The Acupuncture Episode | Crystal Anderson @CaliforniaMobileAcupuncture

Summary

Culture Apothecary with Alex Clark
Episode: The Acupuncture Episode | Crystal Anderson @CaliforniaMobileAcupuncture
Release Date: March 25, 2025

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of Culture Apothecary, host Alex Clark delves into the transformative world of acupuncture with guest Crystal Anderson, a Christian acupuncturist and the visionary entrepreneur behind California Mobile Acupuncture and Arizona Mobile Acupuncture. Crystal brings a wealth of experience and firsthand accounts of how acupuncture serves as a powerful remedy for a variety of physical, emotional, and spiritual ailments, restoring balance and promoting holistic health.

The Power of Acupuncture: From Chronic Pain to Miraculous Recoveries

Crystal Anderson opens the discussion by addressing the efficacy of acupuncture in treating chronic pain. She states, “Absolutely, it can cure it. I've seen it for sure” (02:31). Emphasizing that acupuncture encourages the body to heal itself, Crystal explains that while chronic pain often requires a series of treatments, adherence to a personalized care plan can lead to significant and lasting relief.

Miraculous Recoveries

Crystal shares poignant stories illustrating acupuncture’s profound impact. One such narrative involves a young boy who suffered an anoxic brain injury after drowning. Despite being on a ventilator and paralyzed for seven months, acupuncture played a pivotal role in his recovery. Crystal recounts, “He went from in a vegetative state, essentially, to opening his eyes... moving his legs. He's able to squeeze facial expressions now” (06:09). This case underscores the potential of acupuncture in revitalizing severe medical conditions where conventional medicine may fall short.

Scientific Foundations of Acupuncture

Delving into the science behind acupuncture, Crystal highlights functional MRI studies that reveal how acupuncture influences brain activity. She explains, “They'll take the images of somebody in pain... the parts that lit up while they were in pain diminish” (03:39). Acupuncture impacts various brain regions, including the anterior cingulate cortex, which deals with the emotional aspects of pain, and triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural analgesics. Additionally, it promotes the parasympathetic state, fostering rest, digestion, and healing.

Wide-Ranging Benefits: From Infertility to Insomnia

Crystal elucidates the extensive applications of acupuncture:

• Infertility: She shares that patients undergoing fertility treatments like IVF who also receive acupuncture are “65% more likely to get pregnant, stay pregnant, and come to full term” (10:25). This synergy between acupuncture and conventional fertility treatments enhances success rates significantly.

• Weight Loss and Metabolic Health: Acupuncture aids in weight management by regulating digestive functions and addressing emotional eating through neurological pathways. Crystal notes, “We can treat everything in the body in one. We can treat everything” (19:31).

• Insomnia: Acupuncture is effective in treating various forms of insomnia by promoting homeostasis and ensuring adequate restorative sleep essential for overall health. Crystal emphasizes, “Sleep is one of the first things to come and one of the most important things when it comes to healing in general” (26:45).

Addressing Skepticism: Acupuncture and Christian Beliefs

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to addressing common misconceptions about acupuncture, particularly among Christians who may view it as "new age" or "woo woo." Crystal counters these notions by highlighting the non-invasive nature of acupuncture compared to surgery and emphasizing its alignment with natural, God-given remedies. She asserts, “I do believe he [God] put it in my heart to open up this business” (15:07), framing acupuncture as a harmonious extension of faith-based healing practices.

Practical Insights: Treatment Process and Accessibility

Crystal provides listeners with a comprehensive overview of what to expect during an acupuncture session:

• Consultation and Diagnosis: Initial appointments involve thorough health history reviews, pulse taking, and tongue examination to diagnose underlying issues (28:26).

• Treatment Duration and Frequency: Sessions typically last 45 minutes to an hour and a quarter, with multiple treatments often required for chronic conditions (43:47).

• Cost and Accessibility: While traditional clinic-based acupuncture can be expensive, Crystal’s mobile services offer a more approachable pricing model with packages and discounts available through promotional codes like "Alex" (44:21).

Cosmetic Acupuncture: A Natural Alternative to Botox

Crystal introduces the concept of cosmetic acupuncture as a toxin-free alternative to Botox. By releasing facial muscle tension and enhancing blood flow, acupuncture naturally lifts and rejuvenates the skin. She shares a success story of a patient who recovered from Botox-induced side effects through consistent acupuncture treatments, highlighting its efficacy and safety (34:40).

Expanding Horizons: Mobile Services and Future Plans

California Mobile Acupuncture and Arizona Mobile Acupuncture are poised for expansion, with plans to extend services to Texas and beyond. Crystal emphasizes the importance of quality and accessibility, ensuring that highly skilled acupuncturists are available to meet the growing demand for holistic health solutions (45:22).

Conclusion: Acupuncture as a Holistic Healing Modality

The episode concludes with a reaffirmation of acupuncture’s role in achieving holistic health. Crystal posits that maintaining a healthy body through acupuncture inherently fosters spiritual well-being, aligning physical, emotional, and spiritual health. She succinctly encapsulates her philosophy: “Acupuncture, hands down, is [the] answer” (46:58).

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Notable Quotes

• Crystal Anderson on Chronic Pain:
  “Absolutely, it can cure it. I've seen it for sure.” (02:31)

• Crystal Anderson on the Drowning Incident:
  “He went from in a vegetative state, essentially, to opening his eyes... moving his legs. He's able to squeeze facial expressions now.” (06:09)

• Crystal Anderson on Acupuncture and Christianity:
  “I do believe he [God] put it in my heart to open up this business.” (15:07)

• Crystal Anderson on Cosmetic Acupuncture:
  “It's now one of my requirements. Because helping someone avoid toxicity is what we're about and that's what Botox is.” (34:40)

• Crystal Anderson on the Ultimate Remedy:
  “Acupuncture, hands down, is [the] answer.” (46:58)

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Key Takeaways

• Holistic Healing: Acupuncture addresses a wide spectrum of physical, emotional, and spiritual health issues by promoting the body's innate healing mechanisms.

