Given the emphasis on non-toxic natural medicines and gently non-invasive treatments, side effects are rare. Naturopathic Doctors are also knowledgeable about contraindications between naturopathic therapies and conventional medicine making adverse effects virtually impossible. Therefore, it is very important to consult your Naturopathic Doctor before taking any supplements as self-diagnosing can cause harm if negative interactions exist between medication and natural therapies. ND's are trained to recognize conditions which are outside their scope of practice and to refer to other health practitioners when it is appropriate to do so.