Krystal Appleby RAc, Dip. TCM
2111-7901 King St Fort McMurray, AB, Canada

Sometimes I take a sports Medicine approach and just want to make muscles twitch, some days I wont put needles anywhere near the pain but Im glad I have the tools and knowledge to know both and an evolving gut that usually tells me which is best. This might look like a simple treatment but Im actually treating my back, sleep, stress, hormones and energy levels alongside my calf pain. The electricity isnt something I use in clinic often because the needles usually know how... to do their job. Im slightly resistant to a lot of electro-stim because I dont like continuously forcing muscles to relax if they are trying to protect a body area or if it allows an athlete to over train into a more severe problem... but I do love the feeling and it can be very effective. I always hear Ida Rolf quote where you think it is, it aint when treating pain and try not to focus on one part, because NO part of the body plays alone or without the brain. What I love about TCM is that even a simple injury will always make the practitioner question beyond that muscle or physical ailment. The longer Im in practice the more I love intertwining all of my continuing education into my own style that works for me, then learning to adjust that to a wide spectrum of clients. Some days Im full on energetic thinking, some days Im body engineer brain, and Im sure that will change with time after all it is called a practice. See more

Robin Ray Green is a well known Paediatric Acupuncturist in the US whom I took an online course with. I was a little skeptical at first that her methods would be enough. In this video she shares her tips for Chinese massage on babies and kids. I use these all in clinic and am always amazed how well it works on kids even when we dont use needles (in Canada we cant use acupuncture needles until 2 years old.) Its amazing how quickly young bodies respond to Chinese Medicine,... and it always leaves me super passionate, grateful and fulfilled in my career choice. Treating children was daunting to me in the beginning but theyre now easily one of my favourite clientele. The best part is that needles or no needles during treatment does not dictate the efficacy of a treatment because their bodies respond so well to all the modalities and tools we have. https://simplero.com/d/ODkUlxzr7eyOalpb/c/2108110/2

Pull out your silicone cups!!!

Mark Groves you always have a way with words and helping me either perceive things in a different light or give me tools to face things in my life in a healthier manner... even if I sometimes ignore . Hope this one resonates with some of you. Happy Monday, Im headed outside before toilet brain can ensue Posted @withregram @createthelove You probably have lots of feelings right now. Me too. And feelings are information. Simple as that. We code them as "bad" or "good". We... avoid some of them. We chase others. We numb the really uncomfortable ones. But this is the work... to be uncomfortable. To learn to observe our feelings, no matter the feeling. Language plays a large role in how we deal with emotions because most of us will say something like, "I am _________." ie. I am angry. Well, everything after "I am" you have to become. It's language that shapes identity. So, you become the feeling. Instead, try saying "I feel ________." and feel the distance it creates between you and your identity. If you want to raise the game and get even better, try, "A part of me feels ________, and a part of me feels _________." You're complex and you usually have more than one feeling going on at once, you just have to create space for you complexity. Your words create your world. So be very responsible for the words you choose. Your feelings inform your experience of your world and the emotion you experience is trying to evokemotion. Ask your feelings what they're trying to tell you? What are they asking of you? And then listen and act, otherwise you'll have to disconnect from your emotions and you'll likely get sick, and/or anxious, and/or depressed. Depressed. To depress. To suppress. Get it? #createthelove See more

And on a lighter note ... just because Im at my parents in the mountains and its so good for the soul and mental sanity right now. When everything else is uncertain nature shows us stillness and how much beauty is everywhere around us. Heres Reese and I after a good little jaunt today.

Stay home, stay healthy and safe, and reach out to me if youd like to talk. If you have any health care workers in your life reach out to them, love them, listen to them - everyone needs someone to neutrally listen right now. As of right now I will reach out when the government deems it safe and Ill be the first back to the clinic at that time. I really miss all of you favourite people - work is my social life and you all make my world brighter . Ive been thinking about you all and hope youre taking advantage of & looking at the bright side - time with loved ones and a slow down( for some of us not homeschooling . ) Love & healing ~Krystal

Hooponopono I love this so much, it was a great reminder for my own life. Years ago a mentor shared this with me in a difficult time and it shifted my paradigm of pointing fingers and thinking I knew more than I did. Thanks for sharing Shane!!!

Qi - youve likely heard of it. Usually for simplicity itll be translated to energy. Ive never found such a easy, accurate and simple description!!! If this interests you take a read. Often people ask me how I know when Ive found the spot, or where/how deep to put the needle, here you go.I always say its a feeling that keeps getting stronger the longer I practice. Personally for me it feels like the tug on a fishing line - sometimes so subtle you could miss it ... some...times far from subtle. My favourite part about treating kids is that often I feel the Qi simply by palpating the skin and can feel it so quick & easily on the needle or even with acupressure. Even cooler is the kids can usually tell me where the Qi is travelling in the body in their own way, mapping out a meridian they no nothing about. I had to throw in my favourite moment of treating in Costa Rica - this boy had knee pain and we both felt the points pull on his elbows and instantly felt the knees loosen - the look on his face was the cutest. I love the life Ive been given. #acupuncture #balancemethod #balancemethodacupuncture #tcm #ymmacupuncture #qi #fengshui #albertaacupuncture #dowhatyoulove See more

Ive made a personal decision after today to stop treating clients until further notice. I will be calling clients and reaching out over the next day. Please understand with so much uncertainty this is my personal choice for now, and Im still here for anyone who needs to talk, has questions or wants to to talk whether regarding COVID, personal health or otherwise. Current events have stirred a lot of things up for a lot of clients and people in my life and I want you to kno...w you can reach out to me at any time. Call or text me at (587) 228-0176 if you need me. Im going to try and see this time as an opportunity to slow down, reflect, hopefully get in nature and hone in on myself and my mental and physical health and welcome you to do the same. Sending lots of love and healing. Please stay up to date with AHS and Government of Alberta news & recommendations and I will let everyone know when I am back to work. See more

So much gratitude for this opportunity, I cant begin to put this trip into words. Ive never been so sure that Im on the right path in life or so grateful for the people and places and opportunities that Im being presented with. Ill be back treating in clinic on Monday with new tools and brain power. Thank you thank you thank you @worldwidehealthcareinitiative @theacademyofacupuncture for such an amazing opportunity and week together.

