Tendervine Health - Berkeley, California

Flower V.

I feel very safe and comfortable in Sydney's care. She is very organized in her approach and explains what she is doing in a way that helps me understand and relate to my treatment. I've been receiving acupuncture for ten years from a variety of practitioners. What is different about Sydney is that she uses more tools than just needles and they are all gentle techniques that guide my body towards balance. During our session Sydney is with me almost the entire time, which makes me feel cared for. I also appreciate the herbal formulas she prescribes because they help enhance my treatment in the days after.

Aimee G.

I love my acupuncture appointments with Sydney. She understands my body, her diagnosis and treatments always hit the spot. I come in a mess and walk out feeling human again, and re-balanced. She is quick, on top of her game, good at what she does and very professional. She knows her craft impeccably and has great intuition. I feel that as a practitioner she sees me, hears me and answers to my needs. This style of Acupuncture is very effective and works wonders. As a Bodyworker myself, and having had all kinds of healing treatments in the past, Sydney is still the right mix for me. I trust her and that is saying a lot, because I am very picky! Thanks for all you do, Sydney!!

Franchesca S.

With a simple google search I literally found an angel of a doctor! Sydney is unlike any other medical provider I've experienced. I was/am quite the case as I have struggled with skin and autoimmune conditions for 20+ years and also have a real fear of needles. I was desperate as nothing else was working and I am beyond grateful that I found Sydney because my life has so drastically changed since finding her.
Since working with her I am at peace and feel so much more ease throughout my body. I wake up without pain and my skin has never looked and felt better. I have used steroid creams almost daily since I was a child and since working with Sydney I can go months without needing them (maybe even longer! Still in the process but I haven't needed them in 4 months thus far). The beginning months together were rough as healing is not linear and I had to give up my beloved sourdough bread and pastries. However, throughout our work together, Sydney gracefully lead me down a path of healing. Through consistent acupuncture, herbal medicine, and making lifestyle changes that feel best for me, I can now enjoy sourdough bread and the occasional pastry without any issues! Hallelujah!
I ask a million questions every time I'm in her office and she answers every single one of them with grace and compassion. I never write google reviews but Sydney is someone who people need to know about. She is an angel for those struggling with chronic skin and autoimmune conditions. Get ready for a real shift in your life if you choose to work with her. I could go on and on about Sydney but I promise you will not be disappointed, you too can heal! Thank you so much for being such a light in my life Sydney.

Elizabeth K.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Dr. Sydney saved my life. I suffered from adult-onset eczema beginning about five years ago in my early 30s. Western dermatology treatments failed to understand underlying causes and the only treatments offered made me feel like my skin was going to crack off my body (steroid creams) or were unsightly, expensive and time consuming (UV lamps).

I learned about Dr. Sydney from an acupuncterist in my personal network after several weeks of not sleeping from burning skin had me ready to try anything and left me a complete mental health wreck. Dr. Sydney asked questions I'd never been asked before and during our very first conversation, seemed to intuitively know more about my symptoms than i did.

It wasn't easy. I had a dramatic reaction to a steroid injection (ugh, don't even get me started on Kaiser's treatment) and Dr. Sydney was able to treat me on an emergency basis with compassion and empathy. Nearly 8 months after a significant overhaul of my diet, a 6 month course of herbs and many check-ins, I am doing better than anytime since before my eczema developed in 2018.

I really appreciated Dr. Sydney's compassion care during a health crisis, her nuanced and patient-centered approach to both eastern and western medicine and her scientific expertise.

Thank you Dr. Sydney!!

Claire R.

Sydney is an incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and kind practitioner. She always takes the time to explain her thought process and the "why" behind the treatment course she recommends, and even checks in on me between appointments to see how I'm doing. My symptoms have greatly improved since I started seeing her, and her combination of smarts, proactive communication, and great bedside manner make her a wonderful acupuncturist and herbalist. I highly recommend seeing Sydney!

Stephanie S.

I like to tell people that Sydney is the Dr House of acupuncture. She’ll dig deep and do lots of research with all your weird symptoms and come back with questions and answers and plans, step by step. I have a few autoimmune conditions and Sydney translates them into eastern medicine and explains the western implications as well. She has a foot in both worlds (eastern and western) of medicine and integrates them seamlessly.

I’ve worked with functional doctors who also have a foot in both hemispheres in the past and it felt like that prevented them from being an expert in either. Sydney is the opposite of that. She’s one of the smartest and most determined people I’ve ever met and I’m truly grateful to have found her.

She’s fluent in lab work and loves complicated or confusing cases. She digs deeper than any of my other medical professionals (I have collected quite a few) and works hard to discover and treat the root cause of your symptoms rather than just the symptoms themselves—although she manages that as well.

I’ve been seeing her for almost 9 months now and I have more energy, more strength, more access to my brain (less fog), more stamina for life, less pain, and better digestion. I have on many occasions walked in with pain and headaches and walked out feeling much better. But my favorite part is my overall long term health trajectory which has dramatically improved. Even my flare ups are shorter and much milder than ever before. My second favorite part is how well she explains my body and nervous system to me so that my health no longer feels like a mystery.

I’d also like to shout out Stephanie (not me, another Stephanie!) and Tendervine’s Acu-Moxa Lounge. Stephanie is so compassionate, interested, and eager to help and sooth symptoms. She’s very gentle and caring and carries out her practice with so much grace, whether in private sessions or in the Acu-Moxa Lounge—which you should definitely ask about because it’s such a beautiful and relaxing space of healing.

I’ve sent all of my favorite people to Tendervine Health, including close family, and it’s time I tell the world. Go! You deserve to feel better.

Heather C.

I started seeing Sydney after having my first child. I was still recovering physically and mentally from a long and challenging labor and delivery plus managing all that comes with motherhood. I felt at ease right away with Sydney and knew I had a trusted expert and caring practitioner to guide me through the process of healing mind and body. She always listens closely and asks great questions to get to the best treatment plan for me. Her humor also has allowed me to put things into perspective and take a moment to step outside myself for a bit. A much needed outlet for a busy mom!

Her gentle and intentional approach to needling, massage, and other treatment makes for a very relaxing session. I always walk away feeling comforted, calm, and restored! Her advice and ongoing care have allowed me to reduce stress, maintain a more balanced diet, and take of myself even when it's hard to make time for me. I highly recommend Sydney!!

John N.

Sydney is incredible. I had psoriasis on my back, and her herbal tincture made did a wonderful job of improving the condition. It also improved my overall skin health, sleep, energy, and mood. Friends and family started commenting on how much healthier and happier I looked! I'm a total believer. I've had quite a few herbal consultations with her over Zoom now for a variety of symptoms, and she always asks great questions to help get to the root cause of what I am experiencing. Our talks are always so productive. She's incredibly warm and professional. A+