Norway – Complementary and Alternative Medicine

What types of complementary and alternative medicine are available in Norway?

In Norway, complementary and alternative medicine is broadly understood as health-related treatment delivered primarily outside the conventional healthcare system. Many Norwegians assemble their own personalised approach to health by combining several different CAM modalities, and the overall selection of therapies on offer is extensive — comparable to what one might find across other Western nations.

Among the therapies practised in Norway are acupuncture, anthroposophic medicine, Ayurveda, chiropractic, herbal medicine and phytotherapy, homeopathy, massage, naprapathy, naturopathy, neural therapy, osteopathy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to name the most prominent. This is a notably varied offering, and a number of these disciplines — naprapathy and anthroposophic medicine in particular — may be unfamiliar to newcomers from countries where they have a lower public profile.

Survey data identifies the five most commonly used practitioner-based CAM modalities as manipulation therapies (encompassing chiropractic, naprapathy, and osteopathy) at 14%, massage at 8%, acupuncture at 3.1%, reflexology at 1.4%, and healing at 1.2%. When it comes to the specific providers people visit, massage therapists lead at 7.4%, followed by naprapaths at 3.1% and acupuncturists at 2.7%.

Natural remedies — including herbal medicines, homeopathic products, and dietary supplements — represent the most widely used CAM category overall. This pattern is consistent with a broader Nordic inclination towards self-care using products readily purchased in pharmacies and health stores.

Self-directed practices also feature prominently in Norway’s CAM landscape. Yoga is pursued by 14.8% of the population, meditation and mindfulness by 12.2%, and relaxation techniques by 9.8%, sitting alongside more formal practitioner-delivered interventions.

Naprapathy — a hands-on therapy targeting connective tissue — occupies a particularly prominent position in Norway and the wider Nordic region, and may come as a surprise to those arriving from elsewhere. By contrast, some modalities that hold a stronger institutional footing in countries such as Australia or the United States — naturopathic medicine as a standalone primary care profession being one example — are less embedded here, though naturopaths do practice in Norway.

Research tracking CAM use between 2012 and 2024 reveals fluctuating overall uptake and shifting preferences across modalities. Visits to CAM practitioners declined over this period, while self-help practices and personal use of natural remedies grew, indicating that self-directed health activity is becoming an increasingly routine part of life for many people in Norway.

Is complementary and alternative medicine regulated in Norway?

CAM provision in Norway is governed by Act No. 64 of 27 June 2003, commonly referred to as the Alternative Treatment Act (Lov om alternativ behandling av sykdom mv). This legislation defines CAM as a health-related service provided more often outside than within the official healthcare system, encompassing a wide range of services aimed at preventing, curing, or alleviating illness, ailments, and disorders, or at strengthening the immune system or the body’s own healing capacities.

A key feature of the Norwegian approach is that practising CAM requires no registration, authorisation, or licence from the authorities, and there is no requirement for medical education or any demonstration of clinical competence. This stands in marked contrast to countries such as the UK, where certain disciplines — chiropractic and osteopathy among them — are subject to statutory regulation with protected titles and mandatory registration with a government-appointed body.

Professional titles within the CAM field are generally unprotected in Norway, meaning that anyone may describe themselves as an “acupuncturist”, “homeopath”, or “herbalist”. However, practitioners without medical qualifications are prohibited from using titles that suggest they hold such qualifications or that imply they are part of the official healthcare service.

A voluntary official registry known as ALTBAS exists with the aim of improving patient safety and raising professional standards among CAM practitioners. Inclusion in ALTBAS does not constitute any form of official endorsement of the practitioner or the therapies they offer. It does, however, confirm that the listed provider operates a registered business, holds membership of a government-approved practitioners’ association that maintains a complaints mechanism, and carries valid liability insurance covering potential injury claims.

As of 2023, ALTBAS lists around 2,500 providers drawn from approximately 40 approved practitioners’ associations. Formal approval of these associations for inclusion in the ALTBAS system is overseen by the Directorate of Health.

The minimum entry standards set by individual associations are not uniform and differ considerably in terms of the education, training, and experience required of new members. Being listed in ALTBAS therefore offers a baseline guarantee of business legitimacy and insurance coverage, but should not be read as evidence of a standardised professional qualification.

Medically qualified health professionals who offer CAM are regulated as health personnel under the Norwegian Supervision Act, with oversight exercised by the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision (Helsetilsynet). In practice, this means a GP or physiotherapist providing acupuncture is subject to a significantly higher level of accountability than an independent acupuncture practitioner without medical training.

Alongside the CAM Act, a separate regulation on the marketing of alternative treatment governs how providers may use professional titles and promote their services. Its purpose is to protect patients by ensuring marketing remains factual and balanced, and it specifies that all promotional material will be assessed on the basis of the immediate impression it creates for an average patient — helping to prevent unrealistic expectations about what a given therapy can achieve.

