About

Heather Bedient is a Nationally-Certified, California Licensed Acupuncturist, Herbalist, Certified Massage Therapist, and Nutritional Therapy Practitioner — with over 20 years of holistic bodywork experience and a clinical approach that is both deeply rooted in tradition and grounded in modern functional science.

 

Heather’s primary clinical focus is midlife women’s health — specializing in the gut-hormone connection, perimenopause and menopause, digestive healing, sleep, and the kind of fatigue and weight changes that conventional medicine often dismisses. She uses advanced functional lab testing (GI Map, DUTCH, MRT-176, Cortisol Saliva) alongside acupuncture, herbal medicine, and personalized nutrition protocols to uncover the root causes of what her clients are experiencing — not just manage symptoms.

 

She also has a long-standing clinical background in orthopedic and sports medicine acupuncture — treating neck, back, and shoulder pain, herniated discs, knee injuries, and repetitive strain from both athletic training and desk work. Her bodywork training spans Shiatsu, Tuina, Deep Tissue, and Sports Massage, bringing a uniquely hands-on dimension to her acupuncture sessions. Mental and emotional support — from stress and anxiety to burnout and grief — is woven throughout her practice, informed by both Classical 5 Element theory and her work with Chinese herbal medicine.

 

Heather’s clinical depth is shaped by an exceptional training lineage. She completed clinical rotations at ACTCM Community Clinic, California Pacific Medical Center’s Stroke and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center, and Berkeley Primary Care — and spent over three years interning with Dr. Edith Ubuntu Chan, deepening her clinical expertise in TCM-based sports medicine and pain protocols. She holds a 2-year certification in Classical 5 Element Acupuncture with Khosrow Khalighi and continues advanced study in this tradition. Her functional health training includes the Nutritional Therapy Association’s NTP certification and advanced coursework in Functional Lab Testing through the Institute for Restorative Health.

 

Heather’s practice is shaped by who she is outside the clinic too — a lifelong athlete, runner, ocean swimmer, yogini, and world traveler who understands firsthand what it means to want your body to keep up with your life. She lives in Pacifica, CA with her family and is deeply connected to the coastal community she serves.