Meet Cedar S. Kennedy: Licensed Acupuncturist & Herbalist in Kennewick, WA

My journey into medicine began long before I entered clinical practice. I’m a fifth-generation Washingtonian from a family deeply rooted in healthcare—my father was the Chief Anesthesiologist at a hospital in Seattle and later a pain management specialist, and my sister is a long-time nurse. Growing up, medical discussions were a regular part of family life, instilling in me an early appreciation for the complexities of the human body, the ethics of what it means to be a health care provider and both the profound art and cutting edge science of patient care.

In the early 1990s, my own health took a pivotal turn. While spending my days chopping hundreds of pounds of produce for a home delivery food service and my nights playing music in Seattle bands, I developed severe, career-threatening tendinitis in both arms. When conventional approaches fell short, fellow musicians encouraged me to try acupuncture. The results were transformative. That experience sparked a seven-year journey as a regular patient and ignited a lifelong love for Chinese medicine, eventually inspiring me to study the medicine seriously.

Clinical Education & Acupuncture Experience

In 2003, I committed to this path completely, graduating from the renowned Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine in 2006 with a double Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. In 2007, I brought my practice to the Tri-Cities, where I successfully owned and operated the Living Water Acupuncture clinic & pharmacy for 13 years, providing dedicated care to patients across South Central Washington and Northeastern Oregon.

When the pandemic hit, I closed my clinic and instead, took the opportunity to step away and spend time with my parents through an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. I spent a lot of that time doing deep dives into complex reproductive hormone imbalances like PCOS/PMOS as well as the manufacturing standards and quality of various supplements, herbs and vitamins.

Doctorate Specialization & Integrative Functional Medicine

My commitment to continuously evolving my practice led me to pursue a Doctorate degree through Five Branches University, specializing in the powerful integration of traditional Chinese medicine and modern Western medicine including Functional medicine and lab testing. Nearly 30 years into this story, I consider it a profound honor to be a link in a chain of knowledge that spans millennia, bridging classical East Asian wisdom with the diagnostic precision of modern data-driven science.

In my practice, you receive decades of clinical insight driven by one foundational belief: you are your own best health advocate. My role is to be your ally, your co-conspirator, and your clinical partner—giving you the clinical insights and sustainable strategies you need to decide what truly works for your life.

Credentials & Certifications

• Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist (L.Ac.) – Washington State, active since 2006

• Doctor of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine (DAcHM Candidate) – Five Branches University (Completing December 2026)

• Master of Science in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine – Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine, 2006 (Double Masters in Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine)

• Acupuncture Program Creator & Former Staff Clinician – Float Euphoria, 2022–2026 (Kennewick, Wa)

• Founder and Owner – Living Water Acupuncture & Herbal Pharmacy, 2007–2020 (Kennewick, Wa)

• Level One Certified – Acupuncturists Without Borders (Disaster Relief & Community Training)