For the most current requirements and any recent updates, consult the Norwegian Directorate of Health and NAFKAM directly, as rules may change.

Is CAM covered by health insurance or the public healthcare system in Norway?

In Norway, CAM is delivered largely outside the national healthcare service, typically as a complement to conventional treatment and funded entirely by the patient. This is an important practical distinction from some other Nordic countries and from systems with broader insurance coverage, and is a key consideration for expats planning their healthcare budgets.

Treatment costs for CAM delivered by providers without medical qualifications are not reimbursed through the National Insurance Scheme (Folketrygden). Norway’s public healthcare system is built on the Nordic welfare model of universal access, and while standard medical consultations involve only a small co-payment, CAM services provided outside the national healthcare service must be paid for in full by the patient.

When CAM is provided by medically qualified health professionals, costs are generally not reimbursed either — but reimbursement may be possible if the treatment is sufficiently integrated with conventional care and delivered within the official healthcare system. Examples include acupuncture offered by a midwife for pain relief during labour in hospital, or needling carried out by a physiotherapist as part of a broader physiotherapy course.

Over-the-counter health products — including dietary supplements, homeopathic or anthroposophic remedies, and non-prescription plant-based medicines — are not reimbursed. Prescription plant-based medicines are reimbursed on the same basis as other prescription pharmaceutical products.

Private health insurance is not widespread in Norway, but some insurers do offer policies that cover specific CAM therapies regardless of whether the practitioner holds medical qualifications. Acupuncture and chiropractic, for instance, may be included under an optional supplementary plan that requires an additional premium.

Always verify coverage terms, applicable limits, and exclusions directly with your insurer, as these vary considerably between providers and are subject to change. The Helsenorge patient portal (operated by the Norwegian Directorate of Health) is also a reliable source of up-to-date information on public system entitlements.

How much does complementary and alternative medicine cost in Norway?

Norway’s cost of living is high, and CAM services are no exception to this. Because virtually all CAM treatment is funded entirely out of pocket, costs can accumulate rapidly — particularly for therapies that require a course of sessions. Prices differ according to the type of therapy, the practitioner’s experience and reputation, and the region, with Oslo and other major cities generally commanding higher fees than rural locations.

For context, as of August 2024 a standard GP consultation costs NOK 179 (or NOK 301 for an evening appointment) — a fixed price that applies nationwide. CAM consultations, by contrast, are entirely private arrangements with no price regulation, meaning individual practitioners set their own rates.

For widely sought-after therapies, typical session fees as of 2024–2025 tend to fall in the range of approximately NOK 500–700 for massage and NOK 700–1,100 or more for chiropractic or acupuncture, with first-time consultations often attracting a higher charge. Naturopathic and osteopathic appointments fall within a broadly comparable range. These figures are indicative only — actual fees vary by practitioner and location and should be confirmed directly with the provider or through their professional association’s listings.

Despite economic shifts and changes to the regulatory environment, research tracking CAM expenditure across 2012–2024 found that overall spending remained broadly stable, reflecting the continuing importance these therapies hold for their users.

When assessing costs, bear in mind that unlike in some countries where partial insurance reimbursement for certain CAM therapies is routine, in Norway you should expect to pay the full consultation fee unless you hold a private supplementary insurance policy that explicitly covers the therapy in question. Ask practitioners for a clear fee schedule before committing to treatment, and consult the websites of relevant professional associations for guidance on typical market rates.

How do I find a qualified CAM practitioner in Norway?

Locating a reputable CAM practitioner in Norway calls for a degree of due diligence, given the absence of protected professional titles and mandatory licensing. The most dependable approach is to seek out practitioners listed in the ALTBAS registry or those carrying membership of a recognised professional association.

1. Search the ALTBAS registry. The official voluntary register of CAM practitioners is maintained by the Brønnøysund Register Centre and can be searched online at alternativ-behandling.brreg.no. Providers appearing in ALTBAS are required to operate a registered business, hold membership of a government-approved practitioners’ association, and carry valid liability insurance against injury claims.
2. Contact the relevant professional association for your chosen therapy. Each major CAM discipline in Norway is represented by one or more professional associations with their own membership requirements. The Norwegian Acupuncture Association (Norsk Akupunkturforening or NAF) is the principal professional body for acupuncturists; its website at akupunktur.no offers practitioner listings and a location-based search tool.
3. Use the Norwegian Chiropractic Association for chiropractic care. Chiropractors in Norway are affiliated with the Norwegian Chiropractic Association (Norsk Kiropraktorforening or NKF); its website at kiropraktikk.no provides a practitioner directory and search function.
4. For naturopathy and natural medicine, consult NNH. The Norwegian Association of Natural Medicine (Norske Naturterapeuters Hovedorganisasjon or NNH) is the primary professional organisation for naturopathic practitioners in Norway, with members spanning disciplines including herbal medicine, nutrition, homeopathy, and reflexology.
5. Ask your GP for a referral or recommendation. If you are registered with a fastlege (regular GP) in Norway, they may be able to point you towards practitioners they know, or help you consider whether a particular CAM therapy could complement your existing treatment plan.
6. Check NAFKAM’s resources. The National Research Centre in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NAFKAM) maintains information on CAM therapies at nafkam.no, including evidence-based assessments of different approaches to support informed decision-making.

