Dr. Cliff received her Associates of Applied Science in Law Enforcement Technology from Central Piedmont Community College and began her service career as a police officer with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department where she proudly served in the David One and David Two districts. Additionally, she assisted in firearms instruction as a Range Safety Officer and was the Volunteer Unit Coordinator. From 1993-2006 she was also an Emergency Medical Technician and served briefly as a member of Matthews Rescue and EMS. Dr. Cliff is the seventh member of her family to serve and protect. She is proud to be a part of the combined 191 years of service spanning three generations in her family.
In 2004, while completing of her Bachelor of Science in Biology, pre-med focus, from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Dr. Cliff attended Southeastern School of Neuromuscular and Massage Therapy. She was hired immediately upon graduation from Southeastern School as an Instructor in Anatomy and Physiology/Pathology, Swedish Massage, and Neuromuscular Therapy and was the Community Outreach Coordinator and a Student Clinic supervisor until 2010. From 2005-2010 she was the CEO/Owner of WhyKnot Massage, a groundbreaking massage therapy company providing seated chair massage and sports massage at various venues, offices and events in the Charlotte area, and was also the owner of CNC Massage Therapy, her private massage therapy practice specializing in elite level endurance athletes, professional sport teams and athletes and public service personnel. During this time, she gained tremendous experiential insight into the body and its natural healing abilities.
In 2009, Dr. Cliff became a Usui Reiki Ryoho Master under the direction instruction of Master Randi Morrison with lineage to Master William Rand and the founder of Reiki, Usui Sensei.
Dr. Cliff received her Masters of Science in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 2013 from Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts in Asheville, NC. She received direct instruction from Jeffery Yuen, an 88th & 26th generation Daoist priest who she still studies with today. She is a National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) Board Certified Chinese Medicine Practitioner and Chinese Medicine Herbalist (denoted as Dipl. OM).
Dr. Cliff is an apprenticing Earth Medicine Woman under Earth Medicine Woman & Shaman Robbie Warren whose lineage is the Native American Visionary, Joseph Beautiful Painted Arrow Rael of the Ute and Tiwa Tribes. Dr. Cliff is a Sacred Pipe Carrier for the People and is able to hold sacred pipe ceremonies for healing, guidance and gratitude.
Dr. Cliff is a current Reiki Master Apprentice in the Shinpinden Okuden Usui Reiki Ryoho lineage of the Samurai warriors of feudal Japan.
Dr. Cliff received her Doctorate in Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine from Pacific Collage of Health and Science {formerly Pacific College of Oriental Medicine}, San Diego, CA in 2020. Her area of special focus was food insecurity and its health effects on low-income populations.
Dr. Cliff has studied for over 20 years with various healers, thought leaders, business development and personal development masters. She is recognized as a thought leader, diagnostic expert and spiritual mentor.
Dr. Cliff’s is a general practitioner treating all areas of concern. She is a master diagnostician and specializes in unraveling the origins of the most complex cases that have not been able to be deciphered by others.
She is an observational researcher in the role of quantum, mechanical and classical physics impact on the bio-emotional aspects of the body.
She is the founder and creator of the Shen Shock Theory™ of trauma propagation and pathology formation, the Elemental Matrix Assay Profile™ (Elemental MAP or EMAP), The 5 Elements of Wellness™ method, The Matrix Molecule Model ™ (M3) and The Matrix™ (matriarchal business model).
She is a strategist with three years of Leadership training specific to women in the 21st Century. She has also trained in intensive productivity and impact using the skills to obtain her medical doctorate in one year during Covid.
With over 30 years of direct patient care and tens of thousands of hours in investment in her craft, Dr. Cliff is a sought after keynote speaker on the role of relationship and connection in healing.
She is the 2018 National Association of Women Business Owners Rising Star Award Winner. This award is given to a female business owner of less than 5 years who has shown exceptional business growth and visionary direction for continued contribution to women in business and to the impact of the world.
Dr. Crystal Cliff, a native Charlottean, is an avid foodie having considered culinary school prior to medical school. Her food medicine offerings are a direct result of that love for food instilled in her early childhood. She is also a jazz, soul and blues aficionado. Having been the lead singer in a band for two years, she occasionally still performs vocally in various venues in the Charlotte area. Her additional interests include blade-smithing, photography and creating art from found objects. She is known for her spontaneous sense of humor and her intense, driving passion for life. She is also a proud dog mom to her Chesapeake Bay retriever mix pup.
+ Daoist Classical Chinese Medicine
+ Earth Medicine
+ Shamanic Medicine
+ Acupuncture
+ Laser Acupuncture
+ Chinese Dietary Therapy & Food Medicine
+ Culinary Medicine©
+ Food Medicine for Cancer
+ Food Medicine for Pregnancy
+ Cancer training
+ Auricular (Ear) Acupuncture & Ear
Seeds/Tacks
+ Scalp Acupuncture
+ Elemental Mapping™ (proprietary)
+ Gua Sha & Cupping
+ Stone Medicine
+ Sinew Meridians
+ Longitudinal Luo Vessels
+ Primary Meridians & Zang Fu
+ Eight Extraordinary Vessels
+ Divergent Channels
+ Five Elements
+ Korean Four Needle Technique
+ Aggressive Energy
+ Internal & External Dragons
+ The Nine Palaces
+ The Earth School
+ The Wen Bing School
+ The School of Attacking & Purging
+ Four Level Syndrome Differentiation
+ Six Stages Syndrome Differentiation
+ Nine Needle Techniques
+ Kinesio Taping
+ AcuTat Wu Tattoo™© {Proprietary, Pat. Pend.}
+ Feng Smoke Medicine & Sacred Pipe Work
+ Usui Reiki Ryoho
+ Ten Shen Tai-Shinpinden Okuden Rei Ki Ryoho
+ Qi Gong (Tai Yu Shen Gong, Five Animal Frolicks, Huff Puff, Five Healing Sounds)
+ Foundation Training
+ Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulations & Essential Oil Blends
+ 5 Elements of Wellness© (Proprietary)
+ Rites of Passage Ceremonies
+ Shen Shock Theory (Proprietary)
+ Psycho-Emotional Disorders
+ Chinese Emergency Medicines
+ Ba Zi, 4 Pillars of Destiny (Character Chart)
+ Feng Shui
+ Facial Diagnosis
+ Hara Diagnosis
+ Kubota Ishizaka Rhu (Japanese Acupuncture-Intermediate Level)
+ Tao of Trauma Certified
+ 5 Elements of Wellness Health Coaching©
+ Evidence-based Research
+ Hero's Journey 21st Century Leader Certified
+ The 5 Elements of Wellness 5 Series (2023-2024)
+ Shamanic Healing Arts (2019-2020)
+ Sacred Pipe Initiation Ceremony (2019)
+ Apprentice Tobacco Ceremony (2021)
+ Dragon Dance Crew (2022)
+ Fire Dance (2023)
+ Animatrix Dance (2024)
+ Mystery School (2023)
+ Mystery School (2024)
+ Shamanic Healing Arts Intensive (2025)
+ Sacred Sweat Lodge (2013-2023)
+ Sacred Fire Keeper (2022-Present)