<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-06-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166152</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PRESCOTT GROUP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1924 SOUTH UTICA, SUITE 1120</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TULSA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OK</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>74104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, no par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-06-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1499404</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The filing of this Form 4 shall not be construed as an admission that Prescott Group Capital Management, L.L.C. (&quot;Prescott Capital&quot;) or Phil Frohlich, the managing member of Prescott Capital, is or was for the purposes of Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise the beneficial owner of any of the Common Stock, no par value per share (the &quot;Common Stock&quot;), of Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) held by (i) Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap Master Fund, G.P. (the &quot;Master Fund&quot;) for the accounts of Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap, L.P. and Prescott Group Aggressive Small Cap II, L.P. (together, the &quot;Small Cap Funds&quot;) and (ii) a partnership of which Prescott Capital serves as the general partner (the &quot;Account&quot;). Pursuant to Rule 16a-1, both Prescott Capital and Mr. Frohlich disclaim such beneficial ownership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This Form 4 relates to shares of Common Stock of the Issuer held (i) in the account of the Master Fund (1,497,836 shares), of which the Small Cap Funds are general partners and (ii) the Account (1,568 shares), of which Prescott Capital is the general partner. Prescott Capital serves as the general partner and investment manager of the Small Cap Funds and may direct the Small Cap Funds.  The Master Fund holds the shares of Common Stock for the accounts of the Small Cap Funds. Prescott Capital receives a portion of the profits in the way of a capital allocation from, and owns a partnership interest in, the Small Cap Funds. Prescott Capital owns a partnership interest in the Account. Phil Frohlich reports the Common Stock held indirectly by Prescott Capital because, as the managing member of Prescott Capital at the time of purchase, he controlled the disposition and voting of the securities.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>PRESCOTT GROUP CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, L.L.C., Name: /s/ Phil Frohlich, Title: Managing Member</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Phil Frohlich</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-06-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