This trip has been a once in a lifetime trip full of the best people and experiences Posted @withregram @worldwidehealthcareinitiative Some pictures from our volunteers and collaborators in Costa Rica It's WHI'S 3rd time in Costa Rica since 2019, first trip of 2020. Want to volunteer with us? Contact us for more information or visit our website to learn more. #whi #worldwidehealthcareinitiative #humanitarianhealthcare #volunteer #balancemethod #acupunctureworks

Happy Chinese New Year!!! This is the start of a new 12 year cycle, year 1 brings lots of new beginnings which is usually super welcomed after all the stirring up of things in the past year to set us on our new path for the next 12 years! If youve been swimming upstream or had a lot of hard things happen lately things will likely settle down in the next bit. I wish I could tell you more, but all I can say is its a good year to be a dragon , and whatever you do today is apparently how you will be ending 2020 Im catching flights, and Im ok starting and ending the year that way This has been the best year in my life yet - and I owe a lot of that to the most amazing clients, family, friends, and coworkers. So much love, abundance and gratitude to all you lovely humans this year

Happy New Year!!! Wishing everyone resilience in 2020 to face whatever we have dreamt up to chase toward or whatever comes our way. If Ive learned one thing thats changed me in 2019 it would be that it truly doesnt matter the pace at which youre moving forward because consistency will always get you where you want to be in the long run. Get crystal clear on what you want and never ever quit consistently showing up for yourself regardless of all the excuses we will all have. One day you wake up and youve created the things you thought were lofty impossibilities. I really cant wait to hear what you all have planned for this year and support in any way I can wishing everyone health, strength and all the happiness

Truth! Your mind can either work for you, or against you Posted @withrepost @stopchasingpain See definitions at end if you are new to this phenomena ___ I once heard a doctor teaching at a workshop reply to a question ___ The question was: Doc isnt this just a placebo effect? To which the doctor replied, I certainly hope so! Great answer ... ____ Thats because he knew the power of the mind in healing and that everything has a placebo effect including talking negatively about a placebo effect which usually drives a Nocebo effect where you think you feel worse. See how that works? ___ Use your common sense too. A placebo effect aint gonna fix your arm hanging off from a trauma or Ebola. But it will probably go a long way to helping that chronic back pain when none of the experts can figure it out ___ Use your own damn mind in the healing process... its waiting with anticipation to help you. How you think changes your biology. So get steppin ___ Placebo A beneficial effect produced by a placebo drug or treatment, which cannot be attributed to the properties of the placebo itself, and must therefore be due to the patient's belief in that treatment Nocebo A nocebo effect is said to occur when negative expectations of the patient regarding a treatment cause the treatment to have a more negative effect than it otherwise would have ___ SUPER SECRET TIP: They both work ____ STOPCHASINGPAIN Tap link in IG BIO for all things #stopchasingpain Memberships, community, videos, workshops, love, support, crazy shit path, podcasts ___ #stopchasingpain See more

Just a friendly reminder to my most favourite clients to prebook your appointments this holiday season. Appointments are getting very limited as everyone scrambles to use up benefits and fit in appointments around holidays. Ill be away with family December 13-15, 21-29. I will also be away for 3 weeks January 25-February 15. All of this is scheduled into mindbody and I will be open up some extra hours as it gets closer. You can call the clinic and be put on a cancellation... list or message me if youre struggling to find Acupuncture appointments. Amanda will be working some extra shifts while Im away in the New Year but these spots will be limited as she has her own clients and the cutest little human to tend to. Please book your appointments well in advance as I will not be able to telepathically do Acupuncture from Costa Rica See more

Come say Hi and get some cupping, needles, taping or guasha done this Friday! I want to bring more Acupuncture to the community in a different way so please come support a great cause so I can do more of this in the community!

This week concluded a busy stretch of courses. Dr. Eileen Han (@theacademyofacupuncture ) caught my attention at a Fertilty Symposium in Vancouver this Spring her energy was super contagious and her lectures left me so inspired and with so much material to start using effectively immediately for literally any client complaint/problem. In February Ill be doing a humanitarian trip in Costa Rica with her organization @worldwidehealthcareinitiative and fingers crossed for Mada...gascar next fall. This is so far off the path of Sports Medicine Acupuncture that I usually gravitate towards but she is probably the most inspiring, selfless and hilarious instructor driven to make enormous change that Ive been lucky enough to learn from. Now, to come home and digest the last months materials and settle in for the winter... I am back to work tomorrow with zero trips on the horizon for the rest of the year... weird for all of us #balancemethod #acupuncture #ymm #fortmcmurray #chinesemedicine #tcm #alwayslearningnewthings #albertaacupuncture See more