About Dr. Pistoia

My journey into health began in childhood, driven by my own struggles with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Those early years were emotionally overwhelming, shaped by my sensitivity, difficult family dynamics, and the separation of my parents. I believe these experiences played a significant role in triggering my IBS.

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Growing up, my family knew nothing about natural medicine. I'd never heard of a naturopathic doctor (ND) or natural medicine. Like you, I went to conventional doctors (MDs) for help. After seeing several MDs who couldn’t provide me with effective solutions, I realized I had to take my health into my own hands and explore what else was available.

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Fortunately, my father had a strong interest in healthy living and inspired me to develop healthy habits. I began reading books about nutrition and fitness and searched for ways to feel better. Learning also became a source of comfort and stability during my emotionally challenging childhood, and my curiosity pushed me to excel academically. I earned multiple academic awards before I finished middle school.

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One of my earliest health discoveries was that my IBS improved after I changed living environments. I realized that I took on an emotional burden from the separation of my parents, which dramatically affected my health. My mother abused alcohol, my brother was violent and at times abusive, and I was insecure. When I became a bit more emotionally stable, the symptoms of IBS seemed to disappear, but my journey to health was far from over.

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By the time I started high school, I had a basic understanding of how nutrition, exercise, and emotions impacted my health. Despite this, I frequently came down with colds and missed many school days. My home life improved, but I struggled with anxiety, low self-esteem, and insecurity. I continued to find comfort in reading, learning, and academics, and I was very curious about health topics.

 

Determined to stop getting sick, I came across a book titled Finally, The Common Cold Cure. It introduced me to natural remedies like high-dose vitamin C, zinc, and green tea. The results were life-changing. It allowed me to successfully abort many common cold symptoms, and prevent them too. As a result, I became a passionate advocate for this protocol, educating my friends and family about it. I also spent some time at the local supplement store exploring some of the natural medicines. 

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In my senior year of high school, I was unexpectedly appointed to represent student interests on the school's faculty health committee. I used this opportunity to propose replacing vending machine junk food with healthier options like water and nutritious snacks—options that I thought would benefit everyone.

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In college, my commitment to health deepened. By age 21, I transformed my body through fitness and became an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer. My goal was to help others achieve their health and fitness goals while demystifying wellness. I also volunteered as a youth tutor, earning an excellence award from the Town of Islip, NY. I also volunteered as a coach for Stony Brook University’s Fit Families for Life, where I taught children how to exercise.

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During my junior year in college, I was struck with a major life trauma when my brother was suddenly killed. My family fell to pieces, and his death shook me to my core, sending me into an existential crisis. If you’ve ever lost a loved one prematurely, then you know what it’s like—you feel like a piece of you was stolen away, and you have to go on living without it. You question everything, feel angry, anxious, depressed . . . and that trauma stays with you. It changes the way you interact with the world, and may even change your personality. My life fundamentally changed in many ways after the death of my brother. It led me to what some call a “spiritual awakening,” where I began exploring spirituality, consciousness, and psychology.

 

After earning my Bachelor’s in Health Science from Stony Brook University, I was drawn to medicine but I was conflicted. I wanted to help others in a doctoral capacity, but I didn't see the value in prescribing drugs. After some time Googling alternative career paths, I discovered naturopathic medicine! The philosophy of using lifestyle counseling and natural medicines to treat the whole person resonated deeply with me. It was clear that I’d found my life’s passion and purpose.

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I later applied to the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) to pursue a career as a naturopathic physician and was honored to receive the Stellar Achievement Scholarship.
 

Within a few months of starting medical school, I was ill with a cold for about eight weeks. It was my worst fear going into medical school! This particular cold came with a relentless night cough that made falling asleep difficult, because lying flat triggered the cough. I usually woke up with severe throat pain in the middle of the night too. The symptoms would get better and then get worse again, and I was thoroughly confused and flustered. Vitamin C, green tea, and zinc weren't helping, and I needed to perform in school under the pressure of weekly exams. I felt frustrated and disheartened, and I questioned whether I was making the right health choices.

In desperation, I visited a conventional doctor, who diagnosed me with a viral infection and simply advised rest and fluids. I'd already come to that conclusion myself, and I once again found myself without clear guidance and no help from conventional medicines. 

 

Determined to find a solution, I turned to a book called Nature Cure, which opened my eyes to new therapies and introduced me to homeopathy—a type of medicine I’d never heard of. Nature Cure was written by Henry Lindlahr, who is considered to be a prominent figure in the development of naturopathy in the United States.

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While researching homeopathy, I discovered a medicine called Pulsatilla that seemed like it could help with my lingering symptoms. I took a dose of it, but nothing happened. Hours later, I took another dose and then went to bed. The next morning, I woke up completely symptom-free! My cough, sore throat, and emotional turmoil had vanished. I felt an inexplicable lightness, as though a burden had been lifted. Emotionally, I was at peace, and physically, I felt relieved. This experience left me in awe, and I felt a deep sense of gratitude and debt toward the medicine.

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Motivated to learn more, I began religiously studying homeopathy and soon re-established the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians (HANP) chapter at my school, serving as its student representative. True to my passion for helping others, I shared homeopathy with those around me. One of my neighbors, who had symptoms similar to mine, experienced the same remarkable recovery with Pulsatilla after I suggested she take it. This reinforced my belief in homeopathy and revealed my natural aptitude for it. I began helping fellow students by prescribing homeopathic medicines and teaching them how to use homeopathy effectively, often with great success.