From a consumer protection standpoint, CAM providers are not permitted to market their services in ways that imply guaranteed effectiveness for specific health conditions, and they may not advertise treatments targeting serious conditions covered by protected provisions of the CAM Act. Marketing and the use of professional titles by non-medically qualified providers are supervised by Norway’s Consumer Authority. If you come across promotional material making sweeping health claims or promising cures for serious diseases, regard this as a warning sign.

The Norwegian government does not accept responsibility for compensation following injuries sustained through CAM treatment from non-medically qualified providers, so selecting a practitioner who holds valid liability insurance — as ALTBAS listing requires — is an important protective step.

Are there traditional or indigenous medicine systems practised in Norway?

Norway has a longstanding tradition of folk medicine rooted in Norse and rural Scandinavian heritage, though this has not been formalised into a distinct recognised system in the way that Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda have been codified. Historically, local plants, healing rituals, and the knowledge of wise women or healer figures — known as kloke koner — played a meaningful role in Norwegian rural communities.

Indigenous Sami healing traditions represent another dimension of this picture. The Sami are the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia, and their traditional health practices encompass the use of medicinal plants, healing ceremonies, and community-centred approaches to wellbeing. These traditions carry deep cultural significance as part of Norway’s indigenous heritage, though the Norwegian state does not formally regulate them as a healthcare system. Where Sami traditional healing is offered in a professional context involving health-related services, it falls within the scope of the Alternative Treatment Act, as do other CAM practices.

At the policy level, Norway has in recent years directed increasing attention towards Sami health and the need for culturally sensitive healthcare delivery. The Sametinget (Sami Parliament) is active on health matters affecting the Sami community, and healthcare services in the north of the country are growing more attentive to culturally appropriate provision.

NAFKAM holds the status of a WHO Collaboration Centre for Traditional and Complementary Medicine, which reflects Norway’s engagement with international standards in this field — including recognition of indigenous healing systems within a broader global framework.

For most expats, these traditional dimensions of Norwegian health culture are unlikely to be their primary point of contact with CAM. That said, familiarity with local plant-based and folk traditions can deepen your understanding of Norwegian health culture more broadly, and herbal products drawing on Nordic botanical traditions are widely stocked in health stores and pharmacies throughout the country.

What should expats know about using CAM alongside conventional medicine in Norway?

There is a growing interest within Norway’s healthcare system in finding ways to bring CAM and conventional medicine closer together. A number of hospitals and healthcare centres now offer CAM services alongside standard medical treatments, and patients are generally encouraged to take an active role in managing their own health — which includes exploring CAM options where appropriate.

Acupuncture in particular has gained a foothold in both public healthcare settings and hospitals. Several official clinical guidelines address its use within the healthcare system, covering conditions such as chronic low back pain, pregnancy-related nausea, migraine, and tension headache. Needling is also recognised as an accepted component of standard physiotherapy and chiropractic practice.

Norwegian GPs (fastleger) differ in how open they are to CAM, but the overarching healthcare culture — shaped by the Nordic welfare model’s emphasis on patient autonomy — tends to respect individual health choices. That said, your GP is unlikely to prescribe or formally refer you to an unregistered CAM practitioner. It is nonetheless advisable to keep your fastlege informed of any CAM therapies you are using, particularly herbal preparations or supplements, since these can interact with prescription medications.

Herb-drug interactions are a genuine safety concern. Certain widely available herbal products — St John’s Wort, for example, which is commonly sold in Norwegian pharmacies — are known to diminish the effectiveness of specific prescription medicines, including oral contraceptives and anticoagulants. Homeopathic and anthroposophic products are regulated as medicines in Norway but without the requirement to demonstrate scientific efficacy. They are available exclusively through pharmacies, which means a pharmacist is well placed to advise on potential interactions — an assurance that is harder to obtain when purchasing supplements online or from unlicensed retailers.