• Scientific Backing: Functional MRI studies provide empirical support for acupuncture’s effectiveness in pain management and overall wellness.

• Personalized Care: Crystal emphasizes the importance of customized treatment plans tailored to individual needs, enhancing the efficacy of acupuncture.

• Accessibility and Convenience: Mobile acupuncture services increase accessibility, allowing clients to receive treatments in the comfort of their homes.

• Natural Alternatives: Acupuncture offers safe, non-invasive alternatives to conventional treatments like surgery and Botox, aligning with a faith-based approach to health.

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Booking and Further Information

Listeners interested in exploring acupuncture further can book appointments through the following platforms:

• Websites:

  • CaliforniaMobileAcupuncture.com
  • ArizonaMobileAcupuncture.com

• Instagram:

  • @CaliforniaMobileAcupuncture
  • @ArizonaMobileAcupuncture

Promotional codes such as "Alex" offer discounts on initial treatments and packages, making acupuncture more accessible to a broader audience.

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Disclaimer: This summary is based on the provided transcript and podcast information. For comprehensive insights and personal anecdotes, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode on the Real Alex Clark YouTube channel or Spotify under Culture Apothecary.

Transcript

[Alex Clark]

How did those parents think to go seek out an acupuncturist after their child drowned?

[Crystal Anderson]

He was at the bottom of the pool for 15 minutes. He was completely paralyzed on a ventilator. His parents fought to get him out of the hospital because the doctors were trying to convince them to euthanize him, telling them there was no hope at all. He went from in a vegetative state, essentially, to opening his eyes, tracking me around the hospital bed in his room, moving his legs. He's able to squeeze facial express. Nothing is off the table when it comes to acupuncture. We can treat everything from A to Z and it actually encourages your body to heal itself. It's effective in more ways than people know. And in one treatment, they're going to decide that.

[Alex Clark]

What if the key to unlocking your health, whether it's chronic pain, fertility struggles, or even Bell's palsy, was hidden in tiny strategic needles placed in your body and face? In today's episode, we are going to dive into the incredible transformative world of acupuncture. We'll explore how this ancient practice is changing lives, offering solutions where modern medicine falls short and how something as simple as a needle could be exactly what your mysterious health issues need. Joining us is Crystal Anderson, a Christian acupuncturist and my acupuncturist and the visionary entrepreneur behind California Mobile Acupuncture and Arizona Mobile Acupuncture as seen on Real Housewives. She comes right to your house. With her extensive training in Chinese medicine and a history of helping countless patients overcome their toughest health battles, Crystal's approach to wellness is truly revolutionary. Whether you're curious or skeptical, get ready to hear how acupuncture could be the game changer that you've been waiting for. Watch this episode on the Real Alex Clark YouTube channel and subscribe. Or culture apothecary on Spotify. They do video as well. And don't forget, leave a five star review. It's free and it really, really supports us. Please welcome the founder of California and Arizona Mobile Acupuncture, Crystal Anderson. To culture apothecary. An acupuncture really cure chronic pain or is it just a placebo?

[Crystal Anderson]

Absolutely, it can cure it. I've seen it for sure. Chronic pain is one of the main things that we treat when we go into people's homes. And it's debilitating. And so it takes a series of treatments. Absolutely. And I always tell people it depends on how severe and how chronic, how long you've had the pain as far as how many treatments you will need. And we'll give people that information when we go into their home and do the initial exam. But if they stick to their care plan 100%, we recommend other things in conjunction with acupuncture. That's going to support their ability to not only get better, but stay better.

[Alex Clark]

Have you always been interested in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, or did you kind of get radicalized on all of this?

[Crystal Anderson]

So I, in undergrad was pre med, thought I was going to be a doctor, and realized really quick that that was not my path. I ended up taking a year off and just researching holistic modalities that actually work. There is a lot of science behind acupuncture, and I found that out very quickly. And that is what radicalized me, honestly, was studying the science.

[Alex Clark]

What does the science say about acupuncture?

[Crystal Anderson]

My favorite studies have to do with functional MRIs, and they show different parts of the brain lighting up. So they'll take the images of somebody in pain and they'll have their initial image. They'll do acupuncture on those patients and take more images. The parts that lit up while they were in pain diminish. Other parts of the brain light up. These parts of the brain, particularly the pain processing centers, are the acc, which is the anterior cingulate cortex. This has to do with the emotional side of pain. So, you know, we've all either had severe pain or know someone who's been in pain, who is just in tears or, you know, 10 out of 10. But even a 5 out of 10 pain level, you're miserable. And so that emotional aspect is these studies suggest acupuncture decreases that. The other pain processing center has to do with sensory integration. So the experience of pain. And then in the brainstem, there's a part of the brain that lights up, that releases endorphins. So a natural analgesic, essentially, and then also the spinal cord. And the spinal cord is responsible for sending pain signals to and from the body and the brain. And that lights up and suggests that it pretty much stops the feeling of pain, depending on how severe it is. But that also, when you're not in pain, your body can go into that parasympathetic state, rest and digest and heal. Ultimately, our bodies are created so well that we actually can heal from a lot.

[Alex Clark]

What are some of the craziest things you've helped people heal from with acupuncture?

[Crystal Anderson]

Stroke is a big one. Paralysis. Right. So when people have brain injuries, paralysis is what tends to come. I worked in a stroke rehab in a hospital up in the Bay Area for a number of years. And so seeing people paralyzed and then able to either use their hands or walk was mind blowing for me. Even as an acupuncturist, that is where this medicine blew me away. Another patient that I've had most recently is a little boy who drowned. And so another anoxic brain injury, and he was completely paralyzed on a ventilator. His parents fought to get him out of the hospital because the doctors were trying to convince them to euthanize him.

