Dr. Michelle Valdes, ND

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Professional Bio

Dr. Michelle Valdes is a California-licensed Naturopathic Doctor and the founder of Native Health, a virtual practice dedicated to personalized, root-cause natural medicine. She offers thoughtful, evidence-based support for chronic inflammation, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and long-standing skin concerns. Her work centers on the belief that health is innate and that every individual carries the capacity to heal deeply within themselves.

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Dr. Valdes completed her undergraduate studies in biology before earning her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine with honors from the University of Bridgeport School of Naturopathic Medicine.Over four years of training and more than 1,200 clinical hours, she gained extensive experience in women’s health, endocrinology, autoimmune disease, gastrointestinal conditions, and chronic inflammatory skin disorders. She also completed additional training in IV nutrient therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), ozone therapy, and stem cell therapy.

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Her clinical work spans both the United States and internationally. Most recently, she served as a Naturopathic Doctor at Soneva Soul, a world-renowned integrative wellness center in the Maldives, where she supported guests from around the world through individualized nutrition, lifestyle medicine, regenerative therapies, and comprehensive wellness programming. Prior to that, she practiced at Regenerative Wellness in California, where she developed customized protocols informed by functional testing and root-cause investigation.

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Across all settings, Dr. Valdes is known for her calm, grounding presence and her ability to translate complex science into simple, reassuring guidance. She combines clinical insight with genuine care, creating a therapeutic environment where patients feel safe, understood, and fully supported.

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Why I Do This Work

​My path to naturopathic medicine began long before I became a doctor.

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In my early twenties, I was diagnosed with lupus. It was a frightening and confusing time, full of symptoms I couldn’t explain, fear about what the future would look like, and a deep sense of not being heard. During that same period, I also struggled with serious gastrointestinal issues and hormonal imbalance. These experiences reshaped everything I believed about health and healing.

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Through my own journey, I learned that the body is not working against us, it is communicating. And when we learn how to understand those signals with clarity and compassion, we can create extraordinary change.

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Once my lupus went into remission and my gut and hormones stabilized, I felt called to help others who felt overwhelmed, dismissed, or misunderstood in their healing journey. Many of my patients come to me after years of trying to make sense of their symptoms on their own. I understand how isolating that can feel, and I make it a priority to ensure they never navigate that alone again.

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This work is personal to me.
It’s purposeful.
And it’s the greatest privilege of my life.

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My Philosophy of Care 

​Healing doesn’t happen through force. It happens through understanding.

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My approach is grounded in a few core beliefs:

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Your body holds deep innate wisdom.
Healing is not something we impose, it’s something we support.

 

Symptoms are messengers, not failures.
Together, we learn what your body is asking for and why.

 

Every person’s story matters.
Your history, environment, stress, lifestyle, and emotions are all part of the picture.

 

Healing is not linear.
I walk with you through every step - progress, plateaus, flares, and breakthroughs.

 

Clarity relieves fear.
I take time to ensure you understand why each recommendation matters and how it supports your body.

 

The best care is collaborative.
I honor your lived experience and work with you, not over you.

 

At Native Health, my goal is to create a space where you feel grounded, informed, and empowered — not rushed, pressured, or overwhelmed.

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