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Naturopathy: Promoting Healthcare vs. Sickcare
With Dr. Devin Stone, Naturopathic Physician
Naturopathic Physician Dr. Devin Stone has a holistic approach to medicine that emphasizes the need to look at a patient as a whole when creating a treatment plan. Using non-pharmaceutical methods, including meditation and breathing exercises, Dr. Devin Stone helps his patients get into a healing state of mind.
In terms of tools to use, the ARDO Weighted Blanket is also a nice aid to have on top of the practices that the patients can do for themselves. Throughout the healing journey, it is important to restore health with the lowest force of intervention.
In our busy schedules, we often overlook our own well-being. When was the last time you took care of yourself not only physically, but also to evaluate your overall well-being? Ask yourself: Are you eating well? Have you been exercising regularly? How is your sleep quality?
Read on to learn more about Dr. Devin and his work.
Q&A with Dr. Devin Stone, Naturopathic Physician
1. How did your journey start as a Naturopathic Doctor?
Originally I didn’t even know Naturopathic Medicine even existed. Since I was a kid I always wanted to become a physician and learn about the human body to help people achieve wellness. After I finished my undergrad I took a detour and started a world-renowned clinic in Hollywood with a Physician. During this time and understanding the medical model in more detail I strayed away from the conventional models of learning medicine as they did not align fully with the way I wanted to eventually practice as a doctor. I wanted to focus more on establishing wellness with diet, lifestyle, mental health, herbs, and more along with knowing the conventional model.
8 years into my business I met my first Naturopathic Physician and loved the way they were trained to see patients. After understanding this field of medicine and that you can become a licensed physician trained in this manner I soon left my business and career to go back to school to fulfill this lifelong dream of becoming a doctor.
Source: Dr. Devin Stone (@dstone008)
2. What does it mean to promote healthcare, not sick care?
This goes back to my last question, the more I got to see the insides of our current healthcare model the more I saw flaws within it. There was not enough attention on restoring true health in the primary care model. Instead, it focused more on prescriptions for symptoms. This is what I mean, I want to portray an image of a true healthcare model, one that is designed to support someone to heal by diving into the root causes of disease and not just focusing on symptom relief.
3. What are some of the most noticeable changes within yourself after you picked up Naturopathy?
I have lived a fairly healthy lifestyle for some years before starting school. I also was focusing a lot on nutrition at this time and it’s fundamental aspect it has on health. However, the more I learned naturopathic medicine the more I started to understand some of the culprits of disease and modalities to help them. I would have to say now today most things I do I make a conscious effort to make sure they are healthy for me. This includes the products I use, food I eat, the air in my home and so much more.
4. What does self-care mean to you?
Self-care is finding the time and giving back to yourself. In the fast-paced society we live in and the many factors we have to take on to live decent lives it's sometimes easy to forget this aspect of care. This can come in many forms.
“Mental health is always a big aspect. I always dive into this with every patient no matter what; because if their mental aspect is off, it can manifest disease in many ways and limit their ability to truly heal."
– DR. DEVIN STONE
5. What are some self-care practices that you do every single day, no matter how busy you are?
Some of the self-care practices I do daily are the following: meditation, reading positive quotes, breath work, and cooking (for me cooking is one of my creative outlets and puts me in a flow state).
6. How are you using the weighted blanket in your routine and how do you feel about it?
On long days I like to come home and just relax on my couch. I keep my blanket here to use. I have to say this blanket truly does feel amazing and the gentle comfort its weight provides is like none other.
7. What are the first steps you’d suggest to our readers if they are thinking to learn more about healthcare/self-care in a natural way?
If you are wanting to know more about healthcare/self care the clinic I work at Tulsi Wellness Center has an amazing membership program. It allows both in-office and telemedicine appointments with highly trained licensed naturopathic doctors. It comes at a minimal monthly fee and allows our patients to build a sustainable wellness plan with their doctor. We focus our care on a continued monthly basis because as you begin healing new aspects of natural medicine can be used to meet you at your new current health state.
8. What’s the next goal you’d like to achieve?
The next goal I would like to achieve is now building up my own patient base. As a newly graduated naturopathic physician, I am wanting to spread my knowledge and skills with as many people as possible to help them on a journey of healing themselves.
9. What's one quote that you live by?
A quote I thoroughly enjoy is “And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music” by Friedrich Nietzsche. This quote means a lot to me because we all have our own unique journeys to follow in life to fulfill our purpose. It does not always have to be accepted by everyone. As long as you are on your path and it's one that fulfills yourself and gives service back to humanity you are on the right path.
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."
– FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
10. Can you share a memorable story (nameless) from a patient of yours?
Usually as a doctor you are teaching others how to heal. This story is one case of many where I was taught an important lesson by my patient. My patient had a terminal illness. Before my appointment and reviewing their past medical records and charts I had the assumption this was going to be a difficult visit. I thought, “how could someone coming in with this condition be in a good place”. Being in the telemedicine days of the pandemic I soon started my appointment with them over this platform. To my surprise the patient was radiant, they were lively and full of gratitude. They even showed me some art that they started painting as a new hobby since the diagnosis. This taught me how important it is to always stay positive no matter the situation.