Christy Soto-Johnson, NMD & Shanna Bayrd, NMD

Homeopathic Physician

301 E Bethany Home Rd A-207 Phoenix AZ, 85012 Show map

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About

Dr. Christy Soto-Johnson is a naturopathic physician practicing in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Christy specializes in proactive prevention and treatment of the body, mind, emotions and spirit. She also devotes much time to providing patient education and helping patients to be their best health advocate. Dr. Christy provides a unique blend of the latest modern medical and scientific advances with long-standing, effective ancient techniques. Providing both individual and family care, the most common ailments treated are allergies, environmental toxicity, poor immune system function, PTSD, anxiety/depression, chronic pain, brain fog and fertility. Dr. Christy's dedication to the success of the whole-person and whole-family's health extends beyond medical and spiritual health, to include financial health. The medical center which Dr. Christy co-founded integrates professional financial health education and wealth management resources to all who seek it, regardless of location in the US, FREE of cost. She truly and whole-heartedly believes that top-notch medical care and financial literacy are essential for the maximum well-being of individuals, communities and the world. Naturopathic Physicians place a strong emphasis on natural remedies that increase the body's own ability to heal and reduce the need for more invasive treatments.

Education and Training

SCNM NMD 2016

Board Certification

Naturopathic Medicine

Minor Surgery

Acupuncture

Provider Details

Female English, Spanish

Christy Soto-Johnson, NMD & Shanna Bayrd, NMD

Christy Soto-Johnson, NMD & Shanna Bayrd, NMD's Expert Contributions

My Answers

I have itching, skin rashes, and body irritation?
Hello, I’m sorry to hear of your situation. Unfortunately, I cannot provide medical diagnosis, lab interpretation or recommendations to anyone who is not an active patient. Please see the doctor who ordered these labs for you to answer these questions. Best wishes. READ MORE
What is the best way to treat blood pressure using naturopathy?
Hello! There are many potential naturopathic treatments for chronic high blood pressure. Which combo is best for you depends on the cause(s) and factor(s) leading to your chronic high blood pressure. Some examples include herbs, key nutrients, nutritional changes, exercise, acupuncture and more. Medications, depending on your blood pressure readings, may or may not be necessary. The great thing about having naturopathic treatment is that medications don’t always have to be long term/permanent in many cases. READ MORE
Is there a cure for PCOS with naturopathy?
Thank you for your question. Yes, naturopathic doctors work often with PCOS with great success. It often involves natural hormone balancing (ex: herbs, targeted nutrient supplementation, diet, etc), stress reduction, and simple home care treatments to facilitate safe detox and inflammation reduction. With my patients who are also interested in conception, I also perform Mayan Abdominal Massage therapy which helps facilitate improved fertility, uterine health, emotional relaxation and more. *Please note that not all naturopathic doctors or massage therapists are trained this this technique.* READ MORE
Sore throat?
Hello. Please see your local doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. I can only provide medical diagnosis and treatment plans for my current patients, and with proper physical exam etc. Best wishes for your health recovery. READ MORE
How many sessions of acupuncture do you need for chronic back pain?
Hi there. I wish there was a specific, magic number of sessions I could quote for you, but unfortunately, there isn’t. How many sessions varies from person to person as it’s based on the severity and intensity of the condition, how quickly the individuals’ body responds, if bone misalignment is part of the problem, and a couple other factors. However, most people do find great benefit from acupuncture (often coupled with other Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies) for pain. READ MORE
Sinus inflammation?
Hello, please see your local physician for an examination. Unfortunately, I cannot provide diagnosis or treatment plans here. READ MORE
Is there a cure in naturopathy for a cold due to allergies?
Yes! By addressing the allergies, excessive histamine production and other factors that contribute, reducing and even eliminating colds is possible. The allergy cause/type and exposure source(s) are a big component of guiding how simple or in depth the treatment will be. If you’re unable to find a local or telehealth practitioner, you can book a free 15 minute phone or telehealth consult here: https://booking.mangomint.com/guidingelementsmedicalcenter READ MORE
How can I lose tummy fat with natural medicine?
If the weight gain truly is due to PCOD as you mentioned, getting your hormones in balance is the best place to start. It will help both your weight management as well as your PCOD! For that, I would recommend seeing a local practitioner for assistance. READ MORE