[Alex Clark]

What?

[Crystal Anderson]

Yeah. Telling them there was no hope at all and that he was gone. He was at the bottom of the pool for 15 minutes.

[Alex Clark]

Oh, my gosh.

[Crystal Anderson]

And he lived. So they revived him. He was in the hospital for seven months. They fought to get him out. They finally brought him home with the vent and all the setup, and they found me right away, and I went in there. He went from, you know, in a vegetative state, essentially, to opening his eyes. He was. He still is tracking me around the hospital bed in his room. He's moving his legs independently. He's able to squeeze. He has facial expressions now when he sees me, his face softens, like he's actually happy to see me. And it's unbelievable. Holy smokes.

[Alex Clark]

How did those parents think to go seek out an acupuncturist after their child drowns?

[Crystal Anderson]

She's a very smart woman. She's, like, very highly educated and has, you know, just a brain. I mean, she really fought so hard in that hospital, which you have to do a lot of times when anybody is hospitalized is to be your own advocate. She was doing binaural beats. She was. You name it, she did it. Cranial sacral work, massage. We did cupping in those treatments. Mock Sebastian, infrared. We pulled out all the stops, and we still are. I haven't seen him for a couple months because I recently had a baby. And so my acupuncturist has taken over for me. And they're still just every day seeing miracles out of this little boy.

[Alex Clark]

I love that you brought up infrared light therapy and red light therapy. I have not had a guest on this show yet say anything bad about red light therapy. Only just singing its praises, saying it's like the future of health.

[Crystal Anderson]

Absolutely. And if I could say, the only thing bad is if you get a junkie light, so make sure you get a good one. We actually rent infrared saunas through our company in Southern California. These tents are mobile, so they're really cool. But they also are really well made. The Amish make them. And the lights themselves are the best lights on the market. And so if you're going to buy a smaller device or go for a full sauna, really, just do your research, is what I would say, and make sure you're getting a good one, because there are bad ones out there. But, oh, yeah, it is phenomenal, really. I mean, the research on infrared is also mind blowing. Like, it would be dumb not to use infrared.

[Alex Clark]

How does acupuncture actually work? Like, what is going on under the skin?

[Crystal Anderson]

I like to go back to the functional MRI studies because other parts of the brain light up too, depending on what they're looking at. And so emotional responses, it activates, you know, things that are important for motivation, the reward system in the brain, but also the hypothalamus. And the hypothalamus is part of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is all about involuntary things. So heart rate, digestion, stress response. And if you think about that, you can assume that acupuncture works for blood pressure, any kind of digestive issues, really. I mean, ibs, you talk about Crohn's ulcerative colitis. The amount of things that you can treat with acupuncture is vast, but because it's the hypothalamus, it also impacts the hypothalamic pituitary, adrenal axis. And this is about reproduction. So fertility is a big one.

[Alex Clark]

Acupuncture can help cure infertility.

[Crystal Anderson]

Absolutely. So when I first started my journey in acupuncture in my career, once I graduated and got my license, I was hired to a company that worked for big name infertility doctors. And one in particular, we had an office in their medical office. And so we saw a lot of patients through them, and they did their own statistics on us. And they found that the patients who had IVF and IUI and Clomid and any kind of infertility treatments that combined those treatments with acupuncture were 65% more likely to get pregnant, stay pregnant, and come to full term.

[Alex Clark]

That is unreal.

[Crystal Anderson]

Yeah. Whoa. Yeah. So they kept us very busy, as did a lot of doctors up there in the Bay Area. And it was fun. It was. I was young, it was before I had children and knew a ton about IVF in that whole world. But we. A lot of patients that came in and got pregnant naturally, whether they were having recurrent miscarriages or were having a hard time getting pregnant anyway, and we saw a Lot of natural pregnancy.

[Alex Clark]

When you are putting the needle in and it gets red around the needle, what is the body telling you about that acupuncture point?

[Crystal Anderson]

So much so when I see the redness around the needle, I know that this is going to be a very effective treatment. And right away the patient's going to come back to me either the next day or that night and be like, I either feel so good and relaxed or the next day I slept through the night for the first time in who knows how long. My bowel movements are much more normal, I feel happier, my anxiety is less, whatever it may be, they'll come back and tell me because that redness signifies that the brain is being activated. You know, the skin is your largest organization, right? And so when we put the needles in, it tells your brain there's been a breach in the skin. The brain understands that sends through the blood kind of investigative soldier cells to figure out what's going on. It realizes there's no open major wound, we're not bleeding out, and does further investigation to understand what's going on locally but also systemically. So it's, it's looking at how your organs are functioning, but also if we're treating knee pain, it's going to the knee and understanding, okay, maybe there's inflammation, inflammation there, or maybe we have a tear in a tendon or meniscus, you know, the list goes on depending on what you're treating. Reports back to the brain and the brain releases biochemicals into the brain, into the spinal cord, into the muscles, into the circulatory system. And that's what brings about healing and homeostasis, ultimately, balance.

[Alex Clark]

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[Crystal Anderson]

Honestly, I literally tell them it's a lot less invasive than surgery, right? I mean when you're going to get surgery, you're getting needles put in you, you're getting things injected into you, you're inhaling whatever kind of medication they're using to put you to sleep or numb you. Right. There's a lot more things going on in something surgical. And even in just mainstream medicine, when it comes to these med, there's a lot of toxicity there. And with acupuncture, we're putting needles in and taking them out. There's no medication involved. It is eliciting a natural response from your brain that is scientifically shown to bring about homeostasis. And so for me, I think that God would prefer us to do something less invasive, less toxic to our bodies with less side effects if that is going to be the better solution. I also am a very. A very strong Christian and have prayed throughout my whole career on guidance from God. And I do believe he put it in my heart to open up this business. And. And he's opened doors along the way. You know, even on the herbology side of things, we're using God, man. God made herbs, right? Things that grow out of the ground. We're not putting them in labs and altering anything, and they bring about holistic effects. And to that end, it seems like almost God given.