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During this time, I also represented the Naturopathic Medicine Institute’s Vitalist program (VNMI), which emphasizes traditional naturopathic practices like hydrotherapy and the body’s inherent capacity for healing. To further promote these principles, I co-founded the Naturopathic Society (a student vitalist club) and soon served as its president. My dedication to naturopathic medicine was later recognized when I received the Benedict Lust Award twice—an honor for embodying the core principles of naturopathy. Benedict Lust was the founder of naturopathy in America.

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In my second year of medical school, I experienced another sudden hardship when the most stable and supportive person in my life was diagnosed with cancer. Although the condition didn’t require immediate treatment, the news hit me hard, stirring waves of anxiety, insecurity, and uncertainty about their health and my life. This experience increased my interest in the causes and treatments for cancer from a naturopathic perspective. It also led me to discover the value of mistletoe therapy and an eclectic branch of medicine known as Anthroposophy.

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Naturopathic medical school introduced me to many new principles and modalities of health, but homeopathy was the most profound. Reading and learning about it fundamentally transformed my understanding of health, illness, and what it means to be human. It deepened my knowledge and taught me that health extends far beyond the physical body. I came to appreciate the crucial role of psychology and spirituality in medicine, realizing that psychospiritual well-being often forms the foundation of both health and disease. From this perspective, homeopathy can be profoundly transformative, addressing the emotional (psychological) and spiritual roots of illness.

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I became a naturopathic physician in 2020, but like many others, I faced uncertainty during the pandemic. With no clear direction, I knew only that homeopathy would be central to my career. I relocated to Connecticut with my other brother and soon published my first book, In Pursuit of Health. This also marked the beginning of a period of deep personal growth. While physically stable, I grappled with unsettled feelings of anger, sadness, grief, and depression, all of which I finally had the opportunity to confront. The pandemic gave me the time and space to work through these emotions, leading to a revision of my personality and beliefs. True healing, I’ve found, often demands some degree of self-transformation—releasing outdated perspectives and beliefs while embracing healthier ones.

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Since 2020, I’ve been practicing both independently and alongside other naturopathic physicians. Thus far, I've spent about three years in primary care, treating patients of all ages with various acute and chronic conditions. My specialty as a provider is addressing the true cause of your symptoms, which I've found to be associated with your psychology and lifestyle. As a result of my focus on psychology, evaluating your mental health is a core part of my approach.
 

I’m also strongly interested in gastrointestinal health and the microbiome. The “gut-brain axis” has become a pivotal area of scientific research, highlighting the intricate relationship between digestive health and emotional well-being, as the microbes produce the chemicals that form the foundation of our moods. 

 

While homeopathy and lifestyle counseling remain my cornerstone therapies, I integrate herbal medicine, supplements, and nutraceuticals to support detoxification, improve organ function, and to restore balance in your body. I also frequently use the ZYTO scan in my practice, which is a biofeedback device that provides me with an evaluation of the health of your body, its specific stressors, and which medicines may potentially help you. 

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My involvement in the advancement of community health and the naturopathic profession continues to deepen. After giving testimony at a public hearing involving naturopathic physician title usage in Connecticut in 2022, I was invited to join the board of the Connecticut Naturopathic Physician's Association (CNPA). Since joining, I’ve been very active in shaping and enforcing the organization’s overall mission and legislative strategy. As outlined in my book, In Pursuit of Health, naturopathic medicine has been under attack by the American Medical Association (AMA) since the early 1900s. The AMA openly animadverts against naturopathic medicine, asserting that a naturopathic medical education is "not a real medical education." These opinions run in opposition to the standard of professionalism, comprehensive knowledge, medical excellence that many patients experience when they visit a naturopathic physician. Many of our conventional colleagues find respite in the naturopathic approach, which fills in many of their knowledge gaps. Naturopathic physicians have unparalleled knowledge in lifestyle medicine and disease causation. Crucial medical topics like nutrition and mental health are vastly understudied in conventional medical schools. 

 

For my efforts in protecting naturopathic physicians here in Connecticut, I became the chair of the CNPA legislative committee.

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In 2023, I published my second book, Pocketful of Sunshine: How to Cultivate Joy When You Feel Depressed, offering actionable lifestyle strategies for managing mild to moderate depression. In addition to my books, I’ve also authored numerous wellness articles for Healthline.com and Psychcentral.com, and I've published case reports in medical journals. If you're interested in my literary works, please see the publications page of my website. 

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In 2024, I became the Vice President of the CNPA and currently serve in this role. The CNPA continues to protect the practice of naturopathic medicine here in Connecticut, as well as correct the scope of naturopathic medicine so that it aligns with naturopathic education standards. I'm also a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), which represents the national interests of naturopathic physicians. I serve in these roles because I believe that naturopathic medicine deserves to be in the center stage of the medical art.

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​As you can see, I have a deep commitment to health and wellness. After nearly two decades of education about health, the core belief that guides the way I practice is that illness originates in your mind before it manifests in your body. By enhancing your psychology and lifestyle, not only will you find greater joy and fulfillment, you will also fundamentally transform your health. You'll wonder why you didn't make certain changes earlier in your life!

 

If you stumbled across my website searching for answers, I'm sure that you probably resonate with my truths about health. Is it possible that you too have endured or are currently enduring a specific trauma, emotional disturbance, or psychological imbalance that's creating your physical symptoms? If so, let's explore what that looks like for you. I'm happy to guide you along your journey to finding optimal health and wellness!