Is it true that naturopathy medicines only work with the right diet?
Hello. Whether this is true or not, and how true would depend on what your goals are, what your current lifestyle is and how well or quickly you want to make progress. It doesn’t matter if it’s a naturopathic medicine or a conventional / pharmaceutical medicine - if a person lives a healthy lifestyle (including eating well and other habits), they’re less likely to need to take any medicine in the first place. Example 1: a person who pretty much only eats stuff like fast food, fried foods, low to no veggies, pastries, processed food, etc is more likely to develop things like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and so on. Once they do develop that condition(s), it would not matter if they go to an MD or an ND (naturopathic doctor), either way they’re going to be given some sort of medicine (drug, natural or both) and told to change their diet. If the person refuses to change their diet, then no matter was prescription or supplement they take, their doses are just going to increase with time and their condition won’t go away. The pills will just at best slow down how fast the disease progresses. Example 2: a person eats really well such as primarily veggies and fruits, small amount of lean meat, little bread, no processed foods but high cholesterol runs in their family. Even though they exercise regularly and eat well, they inherited high cholesterol. The MD would give them a drug Rx. The ND would give a natural supplement and rather than a whole new diet might make modifications to their current diet like how to cook things or which veggies to include/exclude, or other small tweaks with a goal of not needing the supplement long-term. If the suggestions are followed, it is possible that no prescriptions would be needed to keep the results maintained. READ MORE
Do naturopathic diets create a lot of acidity?
I’m not sure what you mean by “naturopathic diet” as there isn’t a single one really, however, healthy diets that are rich in vegetables and fruit don’t create acidity. These foods, especially green leafy veggies, are alkaline which means it is the opposite of acidic and LOWERS acidity in the body. If a person is shifting from a standard American diet full of high acidic causing foods (meats, dairy, sugar, processed and fried foods, etc.), then any significant healthy diet change can trigger your body to detox/clean out the unhealthy things from the previous diet. That detox reaction is what causes things like headaches, tiredness, and brain fog. It’s not the healthy diet, but the process of getting rid of all the chemicals, preservatives, and other junk from the unhealthy diet that causes symptoms. The good news is that this detox symptom phase is temporary and you can manage them by doing things like drinking lots of water, gentle exercise like walking regularly, doing something called “dry skin brushing” (you can look up instructions online), and soaking for 20 minutes in a warm epsom salt bath (about 3/4-1 cup epsom salt in a bath tub). These are just a few examples of gentle ways to help your body move toxins out faster without making your symptoms worse. Not everyone experiences detox symptoms, and if you do, how long or severe the symptoms are depends on how much toxins you have stored. Can be just a day to maybe 2 weeks or so, depending on your level of toxicity and if you’re doing things like drinking enough water, etc. Finally, just a reminder to always consult your doctor before undertaking specific health activities and especially if you aren’t feeling well. READ MORE
Can a naturopathic treatment help in treating my acne problem?
Yes, skin issues (including acne) are very common problems naturopaths help with! READ MORE
Is a naturopathic diet recommended in summers?
Hello! I’m not sure what you mean by a “naturopathy diet” as there isn’t really *one* that would be called that. Most naturopathic doctors recommend various forms of a healthy, clean diet that is tailored to the individuals needs, or gives general guidelines, like eating mostly veggie and fruit with moderate amount of complex carbs and certain amount of complete proteins and healthy fats. Drinking plenty of water is always involved as is cutting out processed, high preservative foods and sugar filled foods! When a person eats healthy and eats the right amount for their activity level or detox program, it won’t leave them dehydrated or weak as you asked. Regarding your other question on precautions for detoxing in the summer - yes, there are and the full list of precautions can vary by the type of detox program and the region you live in (ex: desert heat vs. upper northwest summers are not at all the same! And a basic, gentle detox program vs. hard core chelation detox are really not the same!!) I highly recommend talking to a health care professional experienced in detox programs to guide your summer detox to maximize success. In the meantime, make sure you stay well hydrated, get plenty of clean electrolytes, get plenty of gentle to moderate movement to pump your lymphatic system, and so things like dry skin brushing or other gentle toxin moving/eliminating steps. READ MORE
Is there a treatment in naturopathy to treat hair loss?
