Reviews
"My health has improved dramatically, including a weight loss of over 30lbs.”
I first contacted Dr. Ray after being diagnosed with a myriad of health issues including Pre-Diabetes, Obesity, Hypertension, and knee pain. Further, I lacked energy even while eating ‘healthy, super foods.’ My consultations with Dr. Ray and lab work revealed high insulin, stress and other factors contributing to my health issues. After following her eating, exercise and supplement intake protocols, my health has improved dramatically including a weight loss of over 30lbs.”
Angela
Chicago, IL
I am recovering from debilitating fatigue, mood swings, and inflammation...
Dr. Ray is a knowledgeable professional who has helped me recover from adrenal fatigue. I didn’t know where to turn for help, but with her skillful guidance I have started to recover and my symptoms have greatly improved. I am recovering from debilitating fatigue, mood swings, and inflammation. She has so much helpful info to share and is a very attentive physician!
Sarah F.
Pleasant Hill, California
Hi Dr. Ray, I am on week 4 and I am feeling great!
My energy is back and my ability to concentrate has improved as well; I am also sleeping longer hours. I am no longer struggling with anxiety and moodiness. My appetite is under control, and I no longer have to take the prescription medication I had been taking to control my carbs and sugar cravings. I am also learning a lot of new health information about foods that are healthy and what is not. And, I am just getting started, this is great! Thank you!
G.F.
East Bay Area, California
Dr. Ray brings health to body, mind, and spirit.
I’ve never had a health practitioner be so thorough and partner with me through the ups and downs of adapting to a new healthier way of life. She is highly skilled and extremely knowledgeable about how the ego and facets of personality can sabotage progress.
She used a variety of nutrients and therapy techniques that was specifically tailored for me. I’m at my goal weight and have much more energy than I could have imagined. The best part is my body is the healthiest it’s been in decades. --S.E.
S.E.
Northern California
Working with Dr. Ray has removed the anxiety of guess work from my process with my health and is reversing my Hashimoto's.
I feel better than I have in years. My mind is clear. I was surprised to realize as I'm learning a new language that my memorization and cognition seems to be better than when I was in college many years ago. I have more energy and my hormones have balanced in a remarkable way. My thyroid is finally doing well, and my Hashimoto's is reversing. I thought I was solidly in menopause, but I simply didn't know how much stress I was under and working with Dr. Ray has changed my relationship to stress and opened my life to more possibility and joy in general. I'm happier, healthier and extremely grateful.
Mary G.
Oakland, CA
"I lost 35 pounds, but more importantly, cleared up brain fog, fatigue, and gained a more positive attitude about life in general."
I have been working with Dr. Valencia Ray, a functional medicine specialist, for just about a year. Initially, I was a private patient in her practice (https://valenciaray.com/), investigating hormonal imbalances, inflammation pathways, and genetic weaknesses in detoxification with a goal of finally regaining a normal weight and maintaining it. Dr. Ray went way beyond traditional medicine and delved into the root causes of my issues, with extensive hormonal, gastrointestinal, clinical biochemical testing, and eventually genetic testing. Based upon the results of these tests, I followed her directions on changing my dietary and behavioral habits and adding supplements to shore up weaknesses detected in how I handle inflammation and detoxification. Over the course of about 8 months, I lost 35 pounds, but more importantly, cleared up brain fog, fatigue, and gained a more positive attitude about life in general.
D.W.
Northern, CA
A long walk was exhausting me...and I am a marathon runner!
A year ago, the thought of a long walk was exhausting and very out of character for someone who’s completed numerous marathons and half marathons. I knew my overall health was out of kilter after my twin sister and I were diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis three years ago.
We met with Dr. Valencia Ray in early 2020 to begin a different marathon, one that would get us back to optimal health. Working with a clinician who can set up and analyze the proper diagnostic tests helped me see the many issues beyond the thyroid condition that led to my fatigue and other symptoms. Dr. Ray set up a detox protocol to reset my system and, after a second round of testing, a protocol for healing my gut biome and promoting healthy liver function among other things.
Going through detox was not easy and took many weeks to get me to a place where improvement was noticeable. I’ll admit that I wanted to quit, but Dr. Ray talked me off the ledge more than once and kept me focused on the long term goal.
The turning point came in March of 2021 when I could truly feel my energy levels improving. My sleep had already improved dramatically as well as my ability to focus my attention and remain alert throughout the day. Now, I was ready to jump back into exercising on a routine basis. Testing has shown strong improvement across the board with minor issues to continue treating.
My health marathon with Dr. Ray continues and as we’ve worked together, I’ve found her ability to tell her patient ‘the story’ about their health and what the tests are showing has improved. Patients are not clinicians. We need to understand what the numbers mean, how too little or too much of something impacts our bodies, and what a particular supplement or protocol will do to improve things.
Now, at the tender age of 68, I’m feeling like myself again. In fact, my sister and I began training for the Chicago Marathon and are taking a full six months to build our endurance and mileage. We’re taking the same measured approach to this marathon as we’ve taken with Dr. Ray in our health marathon. Thanks, Dr. Ray, for your partnership.
