We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Phillips and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
1. What started your pathway in naturopathic medicine?

It seems like almost every ND (Naturopathic Doctor) has a unique “origin story”. Despite this, I always joke that I am the least likely Naturopathic Doctor and an even less likely advocate for psychedelic assisted therapy. I grew up on a popcorn farm in rural Indiana in a politically and religiously conservative environment. A quarter of my high school class never graduated, only a quarter went to college, and few ever left our hometown. I had no interest in becoming a doctor and had no idea that Naturopathic Medicine even existed.

It was a long, convoluted, adventurous, and unexpected journey from my small town to Bastyr University. I moved to Colorado for college and eventually went to study abroad in Sikkim, a Himalayan state in northeast India. During this time, I fell in love with the geography, culture, languages, and people of the Himalayas. Three days after graduating with a degree in Global Studies, my wife and I left America behind and began living and working in remote Himalayan villages. We spent over a decade carrying out community development and public health projects. During this time a few unexpected events set me on the long path to becoming an ND.

First, I had the rare opportunity to live for years in a natural environment without the “comforts” of the modern world. After a few months, I woke up and thought one day, “I’ve never been healthy before… this is what healthy actually feels like.” My analytical Western mind started to search for the reason why I felt so good. Was it going to bed with sunset and waking with the sunrise? Was it walking every where I needed to go? Was it eating a mostly vegetarian, seasonal, simple, organic, diet? Was it the lack of electronic devices? Was it being surrounded by nature? Was it the satisfaction of meaningful work and living according to my values? Eventually, I realized that it was any of the “parts” but the “whole”. I realized that health is a system not a state.

Second, the realities of Himalayan life thrust me into healthcare. The students I taught were dying of preventable diseases. My neighbors were dying in childbirth. My friends’ simple injuries were becoming infected and threatening their lives. I trained as an EMT and earned a diploma in primary care for the developing world. I did not have many pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, or modern equipment at my disposal. What I did have access to was nature. Hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, and medicinal plants were the only tools available. When people from the cities started traveling to the village to see me for treatment, I realized that I’d stumbled onto something. Even though I understood it, I didn’t know what it was called.

Third, a midwife from the USA came to our village to attend my third son’s birth. After seeing our work, she asked, “Have you ever thought about becoming a doctor?” I replied that I had considered it, but then described everything thing I’d learned from my time in India. She responded, “Have you ever heard of Naturopathic Medicine? They believe in everything you just described to me. You should look into it.”

She probably didn’t know the Pandora’s Box she opened in my mind, body, and spirit. Over the next ten years I earned a degree in science, a Masters in Public Health, a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, board certification in Biofeedback Therapy, and my certification in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. I’ve now been in practice 3 years and have found my niche specializing in Integrative Mental Health.

What should our readers know about your business?
It seems like almost every Naturopathic Doctor (ND) has a unique “origin story”. Psychedelics, I always joke that I am the least likely Naturopathic Doctor and an even less likely advocate for psychedelic assisted therapy. I grew up on a popcorn farm in rural Indiana in a politically and religiously conservative environment. A quarter of my high school class never graduated, only a quarter went to college, and few ever left our hometown. I had no interest in becoming a doctor and had no idea that Naturopathic Medicine even existed. It was a long, convoluted, adventurous, and unexpected journey from my small town to becoming a doctor at 40.

I moved to Colorado for college (CCU) and eventually went to study abroad in Sikkim (Naropa University), a Himalayan state in northeast India. During this time, I fell in love with the geography, culture, languages, and people of the Himalayas. Three days after graduating with a degree in Global Studies, my wife and I left America behind and began living and working in remote Himalayan villages. We spent over a decade carrying out community development and public health projects. During this time a few unexpected events set me on the long path to becoming an ND.

First, I had the rare opportunity to live for years in a natural environment without the “comforts” of the modern world. After a few months, I woke up and thought one day, “I’ve never been healthy before… this is what healthy actually feels like.” My analytical Western mind started to search for the reason why I felt so good. Was it going to bed with sunset and waking with the sunrise? Was it walking every where I needed to go? Was it eating a mostly vegetarian, seasonal, simple, organic, diet? Was it the lack of electronic devices? Was it being surrounded by nature? Was it the satisfaction of meaningful work and living according to my values? Eventually, I realized that it was any of the “parts” but the “whole”. I realized that health is a system not a state.

Second, the realities of Himalayan life thrust me into healthcare. The students I taught were dying of preventable diseases. My neighbors were dying in childbirth. My friends’ simple injuries were becoming infected and threatening their lives. I trained as an EMT and earned a diploma in primary care for the developing world. I did not have many pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, or modern equipment at my disposal. What I did have access to was nature. Hygiene, sanitation, nutrition, and medicinal plants were the only tools available. When people from the cities started traveling to the village to see me for treatment, I realized that I’d stumbled onto something. Even though I understood it, I didn’t know what it was called.

Third, a midwife from the USA came to our village to attend my third son’s birth. After seeing our work, she asked, “Have you ever thought about becoming a doctor?” I replied that I had considered it, but then described everything thing I’d learned from my time in India. She responded, “Have you ever heard of Naturopathic Medicine? They believe in everything you just described to me. You should look into it.”

She probably didn’t know the Pandora’s Box she opened in my mind, body, and spirit. Over the next ten years I earned a degree in science, a Masters in Public Health, a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, board certification in Biofeedback Therapy, and my certification in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy. I’ve now been in practice 3 years and have found my niche specializing in Integrative Mental Health.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Denver Metro Power Weekend

Friday:
– Morning: Hiking at Red Rocks
– Lunch: The Sherpa House in Golden
– Afternoon: Drive up Lookout Mountain and stroll around the lake in Evergreen, Followed by coffee/ice cream
– Evening: Meow Wolf

Saturday:
– Morning: Drive up 285 and cross Guanella Pass to Georgetown.
– Lunch: The Happy Cooker
– Afternoon: The Georgetown Loop Railroad
– Evening: Blackhawk, pick your poison!

Sunday:
– Morning: Float tank and massage at Bare Necessities, Arvada
– Brunch at Snooze
– Afternoon: Float clear creek in Golden
– Evening: Dinner at Postino’s
–

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
To my mother Linda Phillips, who has been a consistent model of strength, resilience, perseverance and grace.

Website: https://transcendent.health/

Instagram: doctor_ryan_nd

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-ryan-nd-mph-bcb-ches/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557110470908www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557110470908

Other: https://www.neurogrove.com

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