LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeBusiness and Professions CodeDiv. 2Ch. 8.2Art. 4§ 3642 Naturopathic Doctor Restrictions

§ 3642 Naturopathic Doctor Restrictions

Business and Professions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3642 Naturopathic Doctor Restrictions

Key Takeaways

  • •Naturopathic doctors cannot give out strong medicines like painkillers or drugs that need special permission.
  • •They cannot use radiation or radioactive stuff to treat people.
  • •They cannot do surgeries, give anesthesia (sleep medicine for operations), or perform abortions.
  • •They cannot do acupuncture or use Chinese herbs unless they have a special acupuncture license.

Example

If you go to a naturopathic doctor for a bad back injury and ask for strong painkillers like oxycodone.

The naturopathic doctor cannot give you those painkillers because they are not allowed to prescribe such strong medicines. They can only use natural treatments or suggest other ways to help your pain.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3642 Naturopathic Doctor Restrictions

A naturopathic doctor may not perform any of the following functions: (a) Prescribe, dispense, or administer a controlled substance or device identified in Sections 801 to 971, inclusive, of Title 21 of the United States Code, except as authorized by this chapter. (b) Administer therapeutic ionizing radiation or radioactive substances. (c) Practice or claim to practice any other system or method of treatment beyond that authorized by this chapter, for which licensure is required, unless otherwise licensed to do so. (d) Administer general or spinal anesthesia. (e) Perform an abortion. (f) Perform any surgical procedure. (g) Perform acupuncture or traditional Chinese and Asian medicine, including Chinese herbal medicine, unless licensed as an acupuncturist as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 4927. (Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 649, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2006. Repealed as of January 1, 2027, pursuant to Section 3686.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

treatmentmedicalclaimlicensefineradiationunited states codesubstance

Related Statutes

  • § 3640.3 Naturopathic Assistant Limitations
  • § 1684.5 Patient Of Record Requirement
  • § 3640 Naturopathic Diagnostic Authority
  • § 3640.1 Naturopathic Doctor Nurse Supervision
  • § 3640.2 Naturopathic Assistant Scope

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Business and Professions Code. Section 3642.
View Official Source