[Alex Clark]

I think that we have a lot of tools at our disposal that he gave us, whether that's through food or plants or whatever that are meant to help. Does acupuncture hurt? Is it as scary as it looks?

[Crystal Anderson]

It's definitely not scary. The needles are very fine. Oftentimes when I have patients who are scared, I'll put the needle in and I have them do a little breath work with me. If I can tell that they're nervous, and they are. By the time I hit the third one in, they're like, did you. Did you start? Sometimes, especially men, they'll say, did you put them in already? And I'm like, oh, yeah, we've got four or five in now. We're doing fine. Because men tend to be a little more nervous than women, believe it or not. But if there is a little pinch with debt, which definitely can happen, it goes away. There's typically never any lasting discomfort. And once the needle's in, there is just this euphoric feeling that you are more relaxed than you've ever been. And it completely overrides any fear that you may have had going into.

[Alex Clark]

Yeah, and I would agree. I mean, so Crystal has worked on me. She's been my acupuncturist, and then her company, she's got a branch in California servicing Southern California. And then now she's in Arizona. And so she's got one of her acupuncturists under her now in Arizona treating me. And I mean, it is like some points which you brought up, you know, a little. Having a little feeling or a little redness. I mean that's showing that that's a problem area for me. It's such a tiny little pinch that I can't even. It's really nothing. Like it's nothing to be scared about at all. It hurts nowhere near as bad as like getting a shot or something.

[Crystal Anderson]

Oh yeah.

[Alex Clark]

Like, it's like not even close. It's way more painful, I think, you know, getting your hair bleached or getting a wax or something.

[Crystal Anderson]

Your nails done?

[Alex Clark]

Oh, yes. When your nails are getting done and then, you know, burning and stuff, that is more painful.

[Crystal Anderson]

Way worse.

[Alex Clark]

Can acupuncture help with weight loss or is that a myth?

[Crystal Anderson]

We actually did an event recently and we put ear seeds in the people at the event and they have little bling on them. Glam ear seeds. So it was more fun. But I actually sit down with them before putting it on and I say, what is it that you want to work on? Whether it's hormone balance, weight loss or stress, high blood pressure. Right. All of these things we can treat with the earth because it is the body in one. We can treat everything. We can treat in the body in the ear. And we put these little gold plated seeds with adhesive on acupressure points in the ear. And there's a lot of them in the ear. When it comes to weight loss, specifically because acupuncture impacts the brain as it does, it regulates these systems that have to do with digestion, that have to do with cells self will, that brain kind of motivation feedback system, the amygdala, which is a big one when it comes to like emotional eating and things like that. Different parts of the brain light up and are regulated.

[Alex Clark]

So it almost sounds like to me ideally in an acupuncture appointment, when your acupuncturist is asking, okay, so what's going on with you this week? Not only can you share physical pain points and things going on like that, but also emotional stress. Like, I have a lot of anxiety. I have a really big project. Do it work this week or I'm trying to, you know, study and cram and retain information for a big test coming up. Right. So it's like other things, even emotional things that you're dealing with, you should also be sharing with your acupuncturist.

[Crystal Anderson]

Absolutely, 100%. We treat mental illness all the time with acupuncture and it's very effective. We used to walk around with needles in our head in school studying for exams, because it, it, it's a game changer.

[Alex Clark]

Oh, that's so neat.

[Crystal Anderson]

Uhhuh. It's super fun. And blood flow, you know, it brings more oxygen, more nutrients to the cell. So not only just your extremities, but your organs and your brain as well. Nothing is off the table when it comes to acupuncture. We can treat everything from A to Z, aside from emergency medicine. But we could still have an impact on emergency medicine if we're like waiting for the ambulance or something to come.

[Alex Clark]

Really?

[Crystal Anderson]

Oh, yeah.

[Alex Clark]

So wait a minute. I mean, you've got four kids. One of your kids gets severely injured and you're in the need of an ambulance, you're sticking some needles in them?

[Crystal Anderson]

Oh, absolutely. Or at least massaging to certain points, ear points, feet points, DEP on what? The condition is 100%. Wow. And I needle my kids all the time. They love it. That's how gentle it is.

[Alex Clark]

I was wondering, should kids be getting acupuncture?

[Crystal Anderson]

I just needled my 4 month old yesterday because he had a little bit of gas and was kind of screamy. And I put two needles in. Stopped right away. Both my parents looked at me like, whoa, that was cool.

[Alex Clark]

Where'd you put the needles?

[Crystal Anderson]

Stomach 36 is a little bit below the knee on the outside. That's one of the biggest points on the body. It's all about digestion, all about absorption, about moving the gut. Regulation in general. It's one that we pretty much use on everyone because everyone can use it.

[Alex Clark]

Tell us about the point in acupuncture that is known as nature's Xanax.

[Crystal Anderson]

Well, there's a few of them, actually, but there's one right between the eyes that's called yin tong. That one is like having a glass of wine. I have patients that actually come to me and ask it. Oh, yeah, they're like, make sure you put this one in. You know, if I like, start to walk away after treating the body.

[Alex Clark]

Have you done that one on me?

[Crystal Anderson]

I think I did the first time. But then you were face down the second time.

[Alex Clark]

That's right.

[Crystal Anderson]

And then, you know, with Annette. But you can ask her that one. Yeah, that one's like, the world is a better place.