Sharon Wilkerson
East Bay Area, California
I am really grateful that I found Dr. Ray, and have been able to save my thyroid!
When I was told by my doctor that my only options were to essentially either to remove my thyroid gland, wipe out its functioning with radiation or take scary medication with side effect that would suppress my thyroid function, I fortunately sought help for more holistic care for healing (Grave’s disease). Thankfully I met Dr. Valencia Ray.
I was having symptoms of high stress and anxiety, heart palpitations, shaky hands, sweating, headaches, sleep disturbance, sugar cravings, plantar fasciitis, muscle pain, low back pain and was having trouble exercising/jogging…and other symptoms.
Within a few months, I have been able to sleep well through the night, stop the worrisome and annoying symptoms, and even doing a 5K! And, I have not had to even use medication! We have been getting to the root cause of my gut issues that were contributing to the problem and using natural means to support mind and my body to heal itself. And I am learning more about taking care of my health. I am really grateful that I found Dr. Ray and have been able to save my thyroid!
Rebecca K.
East Bay, CA
...I no longer am hungry throughout the day, no longer struggling with anxiety, and I have had a breakthrough in my weight loss!
"I’ve been running around all day and getting myself together to go to class. Before the regimen started I would have been exhausted, sad and anxious. I have energy even though I haven’t had enough food to eat today. I no longer am hungry throughout the day, so I need to eat less.
I feel encouraged and appreciate the work I’ve done with Dr. Ray, because for one thing, I feel better and can see the results. I am even more self-aware, am no longer having the same old struggles with anxiety, and have developed the discipline to increase my walking every day, which is a big deal for me! It is a part of my meditation. And, I have had a breakthrough in my weight loss! I feel so encouraged. Thank you, Dr. Valencia Ray.”
Barbara P.
Chicago
Wow! Menopause symptoms relief, weight loss, and much improved joint pain - all within the first month!
"I have had a chronic inflammatory condition affecting my bones for several years that in the traditional medical system requires me to take medications with scary side effects only to control symptoms – not heal or help me to be empowered to understand how my food or lifestyle causes it to worsen. I have also struggled with hot flashes and night sweats for over a decade since I’ve been in menopause. This has been disruptive to my sleep and the hot flashes even occurred throughout the day. A third issues I was struggling with was weight gain around my middle area, which I wasn’t happy about at all"
"Well, within a 4-6 week period, Dr. Ray helped me to understand how my food was impacting all this. She gave me the nutritional and supplemental support to quiet down the inflammation in my body, help me to begin to understand how some of my genes tied into affecting my health and what I could do to change these effects, and I have already lost 11 pounds without being hungry or feeling deprived naturally! And, I’m not as hungry throughout the day any more in general, which makes this easy as a lifestyle. My hot flashes and night sweats have improved by at least 50% without taking anything for them at this point. My joint pain has significantly improved. All this and, we are just getting started! Wow!”
Maxine
Northern California
I took back the steering wheel of my mind and health.
"When I met Dr. Valencia Ray, I did not know what to really expect because after nearly two years of struggling without success within the traditional medical system and taking pharmaceutical drugs that were making me feel even worse, within a couple of short months I have become empowered to not only recover in both my mind and body, but I’ve come to realize that our genes and the right foods can interact in such a way that I never thought possible to reverse health issues at the root cause and in a way that is holistic"
"Dr. Ray has also given me techniques and knowledge to help me to retrain my thinking for the better in a way that I’ve never had any doctor be able to do. I now also realize how food and poor nutrition not only can affect my mood and mind, but it can make or break our ability to perform at our best, and have the energy and vitality we need to successfully manage stress in our lives. And, by the way, just started a new job this week, and my life is well on its way to getting back on track. I’m very lucky to have found her! Amazing!”
Patrick
Chicago, IL
Ulcerative Colitis has been a part of my life for 25 years. I am so very grateful to see improvement.
"I first went to Dr. Ray because my gastroenterologist wanted me to stop taking steroids and start taking some serious medications as my colitis was active and I was not able to get it under control any longer. The side affects of these medications (for example, Humira, a biologic drug) are worse than the disease being treated. The thought of these other drugs scared me so much I went searching for other options.
I met with Dr. Ray in January, signed on, and committed to the process.
After several various tests, it was discovered that I had a number of issues needing to be addressed. Vitamin deficiencies, hormone deficiencies, chronic stress and anxiety and even genetics helped to explain some of my various personal tendencies.
Dr. Ray started in with my diet, added several supplements, and asked me to begin focusing on dealing with stress and anxiety by adding meditation, tapping and yoga. All very challenging things for me to do. But, practicing these has helped me to be a calmer person. It is great to now recognize the triggers that bring on stress. I am more conscience about stress and acknowledge stress in order to manage it, so stress doesn’t manage me. I’m not at 100%, but I know I have improved.
After two months of tweaking things in order to see and feel improvement, I am happy to say that colitis symptoms have improved to the point where I was able to stop one of my two medications. I am so grateful and happy that I no longer have bloody diarrhea and I’m not running to the bathroom 20 times a day. That alone was worth the work and effort as I now have days where I can say “I feel good today”.