For broader guidance on safety and the evidence base for different therapies, Norwegian health authorities fund NAFKAM specifically to enhance patient safety through research and the provision of objective, publicly accessible information. NAFKAM is based at the Faculty of Health at UiT The Arctic University of Norway and is financed by the Norwegian Directorate of Health. The centre offers evidence-based information in English at nafkam.no/en, making it an especially valuable resource for expats navigating an unfamiliar healthcare environment.

The Helsenorge patient portal similarly provides accessible English-language guidance on patient rights in relation to CAM. The Norwegian Medicines Agency (Legemiddelverket / NoMA) is the appropriate authority to consult regarding the regulatory status of specific herbal, homeopathic, or plant-based medicinal products available in Norway.

Frequently asked questions about CAM in Norway

Can I find CAM practitioners in Norway who speak languages other than Norwegian?

In larger cities such as Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim, it is becoming increasingly common to find CAM practitioners who consult in English or other languages. Many clinics and individual practitioners in urban areas indicate their language capabilities on their websites or within their ALTBAS profile. Therapies with international origins — such as Traditional Chinese Medicine or Ayurveda — are often offered by practitioners from relevant cultural backgrounds who may consult in multiple languages. Searching practitioner directories on association websites such as akupunktur.no or kiropraktikk.no and filtering by location is a practical way to begin your search.

Are all CAM therapies legal in Norway?

The Alternative Treatment Act places clear limits on what CAM providers may do. They are prohibited from performing medical procedures, providing treatments that could pose a serious risk to the patient’s health, treating infectious diseases that could endanger public health, or treating serious illnesses and disorders without the involvement of qualified medical professionals. Within these parameters, an extensive range of therapies is legally permitted. For information about the status of a specific therapy, NAFKAM’s website at nafkam.no/en contains therapy-by-therapy regulatory guidance.

How do I check whether a CAM practitioner is properly registered?

The most straightforward route is to search the ALTBAS voluntary registry at alternativ-behandling.brreg.no. A practitioner appearing there has a registered business, is a member of a government-approved professional association, and holds liability insurance. You can also verify membership status directly with the relevant professional association. Keep in mind that not all qualified and reputable practitioners choose to register with ALTBAS — but where a provider is absent from the registry, you should independently confirm their credentials and insurance arrangements.

Is homeopathy available and widely accepted in Norway?

Homeopathic remedies are sold in Norway but are classified as medicines and therefore available only through pharmacies. The cost of these over-the-counter products is not reimbursed under the public system. Homeopathic practitioners operate on a private basis, and as with other CAM disciplines there is no statutory regulation of the profession, though individual professional associations maintain their own membership standards. Mainstream medical professionals in Norway tend to be sceptical of homeopathy, consistent with the prevailing scientific consensus.

Does my Norwegian GP need to know about the CAM therapies I am using?

There is no legal requirement to disclose CAM use to your GP, but doing so is strongly recommended — especially if you are taking herbal preparations, supplements, or any other products that could interact with prescribed medicines. Norwegian GPs are generally respectful of patients’ autonomy in health matters and are unlikely to be dismissive, but they need a full picture of what you are taking in order to provide coordinated and safe care. Maintaining open communication with your fastlege is the most effective way to ensure your overall healthcare plan remains coherent and safe.

Are there integrative medicine clinics in Norway?

Formalised integrative clinics that bring conventional and CAM practitioners together under one roof are relatively uncommon in Norway, though some private clinics do provide multidisciplinary services. More often, integration occurs informally — for instance, when a physiotherapy practice also delivers acupuncture or massage, or when a GP refers a patient with musculoskeletal issues to a naprapath or chiropractor. Acupuncture and needling are formally recognised within both physiotherapy and midwifery practice in the public healthcare system.

Can I bring herbal medicines or supplements into Norway from abroad?

Norway adheres to EEA rules governing the importation of medicines and health products. Bringing a personal supply of herbal medicines or supplements for your own use is generally permitted, but importing products classified as medicines requires that they be authorised in Norway. Specific rules and procedures apply to herbal, plant-based, and homeopathic preparations. If you depend on a particular product that may not be readily available in Norway, check with the Norwegian Medicines Agency (Legemiddelverket) before you travel to establish the product’s regulatory status and any applicable import restrictions.

How does Norwegian CAM culture compare to other Nordic countries?

Norway shares a great deal with its Nordic neighbours in terms of CAM usage patterns and regulatory philosophy. Denmark and Sweden likewise record high rates of CAM use and depend primarily on voluntary self-regulation for most practitioners. CAM is offered in approximately 50% of Norwegian hospitals — a level of hospital integration that exceeds that of many other European countries, though the therapies involved tend to be those attracting the most conventional medical acceptance, with acupuncture being the most common. Norway’s creation of NAFKAM as a dedicated national CAM research centre — and its status as a WHO Collaboration Centre — distinguishes it from countries lacking state-funded infrastructure specifically devoted to researching complementary and alternative medicine.