[Alex Clark]

She must have done it on me because let me tell you, I've been like, ragey because of starting my period and today. I woke up after my treatment last night and I'm like, oh, my gosh, the birds Are singing, you know, like I, I feel like, oh, I'm so happy and just feel light and breezy. And I bet it was the acupuncture last night.

[Crystal Anderson]

Oh no, that is what we hear all the time. It's a very common place to have these subtle changes. And it is subtle unless you're in chronic pain. I, I had a patient a while back who was on his knees hunched over the couch for two full days because he was in so much pain. His roommate was bringing him like things to pee in and like food and water. Oh my gosh. We get emergency situations cuz we're mobile, right? We come to you. And so these people, their only other alternative is to call an ambulance and have them push muscle relaxers and steroids and all the things, right? And so he was a yoga teacher and was not trying to do that. Found us. I came there, a little bit of massage, put the needles in. We have this machine called an E stem. Electric stimulation is what it stands for. It's kind of like a tens unit, but better because it has either hooks or magnets that stick to the needles themselves and it adds, adds an electrical stimulation to the points and it enhances acupuncture. So I turn on the E stem real gently. I do a little bit of moxa bustion. So moxa is an herb that's packed into kind of like a cigar and you light one end of it and you hold it over certain points or certain areas that are inflamed or in spasm, which is what he was in. I use it for fertility too. I put it over the ovaries. I don't get too close to the skin, but it warms up and increases blood flow. And it penetrates 4 inches deep. This herb, it's called mugwort and it decreases inflammation. So I did moxa on him, pull the needles out. He crawls up on the couch and he looks at me like he's stunned because he's not in pain. And I'm like, just take it easy because I don't want you to get up and kind of overdo it and re spasm. But a handful of treatments and he was back to life. And it was really neat to see. Holy cow.

[Alex Clark]

I mean, you're just, it's like you're seeing miracles happen every single day.

[Crystal Anderson]

That is what I say all the time. Even my team, because, because, you know, I've got patient coordinators that pick up the phone and they are my biggest fan because they hear from these patients how much of an impact a single treatment or a series of treatments has made for them in in their lives.

[Alex Clark]

Is sunscreen bad for you? Well, it depends. What's in your sunscreen could be worse than wearing none at all. That's why I recommend Daily Shade sunscreen for families with kids and honestly, why? It's the sunscreen I use on my in the areas I'm prone to burning like the bridge of my nose and on my shoulders. Whether your kids are ready to play outside in the sun now or you're heading on a sunny vacation or just stocking up for summer, Daily Shade is a must have. Founded by a physician assistant and mom of four, Daily Shade is a 100% zinc based sunscreen that blends seamlessly into the skin without leaving a white or greasy residue. It's a clean, safe and effective alternative to chemical sunscreens that are free of harmful ingredients like endocrine disruptors. Plus it's reef safe, gluten free and has a 93 out of 100 y yucca rating for clean ingredients. For a sunscreen that's safe for daily use, protects your skin without the ghostly white cast, and is perfect for the whole family, check out Daily Shade. Visit DailyShade.com and use code Alex Clark for 15 off your order. That's Alex Clark for 15 off at DailyShade.com get your Daily Shade Sunscreen today at DailyShade.com I've started something new to challenge myself. Ice skating lessons. Unfortunately they happen at like three in the afternoon so I am usually rushing to finish filming and then I rush to ice skating lessons. I barely have time to eat, but I need something to fuel me. What I found is quick and gives me a great boost of energy and protein is a couple Paleo Valley nutrient rich superfood bars. On ice skating days these bars are a lifesaver. Packed with over eight organic superfoods like blueberries, turmeric and spinach. They're the perfect mix of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to keep you feeling energized. And thanks to 100% grass fed bone broth protein, you get all the collagen that your joints and muscles need after a workout or a busy day. No gluten, no sugar crashes, just pure clean fuel. At just 8 to 9 net carbs per bar, they fit perfectly into any low carb lifestyle and give give you the energy that you need to go from the office straight to wherever you're going. Even a pick me up snack in the carpool line. So if you're always on the go like me. Grab a Paleo Valley nutrient rich superfood bar. Head to paleov.com Alex use code Alex for 15% off your first order. Tons of flavors. That's paleov.com Alex with code Alex fuel your day with real food. What does acupuncture offer for people struggling dealing with major types of insomnia?

[Crystal Anderson]

Insomnia is kind of one of the things that we accidentally treat all of the time. Most people come to us for pretty severe things because we are in that a homebound world. We see in home hospice, a lot of pain, paralysis. We see busy people too, right? Just the convenience of us coming into their home. But typically they're reaching out and we're the last resort. They've tried everything else and they're like, well, I might as well try acupuncture. Usually people are like, oh, I'm already sleeping better. Even though that may not be what we're treating. And so when you have homeostasis, when you're bringing about balance in the body, sleep is one of the first things to come and one of the most important things when it comes to healing in general. Because if you have enough sleep, you're regenerating hormones, you're cleaning out your cells at night, you're cleaning your brain. There's so much that goes on in that deep sleep that is required for the body to have balance and to heal from any kind of injury or imbalance in general. Acupuncture is amazing for all kinds of insomnia. And I can usually tell if you're not a great sleeper by looking at your tongue. Your tongue is a map of your organs. It tells us what's going on with your hormones, what's going on internally in general. And that's where people look at me like, who are you? Because I'll point out, like, oh, are you having a hard time falling asleep? Yeah, how'd you know? Oh, are you having a hard time falling and staying asleep, or is it just falling asleep? Oh, both. All the time, constantly. Because sleep is a problem for a lot of people. Oh, yeah. And the tongue is a big diagnostic tool for us as acupuncturists.

[Alex Clark]

Before the appointment even starts, sometimes you'll be asking the patient, can you stick out your tongue?

