 ALEXANDRIA,
Va.---Aug. 17, 2006--
Oct. 24 is Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) Day, a designation
recognized by leadership organizations in the field of acupuncture and
Oriental medicine, and spearheaded by the National Certification
Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM). The purpose of
the designation is to raise awareness about the benefits of acupuncture
-- a viable form of medicine with a 3,000-year history -- and how
consumers can find certified professional practitioners to ensure better
care, better treatment, and better outcomes.
In the United States, the use of acupuncture and Oriental medicine is at
an all-time high. According to a recent study conducted by the National
Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary & Alternative
Medicine (NCCAM), an estimated 36 percent of U.S. adults use some form
of alternative therapy, and 25 percent have tried acupuncture. According
to recent research, 64 percent of physicians have referred patients to
certified practitioners of alternative therapies, including acupuncture
and Oriental medicine, and more than $17 billion is spent on the
therapies annually.
"Acupuncture and other traditional Oriental medicine therapies are
gaining momentum and popularity at a rapid pace, but it's important not
to rush off to a practitioner without proper research," said Kory
Ward-Cook, Ph.D., chief executive officer of the NCCAOM. "Consumers
should be responsible about ensuring that the practitioner they visit is
properly trained and is an NCCAOM-certified practitioner." Ninety-seven
percent of the states currently require that acupuncturists are NCCAOM
certified. NCCAOM-certified practitioners have an average of more than
2,000 hours of training, and have passed multiple rigorous national
examinations.
Knowledge is power when it comes to making informed healthcare
decisions. NCCAOM has not only established a Web site in honor of AOM
Day at www.aomday.org, but the
NCCAOM Web site at www.nccaom.org, hosts an excellent source for
consumers to locate certified and good-standing acupuncturists and
practitioners of Oriental medicine (to include Chinese herbology and
Asian Bodywork Therapy) throughout the nation and worldwide.
ORIENTAL MEDICINE GROWS IN POPULARITY WITH CONSUMERS, IS ENDORSED BY THE
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
With an increasing number of healthcare organizations reimbursing
patients who turn to Oriental medicine, another excellent resource is
the National Institutes of Health (www.nccam.nih.gov), who is also
dedicated to educating consumers about its approved uses for alternative
therapies. Currently, the National Institutes of Health lists the
following as approved uses for acupuncture: pain management, dental
pain, headache, menstrual cramps, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain,
osteoarthritis, postoperative or chemotherapy-related nausea and
vomiting, addiction, stroke rehabilitation, infertility and asthma. In
addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) also lists acupuncture as
proven effective in relieving nausea during pregnancy,
Anxiety, panic
disorders and insomnia.
"Five years ago, we established this annual event as a means to educate
the public," said Dr. Ward-Cook. "Misconceptions about these areas of
practice still exist, and we want to take the mystery and fear out of
making the decision to seek acupuncture and Oriental medicine
therapies."
National AOM Day is supported by a consortium of international
organizations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Pakistan; including the
NCCAOM, Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Alliance, American Association
of Oriental Medicine, American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of
Asia, and the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine.
The term "Oriental Medicine" encompasses acupuncture, Chinese herbology,
Asian bodywork techniques, and the general study of traditional Chinese
medicine.
About the NCCAOM
The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental
Medicine (NCCAOM) is a non-profit organization established in 1982. Its
mission is to establish, assess, and promote recognized standards of
competence and safety in acupuncture and Oriental medicine for the
protection and benefit of the public.
It is a considerable professional achievement to earn the Diplomate
designation. NCCAOM Certification indicates to employers, patients, and
peers that one has met national standards for the safe and competent
practice of acupuncture as defined by the profession. The first NCCAOM
Comprehensive Written Examination (CWE) in Acupuncture (ACP) was given
in March 1985. Since its inception, the NCCAOM has certified more than
17,000 Diplomates in Acupuncture, Chinese Herbology, Asian Bodywork
Therapy, and Oriental Medicine.
For more information on the NCCAOM, please visit its web site at
www.nccaom.org.
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