I believe the change in my diet has definitely improved my colitis symptoms. I am eating healthier foods (although I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I do miss some of my favorite chips and cookies) and it shows up in how I feel. Just knowing I am eating better makes me feel good about myself.
My hormone levels were way off kilter for years and Dr. Ray is working with me to improve in this area. A work in progress. She is also working with me on my sleep patterns.
Overall, I am feeling so good about the direction things are going since I started working with Dr. Ray. My goal is to get off all medications and I think we can achieve this goal.
My regular doctors never did any of the test Dr. Ray did or worked with me to improve my health by getting to the root cause(s). I now believe Functional Medicine is so very important for my health and I highly recommend Dr. Ray to anyone with any issues that are keeping them from being healthy and happy."
Pamela Buck
San Francisco East Bay, California
...she cares deeply about me and truly lives the health experience with you.
"Dr. Valencia Ray is AMAZING!
She is first extremely knowledgeable, experienced, and passionate regarding her passion to change lives. But more importantly to me, she cares deeply about me and truly lives the health experience with you.
I approached Dr. Ray this past January about helping me attain more energy in my daily life. I had just turned 64 years old, newly divorced after 39-year marriage, and was quite honestly not feeling well about my outlook in general.
Dr. Ray dug right in to help me. She began with a series of blood, urine, and stool samples to learn more about my current health and to attain a baseline and genetic understanding. We obviously discussed diet and the need to add supplements to my daily routine. And the results have been AMAZING! I am 6’0” tall and weighed 215 lbs. On April 24, 2019 I now weigh 186 lbs and my energy level is insatiable. She also is instructing me and supporting me to improve my sleep habits. They were not good, but I can say with her guidance they are improving too.
Besides the goal of losing weight and gaining energy, my other goal was in a way a pipe dream. But nonetheless, a very important goal of mine and that is to cure my VITALIGO! Vitiligo is an auto-immune issue that causes the body to attack the skin pigment development in certain areas of the body. I have had this issue since childhood. Well…as of this writing I am beginning to see pigment spots developing in the areas where I had none. Stay tuned, because if what Dr. Ray has been doing for me continues and my Vitiligo is cured, I will be shouting from the mountainside her value.
If you are like me and tired of traditional medicines approach to treat every symptom with pharmaceutical drugs that don’t address the root cause of the symptom, then please, please consult with Dr. Ray. Functional medicine is the future!"
Francis Paradise
Naperville, IL
Part II...Listen to Dr. Ray, she knows what she is doing!
Francis Paradise
Naperville, IL
Working with Dr. Ray has been life changing for me and I will continue to work with her to continue my health transformation.
When I came to Dr. Ray, I was suffering from fatigue, lack of sleep, weight gain, hair loss, hormonal imbalance and anxiety. As a result of working with Dr. Ray, I have made lifestyle changes with diet, supplements, exercise and sleep. I am sleeping through the night and my cortisol levels are balancing out. I have also lost weight and my hair is growing back. Working with Dr. Ray has been life changing for me and I will continue to work with her to continue my health transformation.
Shani
SF East Bay, California
"I am not sure what I would have done if I had not started working with her."
"In June of 2018, I went to have my annual physical with my primary care doctor and for the first time in several years despite being overweight, my blood and urine tests were showing some out of normal range scores. I was also not feeling as well.
My PCP recommended that I lose 25lbs and see him again in September.
It was at this point that I decided it was time for me to do something different because I previously had trouble losing weight and keeping it off.
It was at that point that I began working with Dr. Valencia Ray and she educated me on Integrative (Functional) medicine and how it could help get to the root causes of my problems. She then conducted several low cost tests that allowed her to accurately access some of my issues. These were tests that my PCP said that traditional medicine and the insurance companies did not recommend. It was these tests that uncovered some serious issues including an infection in my gut and ‘leaky gut’. If these issues were not addressed, over time they could have resulted in more serious health issues like a kidney issue (my symptoms have cleared) cardiovascular, cancer and dementia.
Dr.Ray then created a plan for me using healthy foods and natural supplements to address my issues and to help me with my weight issues.
Over the few months on a Keto diet, I was able lose more than 40 lbs and my PCP was amazed that I actually lost more weight than he recommended. It has been more than a year and I have remained at my new weight. It had been more than 25 years since I was last at my current size. I feel so much better and I no longer view it as a diet but simply as a way of life. My diet of Healthy Fats, moderate protein and low carbs has made my body more fuel efficient and I no longer crave carbs and sugar.
There are days when I have to remind myself to eat because I am no longer hungry during the day.
Additionally, I am now on a good path that will allow me to live a more healthy life for many years to come. I am grateful to Dr.Ray and for her expertise in this area of Functional medicine. I am not sure what I would have done if I had not started working with her.
Anyone who is battling with weight issues, inflammation, belly fat, low energy or other health issues, I strongly encourage you to give Dr. Ray a call or set up a consultation on her website. It will be time and investment well spent!"