[Crystal Anderson]

Absolutely. Yeah. It's a common place for us acupuncturists. We'll take their pulse. Not like doctors or nurses. We really feel for how the blood is coursing through the vessel. I had mentioned this to you during our treatment, but I can tell when Patients are pregnant before the blood test can tell them that they're pregnant. And the Chinese way of saying the image of this pulse is like pearls rolling in a basin. And that's exactly what it feels like. Whoa. It feels like tiny little balls underneath your fingers when you're taking the pulse. And it's amazing. It's unbelievable. I've had a teacher of mine be able to tell what gender what you're pregnant with. Yeah.

[Alex Clark]

How can an acupuncturist tell what gender the baby will be?

[Crystal Anderson]

So right and left, male versus female. It's stronger on one side of the other. And I tested it throughout all four of my pregnancies. I've got three girls. The last one was a boy. The last one, the pulse was, was dramatically different.

[Alex Clark]

What is the special Chinese herb that you think could help somebody transition off of a sleeping pill?

[Crystal Anderson]

So onmion is a point behind the ear. It's also a formula that we utilize. We do a lot of herbal formulas. You can do single herbs too. It's not as effective. I think one of the most single herbs I tell people to utilize is ginger. Slicing it and putting it in like, hot water, like tea, and then just letting it steam sleep for three minutes. Because ginger is great for all things pain, actually. It's anti inflammatory, it's great for nausea, it's great for, you name it, ginger is great for it. And so ginger tea is great as a singular herb. But when it comes to formulas for something like insomnia, we would customize it. So we would take a general formula like on Mian, and we would pop out some of the herbs based on your symptoms. Everything we do is customized.

[Alex Clark]

On the first appointment that I had with you, you come in, you're like, oh, and another thing that I do, if you ever wanted to, is like, you'll go through and, and, and help people learn how to cook healthier food and stuff.

[Crystal Anderson]

Yeah, yeah. So we call it our food food prep demo. We customize nutrition based on tongue and pulse. But we also do some other, like lab tests and hair analysis, different things for patients. And we understand what their body's deficient in, which is really neat. We also can understand what toxicities they're harboring. So we can recommend some natural, gentle detox methods that they can do at home that are very easy and expensive, infrared being one of them. But then I come in for the patients who choose to. And the patients who choose to are a lot more successful than just the patients who do the tests. But I actually go grocery Shopping for people, I bring them nutrient dense food. I show them how to prepare it and cook it so that it's more bioavailable. I bring in a very few products that are usually just one organic ingredient to make it delicious. It's very kid friendly because obviously I have four kids so I'm a pro at that. And it's prepping. It allows moms, busy moms and dads to have, have healthy food on hand for a day or two depending on the size of your family. And then you know, you just worry about the protein. But I bring different proteins, different things. Like I love sardines.

[Alex Clark]

Same.

[Crystal Anderson]

Oh good. Did we talk about this? Because I'll, I'll give you the brand that I recommend we might have but.

[Alex Clark]

I was, I always tell people I'm obsessed with the brand Fish Wife for tin fish and it's beautiful.

[Crystal Anderson]

I haven't heard of that one. So good. I'll try it. It.

[Alex Clark]

I don't know. This has come up so many, so many times recently. But yeah, I'm a big tin fish fan cuz there's so much protein and Fish Wife only does olive oil wild caught like really delicious and then most beautiful packaging you've ever seen.

[Crystal Anderson]

Oh wow. I'm gonna have to try. I usually do King Oscar in the cardboard box cuz it's skinless and boneless. It tastes like tuna. My 4 year old asks for it for breakfast. Wow. Kid you not. That's like her favorite thing on the planet. Besides liver, she's an interesting one.

[Alex Clark]

What should people struggling with with severe chronic migraines know about acupuncture?

[Crystal Anderson]

How effective it is? Absolutely. And it's effective. Depending on what's causing the migraine, there can be several issues. Right. So sometimes it's based on your cycle hormonal. Sometimes it's based on blood flow to your brain. Sometimes it's based on the electrolyte water balance that's going on in your body. So there's a handful of diagnostics that we would look at. But acupuncture is great for all of that. That and it's important to do it at different parts of your cycle depending on if that's the case, but also depending on how long you've dealt with migraines and how severe they are. Commit to a series of treatments because one treatment isn't going to knock it out for life. And there's a strategy that you can be a part of when it comes to talking to your acupuncturist about that. That's Very effective for long term relief.

[Alex Clark]

Are all acupuncturists out there coming to your house, making you meals and doing all that that you do or special crystal thing?

[Crystal Anderson]

That's a special crystal thing. All of my acupuncturists are going to people's houses though, and I've handpicked every single one of them. They're phenomenal. I think they're the best on the planet. I've personally interviewed and like flown them to me or flown them out or flown in to interview all of them wherever they are, because it's so important. There's, there's acupuncturists out there that are not amazing, just like a mechanic or a doctor or any kind of service based industry, but it's, that's why it's, it's so important to find a good one.

[Alex Clark]

How often, ideally, should somebody get acupuncture to actually start seeing results?

[Crystal Anderson]

It really depends on what they're seeking treatment for. Um, if you roll your ankle and you come to me that day, we'll knock it out in one treatment. But if you've been dealing with something for a long time, you're going to have relief in one treatment. But to have to get to the bottom of it, to really get to the root cause of what's going on is going to take several treatments. And so typically what we do is we'll go into the patient's home on the first treatment. We'll do the initial exam, really sit down with them, get a good idea of their health history, and then after the treatment we'll go over a good care plan that's fully customized to you, allow you to understand what we're capable of, knowing what we've found through the examination process and what's going to best fit for what you're seeking treatment for.

[Alex Clark]

Tell me about cosmetic acupuncture and can it be a substitute for Botox?

