Meet the Doctor
Dr. LaDonna Rocha, BCDNM
I know, another introduction post- a necessary evil in a world that’s inundated with social media feeds, emails, and information at our fingertips. Allow me a few minutes to fill you in on my background and why I’m so passionate about finding new ways (based on old traditions) to achieve real health.
I’m Dr. LaDonna Rocha, a South Texas transplant, a wife, a mom, a daughter, a sister, and an aunt. I have a cat, two mice, a bunny of questionable paternity, and a partridge in a pear tree… but that’s probably not why you’re here.
My background in medicine started at a very young age. As one of five siblings, our family experienced the wrath of Murphy’s Law. Three of the five spent extended amounts of time in hospitals and under the care of various doctors in multiple specialties. Medicine intrigued me from the earliest administrations of water-filled syringed and my stuffed animals. Fast forward to my early twenties and I was in the operating room as a surgical tech. I took this opportunity to transition into a surgical first assisting program, and specialized as a neurosurgical licensed first assist for ten years.
This would seem at odds with my career as a naturopathic physician, but I like to think that my conventional medicine background helped structure how I do what I do. While I assisted in surgery during the day, I spent my time between cases and in the evening studying natural health concepts and herbalism. In 2021, I combined my Natural Health Professional certificate and Holistic Health Practitioner certificate to sit for my board exams with the American Natural Wellness Practitioners Board, choosing the title of Doctor of Natural Medicine.
While ‘naturopathic physician’ is my primary title, I hold a few more that help me create a well-rounded set of services and capabilities. I’m a clinical & alchemical herbalist, an aromatherapist, certified phlebotomist, and RBTI practitioner. I also hold certifications in Auto Immune Protocol coaching and Holistic Cancer Care. I’ve chosen to specialize in one of the most under-served populations in conventional medicine: autoimmune sufferers, particularly those with gut dysbiosis, and thyroid diagnoses. Ultimately this means I have a wide array of tools at my disposal, and an overflowing bookshelf.
What drives my practice? Filling the gaps in our healthcare system. My time in the conventional medicine system showed me very clearly where the strengths were, but even more clearly where the weaknesses are. Then a new conundrum arose- how can you have conventional medicine and natural medicine?
Quite easily, actually. I found my place right between conventional medicine and natural medicine. I believe that conventional medicine is necessary, and even life-saving in certain circumstances, but I also believe that there is so much territory in health realms that can be converted with natural health concepts. A large part of this is due to our physical, emotional, and spiritual selves being so much more of nature than we realize. For this reason, our systems respond to nature incredibly well, when it is utilized effectively and carefully. I find myself using the analogy that I’m the woman in scrubs standing in the garden. I know when and how to utilize naturopathic concepts, but I also know when to say “this may be too far out of the reach of naturopathy, I think you should consider seeing this specialist”. I believe in teams that work together, not against each other. Complimentary, not alternative. Together, not in opposition.
That enables me to offer health and wellness consultations from a different angle than you’ve probably encountered before. Some of the modalities we utilize in our consultations are herbal medicine, healthy food recommendations, exercise, energetic modalities, bio scanning techniques, and many many more. Providing compete, compassionate, and conscientious care is my priority.
I invite you to browse through the site and see the services we offer. If you’re looking for something in particular, or have any questions, please always feel free to reach out via email, phone, or through our social media outlets. I can’t wait to change your mind on what ‘natural health’ can mean.