions, injury, and disease using only patient education and naturopathic therapies and therapeutic substances recognized by the Council of Naturopathic Medical Education." Naturopathic medicine includes counseling; the practice of the mechanical sciences of healing, including mechanotherapy, articular manipulation, corrective and orthopedic gymnastics, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, and phototherapy; the practice of the material sciences of healing, including nutrition, phytotherapy, treatment by natural substances, and external applications; and prescribing, dispensing, or administering nonprescription and prescription drugs and devices listed in the formulary.

Permitted activities in the scope of practice for a licensed naturopathic doctor in Maryland are listed in Health Occupations Article, §14-5F-14, Annotated Code of Maryland, which is available on the Maryland General Assembly Website at Permitted Activities in the Scope of Practice.

The Maryland Board of Physicians' regulations on the scope of practice for licensed naturopathic doctors are available on the Division of State Documents Website at COMAR 10.32.21.08-Scope of Practice.

As defined in Health Occupations Article (H.O.), §14-5F-01(h), Annotated Code of Maryland, formulary means a list of drugs and devices developed and adopted in accordance with H.O. §14-5F-04.1.

As stated in Health Occupations Article, §14-5F-04.1, Annotated Code of Maryland, the naturopathic formulary (the "formulary") adopted by the Maryland Board of Physicians shall include nonprescription drugs and devices; prescription oxygen and auto-injectable epinephrine; and prescription diaphragms and cervical caps for contraception. The formulary may include only the prescription drugs and devices specifically listed in the formulary. The formulary may not include other prescription drugs and other prescription devices, and it may not include any controlled substances.

Health Occupations Article, §14-5F-01(c), Annotated Code of Maryland, states that auto-injectable epinephrine means a "portable, disposable drug delivery device that contains a premeasured single dose of epinephrine that is used to treat anaphylaxis in an emergency situation."

An individual licensed to practice naturopathic medicine in this State may not use the title "physician". Titles include: "doctor of naturopathic medicine", "doctor of naturopathy", "naturopathic doctor", "naturopath" or "N.D.".

Research by the Maryland Board of Physicians (the Board) has found that medical foods are considered foods and that nothing in the Maryland Naturopathic Medicine Act prohibits medical foods from being dispensed, ordered, or administered by routes approved in Health Occupations Article, §14-5F-14(a)(3) and (4), Annotated Code of Maryland. The Board cannot advise licensees regarding whether the Food and Drug Administration or federal statute otherwise prohibits a naturopathic doctor from dispensing or ordering medical foods.

An applicant may not be required to provide additional evidence of english proficiency if the applicant holds a valid, unrestricted license, certification, or registration from another state that requires evidence of english proficiency for licensure, certification, or registration.