[Crystal Anderson]

I actually get excited about this. It's funny because I didn't go into this with any cosmetic acupuncture experience. I've since then taken many courses from very famous acupuncturists who do cosmetic acupuncture. Well, all of my acupuncturists do cosmetic acupuncture. It's now one of my requirements. Because helping someone avoid toxicity is what we're about and that's what Botox is. It's a toxin. Right. And, and so many people came to us initially with side effects of Botox, which is what threw us into cosmetic acupuncture. We had one patient's whole upper lip go completely paralyzed after having Botox. And she had great results with the acupuncture and then continued to see us for the cosmetic acupuncture in lieu of Botox, fillers, threads, you name it, you don't need it. That cosmetic acupuncture is super effective, and I'll tell you why. When we put the needles in, it actually releases the muscle, so it unwinds the fascia, relaxes the muscles that are so tense from frequent facial expressions that we make that make those wrinkles, and that brings about balance to the face. It also encourages blood flow. We call qi, kind of this energy sort of source that comes from the body. But in Western medicine, you can look at it as the nervous system, More blood flow, more nutrients to the nerves, and that myelin sheath that's covering those nerves. But oxygen, right. In general. And so we call it our ACU face lift because it genuinely just lifts jowls. It can lift, you know, cheekbone areas. It's great for so many things. You name it. Acne, melasma, Acupuncture can help Acne? Yeah, absolutely. For sure. I had a patient a while back, and she was young. Younger and younger patients respond very quickly. Older patients respond great, too, but younger patients, like, if they have one thing off. She actually had had Botox above her eyebrow, and it drooped her whole eyebrow. And so one was lower than the other. And we were doing acupuncture and efforts to raise that eyebrow, and it came up. We were kind of measuring it along the way. It came up at least a centimeter. Like, it was a drastic change after. I think she did about 20 treatments at that point, So a pretty big series of treatments. But she was determined to avoid Botox.

[Alex Clark]

One of the most surprising things people learn about me is I am not a coffee drinker. Personally, it's just not for me. But I love the smell, and I love coffee ice cream or desserts like tiramisu. Whether you like to drink coffee or just eat it, what if I told you you could wake up your skin with it? Introducing the Primally Pure Coffee face mask. I was skeptical at first, but after just one use, my skin felt refreshed, tighter and smoother. Plus, it gave my face that good morning glow that we all want but never seem to get from a latte. This isn't just any face mask. Primally Pierced Coffee Face Mask is the mask that's packed with caffeine from biodynamic organic coffee. It's sourced from Regenerative family run farms. And this mask tightens tones and brightens while stimulating collagen production. Plus the mix of wildflower honey and warming ginger hydrosol. All pure luxury. It's like giving your face a spa treatment and a caffeine boost at the same time. Primally Pure Skincare is so dang good. You don't have to take my word for it. Read their thousands and thousands of five star reviews on their website. If your skin is feeling sun damaged, dry or just plain tired or you have a really really bad dark under eyes, this mask is your new best friend. Head over to primally pure.com use code Alex Clark for 15 off your order. That's primally pure.com code Alex Clark for 15 off and grab your new favorite coffee Mas. Do you think that acupuncture could completely replace western medicine or its best as a complement to western medicine?

[Crystal Anderson]

I think western medicine has its place and a lot of different things. Right Emerg. We talked about emergency medicine which is necessary. I think that if people start looking at their health very seriously as quickly as possible, as far as their age goes, when they're eating well, they're maintaining good sleep habits, habits, avoiding alcohol, you know, not staying up too late, managing stress, doing breathing techniques and exercising regularly, you know, and when they have an imbalance, getting into an acupuncturist right away. I do think people can avoid western medicine almost entirely if that is their lifestyle. I hate to say replace because a lot of people aren't going to do that. You know, we just have have people that were raised in this toxic environment that somehow we've created as a country and really as a world and it's hard for them to know anything else. I think with the recent movements and the Maha movements and everything that's going on, it's opening a lot of people's eyes very quickly, which is encouraging.

[Alex Clark]

Oh so encouraging. Yes. And people are like oh wow, I didn't even realize like this stuff actually works and there is a more natural alternative. I don't only have to take a pill. It's incredible. And the freedom in knowing that that you don't have to be under like mind altering drugs all the time that have their own side effects. Like you can actually just heal the way God intended. It's incredible. Last night at my acupuncture treatment, for the first time ever, I tried cupping. What is cupping and what does that do for the body?

[Crystal Anderson]

Cupping is fun, super fun. It leaves little hickey marks on your back. I know you posted on your stories and they were on there. We call it like you've been attacked by an octopus kind of thing. But it's very effective. It's. It's something that is similar to acupuncture in the sense that it brings the brain to certain parts of the body that need help, that awareness comes about. But cupping itself helps bring blood flow, oxygen, nutrients, and it detoxes the cells very quickly and it encourages cellular regeneration. In addition, when you put the cups on, that blood flow usually contains endorphins because there's a little bit of damage that goes there. So fire cupping is the ancient way of doing cupping. And so you take these little round glass jars and they'll put a flame in it, pull it out and put it on the skin, and that creates a vacuum and it sucks the skin up into the cup. And then that is what alerts your brain, like, hey, something's going on back there. Send lots of blood flow, understand what's, what's being done, but then also understand, oh, gosh, there's a lot of toxic stuff coming out here. Usually when we do cupping, the darker the mark, the more blood stagnation is there.

[Alex Clark]

She said mine weren't that dark. So what does that mean about me?

