Hello
Welcome to meridian healing arts
To schedule an appointment with
Cinamon Kimbrough LAc, LMT
Scottsdale Location: Monday 10-7, Friday 2-7
10304 North Hayden Road, Suite 100, Scottsdale
and for Mobile Patients. Text or Call 815 | 701 | 1259 or Click Below
About Meridian healing arts and asian medicine
Cinamon Kimbrough LAc, LMT
I care for a patient in the place they are at. The body, mind and spirit have the innate ability to heal and transform. I include my
15 years of bodywork and education in each individual, yet allow the patient to be my teacher in its own process.
I believe with this wellness relationship we find a balance and plan that works for them.
My therapies have centered on pain management for over 10 years.Working closely with patients and their physicians to find the best customized treatment for the individual. My philosphy is rooted in a holistic childhood which included cranio-sacral, nutrition, spiritual discipline and wellness as a lifestyle. Later, I learned from my father, Dr. Harris M. Kimbrough, Jr. D. D.S. co founder of the WGSTD dental group, after attending The Chicago School of Massage (Cortiva-2007.)
I pursued my TCM degree and graduated from The Midwest College of Oriental Medicine (2015) and have implemented these doctrines and treatment to my therapy. I address the muscular, visceral, meridian and nervous systems disruptions, thus assisting the whole person's innate healing response.The fascia, tendon and muscle tissue are a great indicator of dysfunction and health. Deficiencies, poor nutrition/absorption, decreased circulation, adrenal/energy fatigue, hormonal changes, trauma and excessive environmental conditions can lead to rigid muscles, inflammation, atrophy and/or pain. This can inhibit blood flow, lymph, waste elimination and eventually affect organ functions.Muscle balance is also important in pain management especially with lifestyle conditions including sitting, lifting, poor sleep habits and long hours. This is where we begin.I assess the body using orthopedic testing, palpating musculoskeletal findings, TCM diagnostics and environmental factors, trauma and medical history to create a treatment custom to the individual, integrating with the patient's physicians and current treatment plan.Optimizing the best possible journey to health and wellness. Shalom.
Tuina and CranioSacral (Yin Tuina)
Tuina can include Myofascial Release, Triggor Point Therapy, stretching and Acupressure Therapy. Yin Tuina is more similar to Lymph Drainage, CranioSacral and is gentle pressure that encourages a Central Nervous System response for a more internal parasympathetic or visceral response that moves fluids and relaxes the body. In 2017 a military study of cranio-sacral effects on concussions reported (Wetzler et al. CranioSacral
Therapy and Visceral Manipulation:
A New Treatment Intervention for Concussion Recovery):
“Ten sessions of specific CST/VM/NM therapy resulted in statistically greater improvements in pain intensity, ROM, memory, cognition, and sleep in concussed patients.”
Acupuncture
Acupuncture uses very thin needles (closer to the size of a hair shaft than a syringed needle) that pierces the skin in these specific points of the body where channels of energy run through the body. There may be a light sting, dull ache or no feeling at all. Hydrating and eating properly before acupuncture is recommended. Needles are usually retained about 20-30 minutes, while the patient lies comfortably on a therapy table.
Eastern and Western medical philosophies are very different in philosophy, yet scientists are starting to understand the physiological reactions of acupuncture through evidence-based research. A renowned AMA medical journal, JAMA, (Andrew J. Vickers; Acupuncture for Chronic Pain) published an article in 2012 with randomized controlled trials (RCT), and concluded that: “Acupuncture is effective for the treatment of chronic pain and is therefore a reasonable referral option.”
Over thousands of years of observation and experimentation with needles conclude that certain points on the skin are associated with specific internal body functions and emotions. In other words, acupuncture assists the body in increasing and moving blood and lymph flow, decreasing inflammation or swelling, warming or cooling an area and relaxing the nervous system, thus reducing pain.
Cupping
Cupping brings blood flow to the skin and may create redness or
purple in the pores. This is a modality that helps move body fluids,
stagnation of qi and blood, lifts the soft tissue off their structure
allowing lymph and blood to flow more efficiently. Similar to Gua Sha it
can also assist in expelling environemntal pathogens and loosen fascia.
This gained national popularity in the last two Olympics as athletes wore their cup marks during their televised events.
The NCCAOM reports on their website: “Cupping is used in over 60 countries to treat a broad spectrum of conditions such as
headaches, musculoskeletal pain, infections, insect bites, hypertension, respiratory conditions, skin disorders, digestive problems, and infertility. Dr. William Osler, considered the Father of Modern Medicine and one of the
founders of Johns Hopkins Hospital, recommended cupping for bronchopneumonia and acute myelitis in the early 1900’s.”
Gua Sha
Gua Sha is an East Asian medicine healing technique that involves “Gua,”
the term meaning scraping or rubbing and due to the surface frictioning raises transitory petechiae and ecchymosis to the surface of the skin called “Sha”. This technique is applied to the skin usually using a stone, porcelain, or bone tool. According to TCM, it can be used to expel external pathogens such as wind, heat, cold and toxins from the environment, loosen fascia and increase blood flow.
Gua Sha has shown to cause a fourfold increase in microcirculation at the treated area, reported in a study (Nielsen A; The Effect of Gua Sha Treatment on the Microcirculation of Surface Tissue: A Pilot Study in Healthy Subjects) that was conducted at the Department of Nephrology, Unit of Circulation Research, University Hospital of Essen, Germany. The study also reported:
“Each subject experienced immediate
decrease in myalgia in both the site treated, in
the related distal control site, and in some
cases, other distal sites. Pain relief persisted to
some extent up to the follow-up visit. There
were no adverse reactions.”
Other medical professions have modified Gua Sha techniques in their therapies. Grafston therapy has become a staple within the Physical Therapy community. This technique focuses on smoothing adhesions and increasing circulation in the fascia as well. PIcture credit: https://www.indiamart.com/
This is where we begin
This is where we begin. I assess the body using energy, orthopedic testing, palpating musculoskeletal findings, TCM diagnostics, emotional and environmental factors, trauma, and medical history to create a treatment custom to the individual, integrating with the patient’s physicians and current treatment plan. Optimizing the best possible journey to health and wellness.
- Improve range of motion in muscular dysfunction.
- Reduce post surgery adhesions and swelling.
- Relax over stimulated, injured, tired, and overused muscles.
- Release endorphins —amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
- Lessens depression and anxiety. Assist through the ups and downs of life and its’ journeys.
- Enhance immunity, move lymph and increase circulation. Helps drain sinuses, and lymph.
- Balance hormones, reduce hot flashes, and enhance fertility.
- Relieves Migraine pain and many other pain dysfunctions not alleviated by allopathic treatments.
- Stimulates the parasympathetic system, and assists with optimal digestion.
References:
Andrew J. Vickers, DPhil. “Acupuncture for Chronic
Pain.” Archives of Internal Medicine, American
Medical Association, 22 Oct. 2012,
jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/
fullarticle/1357513.
Nielsen A;Knoblauch NT;Dobos GJ;Michalsen
A;Kaptchuk TJ; “The Effect of Gua Sha Treatment on the
Microcirculation of Surface Tissue: A Pilot Study in
Healthy Subjects.” Explore (New York, N.Y.), U.S. National
Library of Medicine, 1 June 2007, pubmed.nbi.nlm.nih.gov
/17905355/.
Wetzler, Gail, et al. “CranioSacral Therapy and Visceral
Manipulation: A New Treatment Intervention for
Concussion Recovery.” Medical Acupuncture, Mary Ann
Liebert, Inc., 1 Aug. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub
med/28874926.