Hello, Yes!! I have successfully treated many women for hair loss using naturopathic medicine. It also works for men. Naturopathic medicine seeks the underlying or root cause of the issue and treats that cause. Some examples of common causes are things like low key nutrients in the body, like low iron/ferritin and vitamin D, or things like poor scalp blood circulation, or too much DHT in the body (DHT is the “bad” kind of testosterone hormone that causes baldness among other things). These are just a few of the potential underlying causes of hair loss. READ MORE
Can a naturopathic weight loss program cause side effects?
Most naturopathic weight loss programs are tailored to the individuals needs. Without knowing any details about you or the particular regimen you’re doing, I cannot answer this question. However, I encourage you to ask this same question to the naturopathic doctor overseeing your program as s/he can answer that for you. READ MORE
Can naturopathy help in preventing diabetes in a person?
Hello, naturopathic medical care often includes lifestyle changes and key nutrients that improve health and reduce risk for many health conditions and diseases, including diabetes. In this way, yes, it can prevent diseases and restore health. How well and how long a person follows preventive recommendations often is the biggest factor in the success of the prevention or disease reversal. READ MORE
What are the naturopathic remedies for my sleep disturbances?
Hello, there are many options for helping with insomnia. Naturopathic medicine is tailored to the individual person and focuses on the root cause of their case of insomnia. Treatment options can range from a variety of herbs, melatonin supplements, amino acids and enzymes, naturally produced substances that our body makes to signal our hormones and sleep-cycle pathways, acupuncture and even homeopathy, stress management and more. I highly advise you see a local naturopathic doctor, or you can even schedule a telehealth appointment with me to go over your specific case and provide a treatment plan. You can schedule with me by filling out the contact form at the bottom of my website home page: https://guidingelementsmc.com/ READ MORE
Should I take my daughter to a naturopathic physician for her pain during her period?
Hello. Yes! Naturopathic medicine had many excellent non-drug options to address the causes of period pain. By addressing the cause, it removes the need to stay on medicine (natural or pharmaceutical) long term. READ MORE
Does a naturopathic physician treat conditions through medication?
Hello, Naturopathic physicians use many treatment and therapy tools, including medications (natural and pharmaceutical). However, unlike conventional doctors, naturopaths don’t typically jump to using them first/right away unless it’s truly warranted. Also, some states allow us to prescribe medication while other states do not. Although lifestyle changes are an important foundation for healthy living and reversing many conditions, that is just one of many approaches used to help show the body how to heal itself or give the body what it needs to fix and support repair. READ MORE
How much sunlight do we need?
Hello! Sunlight is the most natural and abundant source of getting our vitamin D. You can find it in certain foods to as I’ve listed at the end. Recommendations for how much sunlight depends on many factors (but keep reading for a general recommendation!). Examples: how strong is the sun where you’re at? (Tucson vs. Seattle - very different!), how light or dark is your skin? (Darker skin needs more time since it has more melanin which blocks sun ray absorption, lighter skin has less melanin pigment so it needs less time), are you wearing sun block or not? How much of your body is covered in clothing vs having direct sun exposure? Etc. On average, a moderately fair skinned person should get about 20 minutes of early morning sun 3 days a week to a pretty good amount of the skin. So not just the hands and face as that’s not enough skin contact with the sun for the purpose of vitamin D production! Tanning beds are NOT a substitute for this and can be very damaging to the skin. Outside of this, do protect your skin regularly to prevent sun damage to the skin. You can also eat your vitamin D! Mushrooms are an excellent source as are egg yolks and *wild caught* salmon, sardines, herring and tuna (*wild caught, not farmer fish. Sadly, farmed fish only has a fraction of the vitamin D that wild caught has, plus farmed fish are generally full of toxins and other issues). Fortified foods also are a source, like cereals, orange juice and some tofu. READ MORE
Can you get acupuncture during pregnancy?
Hi there, Congratulations on your pregnancy! Very exciting. Yes, acupuncture performed by a trained, licensed acupuncturist is safe during pregnancy as we are taught which points are unsafe to perform during pregnancy, thus avoiding using them. An added bonus - we are also taught which points can help support pregnancy, from morning sickness to heartburn and there’s even points to help encourage baby to turn the correct direction if baby is turned sideways (transverse) before birth! READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