[Crystal Anderson]

Not too bad. So it just means you've got good blood flow in your upper back area. My husband, he's gonna, like, smug that I'm saying this, but he had a scuba diving accident when we were much younger and he got the bends. It's a sickness. A lot of people actually die from it. His was pretty mild, but we went to, and this is before it was an acupuncturist. We went to, to this Chinese cupping master and he did cups all down his back and they were black, especially on the right side where he had his bcd, which is the buoyancy control device that allows you to go up because that was kind of higher in what he was utilizing when he was ascending. I've never seen anybody's marks as dark as his. The difference between fire and suction. Suction is kind of what we've come up with in more modern day cupping technology, if you will. It's a lot easier, it's a lot lighter for us mobile acupuncturists to carry around. The fire cupping, I will say, is probably a lot stronger. However, I am a bigger fan of the suction cupping. We do facial cupping too, in our cosmetic treatments. We do gua sha, that kind of thing, but it is just as effective and a lot less scary.

[Alex Clark]

So wait, will Annette, the Arizona acupuncturist that works for you? That I see. Would she know how to do gua sha on me?

[Crystal Anderson]

Absolutely.

[Alex Clark]

Oh, I'm adding that on my plate then.

[Crystal Anderson]

Yep, I know. I, I told her.

[Alex Clark]

She's so. You guys do so many things.

[Crystal Anderson]

So many things. We have so many tools in our toolkit as acupuncturists. It's really a one stop shop. It's a very holistic way of treating the patient.

[Alex Clark]

What is your elevator pitch for people who are skeptical about acupuncture?

[Crystal Anderson]

So when I tell people about acupuncture, I let know that there's a lot of science. Right. I've mentioned that. There's so much science behind it. It's very non invasive and it actually encourages your body to heal itself. So there's no toxicities, there's no outside things that we're putting in there unless we're doing herbs or something like that. But it's, it's effective in more ways than people know. And in one treatment they're going to decide that as well.

[Alex Clark]

How long is a typical appointment?

[Crystal Anderson]

45 minutes is how long we usually hang with a patient. Our appointments are about an hour, hour and 15. Because we come in, we set up a comfortable massage table, organic linens. We kind of get it nice and cozy for you. And then we chat too, from end to end, an hour and 15. The needles are in for about 25 to 30 minutes. And then if we do cupping, we'll do a little bit of massage. Sometimes we'll do gua sha. It just kind of depends on what the patient needs for the complaint that they're seeking treatment for.

[Alex Clark]

And how much does it cost typically for acupuncture?

[Crystal Anderson]

It varies for sure, and it var depending on where you are. If you're in San Francisco or in LA and you go into a clinic, you're easily paying 200, sometimes 250, and sometimes you can find it for less. And then we're mobile, so we come to you. We charge 295 for the first treatment, but we also have packages. So if your acupuncturist is like, hey, I think you need at least 10 treatments to knock this out fully. We've got different size treatment series that you can purchase and that brings the price down pretty significantly.

[Alex Clark]

And you can use code Alex and get them a discount, right?

[Crystal Anderson]

Yeah. $50 off your first treatment. We also offer with your code, 150 off of any package.

[Alex Clark]

And where can people book you? You're only in the state of California and Arizona right now. Right now. But like, here's the thing. Crystal is so incredible. Like, if you are listening to the show and you're an amazing acupuncturist in whatever state, you should contact Crystal. And like she said, I mean, because I would imagine, wouldn't you love to ideally be in, like, majority of states?

[Crystal Anderson]

Yeah, we're already looking at Texas. This is. Is probably our next one to move to. And that's what I love so much about what I'm doing and why I feel like God is opening the doors. Because I'm allowed to treat so many more people than I would if it were just me going into people's homes. And I love that shout out because it's hard to find good acupuncturists. It's taken me a long time in Arizona, but San Diego specifically took me like almost a year to find an acupuncturist.

[Alex Clark]

Yeah, she's picky, you guys, so she really needs the best of the best. Because I know everyone's gonna be sad now hearing this. Like, I wanna work with Crystal. So I was just in and, you know, I just contacted Krystal and I was like, hey, like, I'm here. Could you come to me at my Airbnb? And so you showed up and were able to treat me and my friend Emily, little Ray of health, which is on a vlog on the YouTube channel. And so that's so neat. Like, if you know that you're going to be vacationing in Scottsdale or in Southern California, call up Crystal, you know, book her through California Mobile Acupuncture or Arizona Mobile Acupuncture. Have them come to you even on your trip, in your hotel room, whatever, ever, and you can get a quick treatment. It's so great. If you're on this part of the country, then hopefully you'll be in a bunch more states. Where is the best place for them to book you? Is it a website or through the Instagrams?

[Crystal Anderson]

Either one. CaliforniaMobile ACU.com ArizonaMobile ACU.com are our websites, but Instagram we are California Mobile Acupuncture or Arizona Mobile Acupuncture. Those are our handles. We are very on top of our DMS there. All the information you need is there as well.

[Alex Clark]

Crystal, if you could provide one remedy to heal a sick cold, physically, mentally or spiritually, what would it be?

[Crystal Anderson]

Acupuncture, hands down, is that not the answer? I mean, that is so effective for almost everything and mind, body and spirit. Right? I mean, I think that's my other kind of thing to the God question is that if we're creating a healthy body, wouldn't it be assumed that then your spirituality is also made easier, that your connection to our one true God, God is a lot more strong.

[Alex Clark]

Crystal, thank you for coming on Culture Apothecary.

[Crystal Anderson]

No, I'm happy to do it. Thank you.

[Alex Clark]

I love Crystal. She loves talking acupuncture and all things health. She also ended up telling me, hey, by the way, I listened to that Masa chip episode where you guys got into ultrasounds and stuff. She's like, I agree with everything that Mia was saying. So that was a very controversial episode. And if you had a hot take on that, so did Crystal and she agreed with it. So I just thought that that was really juicy. Please leave a five star review. Tell others why they should listen to Culture Apothecary. Whether to learn something new or to challenge yourself in what you believe. We're on a mission to heal a sick culture. Twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, 6pm Pacific, 9pm Eastern. I'm Alex Clark and this is Culture Apothecary.