The Art of Needles & Natural Healing

In this episode, I sit down with Mackenna Mastrud —a board-certified acupuncturist, herbalist, and wellness practitioner with a deep-rooted belief in the body’s ability to heal through holistic support. Mackenna shares her winding journey into Chinese Medicine, including the rigorous path to licensure, the distinctions between acupuncture and medical interventions, and her honors-level training in herbalism.But this conversation goes far beyond credentials. Mackenna opens up about a major health crisis that left her unable to sit up or walk, with no answers from conventional medicine. At the time, she was a fitness instructor and personal trainer—deeply in tune with her body—and suddenly found herself navigating the medical system with more questions than clarity. That experience shaped her path toward a more integrative, compassionate model of care.What You’ll Hear About:* What it really takes to become a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist* Why acupuncture needles aren’t as scary as they sound (they’re more like hairs than straws!)* Mackenna’s personal health crisis and how it shifted her view of healing* The limits of conventional medicine—and how integrative approaches can fill in the gaps* How movement, self-trust, and Eastern medicine reshaped her relationship with her bodyQuote to Remember:"Here I was, a personal trainer…—and I couldn’t even sit up. No one could explain it. That’s when I knew I had to look beyond the usual answers."Connect with Mackenna: InnerLoopAcuROCInstagram @innerloopacu.pllc This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit findingmyfrequency.substack.com/subscribe