Acupuncture is a traditional form of Eastern Medicine that has been adopted into Western Medicine as an adjunct to the treatment of a variety of health concerns. Dr. Cassano has been practicing acupuncture for over 15years and has experience in treating the following conditions:
~ Chronic headaches and migraines ~ Anxiety and Depression ~ Sleep onset and maintenance insomnia ~ Fertility (optimization) ~ Pre-birth acupuncture (beginning at 36 weeks pregnancy) ~ Labour Induction acupuncture (at 40 weeks gestation)
Acupuncture can be used safely throughout all stages of pregnancy. In the early stages of pregnancy, acupuncture can help nausea and vomiting, sleep disturbance and stress management. In later stages of pregnancy, acupuncture can assist with turning breech babies, preparing the body for labour and delivery and to induce and shorten the duration of labour in pregnancies on or past their due date.
Acupuncture can also be used to improve the success of IUI and IVF fertility treatments. Acupuncture in this circumstance is typically started 6-8 weeks prior to a scheduled IUI or IVF. The benefits of acupuncture before and during fertility treatments include stress reduction, improved blood flow to the reproductive organs and hormonal regulation - supporting a regular menstrual cycle and ovulation.
Generally, acupuncture begins with 1 treatment per week for 4 weeks. After stabilization of the health concern or a desired result is reached, maintenance acupuncture follows at 1 treatment every 2 weeks and then eventually, one treatment per month. Individualized plans, outcomes and expectations will be discussed at your initial visit with Dr. Cassano. It is important to note that Dr. Cassano prefers to use acupuncture as a compliment to naturopathic medicine rather than just use acupuncture alone to treat a particular condition.
For acupuncture DURING pregnancy: (pre-birth acupuncture) This typically begins at the 36th week of pregnancy and continues weekly until the due date. If labour doesn't begin naturally on the due date, Induction acupuncture can be considered. The primary objective of pre-birth acupuncture is to ripen the cervix, soften the birth canal and help the uterine contractions (once they begin) be more efficient in assisting the labour process.
*Acupuncture is offered by Dr. Cassano at Love Within in St. Albert, Alberta (BOOK HERE) and at Redefined Health in Edmonton, Alberta (BOOK HERE)*
*Acupuncture with a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor can be billed under Naturopathic Medicine or Acupuncture.