CranioSacral TherapyMayan Abdominal MassageGemstone Meridian Therapy / Medical Gemstone TherapyHerbal MedicineNutritional Medicine / Functional Nutrition

Faculty Titles & Positions

Medical Director Guiding Elements Medical Center 2021 - Present

Christy Soto-Johnson, NMD & Shanna Bayrd, NMD's Practice location

301 E Bethany Home Rd A-207 -
Phoenix, AZ 85012

Get Direction

New patients: 602-600-4355

Mon:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tue:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wed:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thu:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Fri:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

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Get to know Naturopathic Physician Dr. Christy Soto-Johnson, who serves patients in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Christy is a well-respected naturopathic physician serving as the Co-Founder of Guiding Elements Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She works alongside Dr. Shanna Bayrd, NMD, providing a myriad of natural, holistic, vibrational, and traditional medicine therapies.

Born out of love, hope and service, the doctor-duo sought to create a place that is more than a clinic, a place where the shortcomings and injustices they witnessed over their years of medical and life experiences could be addressed. Guiding Elements Medical Center is a judgement-free community hub where people can come together to heal, be empowered, transform their mind, body and spirit, and grow beyond their current conscious awareness.

Passionate about true, full-life health, Dr. Christy maximizes all facets and all forms of health. She goes beyond the body, mind and spirit to include free professional financial health-literacy and education, as financial health can directly impact physical and mental health, quality of life and life expectancy. Her primary goal is to empower her patients to become their happiest, healthiest, most successful selves and teaching them how to bring this joy and freedom to their families and communities. She takes a hands-on approach to her healing practice and enjoys working closely with her patients to help them exceed their personal health goals and discover their true life potential.

Since childhood, Dr. Christy’s grandmothers impressed upon her the importance of nature, cultural traditions, folk medicine, and faith. Her keen interest in the human experience prompted her undergraduate studies in anthropological cultural, linguistic, and biological evolution at the University of California, Davis. After exploring professional opportunities in race relations and communications within the California Community College system, she transitioned to the Sutter Health Institute for Research and Education and began working in the field of public health. It was here that her childhood passion for natural medicine was rekindled. This, combined with the shortcomings of conventional medicine in her own family’s health ailments, Dr. Christy left her budding career to pursue a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Arizona.

With a keen interest in aiding indigent, homeless, and veteran populations as well as women and children who have survived some of life’s most traumatic experiences, she sought every internship and clinical rotation possible at various community clinics, domestic violence shelter clinics, and at the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS where she focused on acute illness, mental/emotional recovery, and pain management. During medical school, she obtained outside training and certifications in the areas of Mayan Abdominal Massage, Pranic Healing Therapy, Gemstone Meridian Therapy, and Applied Kinesiology.

After graduating from medical school in 2016, Dr. Christy completed a rigorous residency program in McMinnville, Oregon at the clinic, A Family Healing Center. There, she received specialized training focused on pediatrics, family medicine, women’s health, pain management, and nutritional management of pyroluria disorder.

Board-certified in naturopathic medicine, minor surgery, and acupuncture, she holds additional certifications in craniosacral therapy for physical, emotional, and energetic health restoration. Supporting the body’s own healing process, she provides a unique blend of the latest modern medical and scientific advances with long-standing, effective ancient techniques.

As a woman of faith, Dr. Christy attributes her passion for her work and success in life to the grace of God, the support of her husband, and the love of and for her family.

The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods. Naturopathic medicine is a distinct health care profession, emphasizing prevention, management, and optimal health through the use of natural therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process first. Pharmaceuticals and other conventional interventions are only prescribed when absolutely necessary. Naturopathic physicians focus on prevention and root cause identification of acute and chronic imbalances to understand, restore, and establish optimal health.

In 2020, Dr. Christy was selected by Women In Medicine Magazine as one of Phoenix’s Top Doctors in Naturopathic Medicine.