-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P8lwwI3KZ6vy2jIY942sMqv5kp7FEzhfSEYHOU0JjHMsVDIO3XZPiKnKcp+IStR3
 toAFgcjwCzEANGKuVaGOhw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000905193-10-000001.txt : 20100517
<SEC-HEADER>0000905193-10-000001.hdr.sgml : 20100517
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100517183345
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000905193-10-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100513
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100517
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100517

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000275053
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				870327982
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			UT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 E 1700 SOUTH
		CITY:			PROVO
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8013424300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 2:		75 EAST 1700 SOUTH
		CITY:			PROVO
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84606

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMTEC INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19821108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEIR CANDACE K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000905193

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34483
		FILM NUMBER:		10840604

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9 ELK ST
		CITY:			ALBANY
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			12207
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-05-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000275053</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NATR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000905193</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEIR CANDACE K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9 ELK ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALBANY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>12207</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.52</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1415970</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Paradigm Capital Management</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-05-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1766</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.54</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1414204</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Paradigm Capital Management</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $12.50 to $12.58, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc., any security holder of Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commision, on request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $12.50 to $12.58, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc., any security holder of Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commision, on request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in this footnote to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares are beneficially owned by Paradigm Capital Management, Inc. (&quot;Paradigm&quot;), which has sole voting and dispositive power over the shares.  As a director and president of Paradigm, Ms. Weir may be deemed to beneficially own, and to have sole voting and dispositive power over, such shares.  Ms. Weir disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of her pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jamon Jarvis, as attorney-in-fact for Candace K. Weir</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-05-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
