NATION’S LEADING ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE ASSOCIATIONS

CELEBRATE ACUPUNCTURE AND ORIENTAL MEDICINE DAY

Alexandria, VA, September 20, 2006 – Five of the nation’s leading Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) organizations are collaborating to promote Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) Day on October 24, 2006. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is a complementary and alternative health care treatment that has been shown to provide many therapeutic benefits.

These five organizations include the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA®), American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM), the Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine Alliance (AOMAlliance), and the Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (CCAOM). These associations are all committed to providing safe and effective delivery of AOM treatments and therapeutic techniques.

In the United States, the use of acupuncture and Oriental medicine by the American public has grown substantially since this ancient medicine entered the public consciousness in 1973, when New York Times columnist James Reston wrote favorably of his recovery from an appendectomy in China through acupuncture. With increasing emphasis in the U.S. upon providing health care in multidisciplinary clinical settings, acupuncture is well positioned to be on the cutting edge of the health care of the future. According to a recent study conducted by the National Institutes of Health’s National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine, an estimated 36 percent of U.S. adults use some form of alternative therapy, 25 percent of whom have tried acupuncture. In addition, 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 alternative therapies annually. Both the National Institutes of Health and the World Health Organization list acupuncture as a proven treatment for dozens of health conditions, including osteoarthritis, infertility and asthma.

“Acupuncture and other traditional Oriental medicine therapies such a Chinese herbology and Asian bodywork therapy are gaining momentum and popularity at a rapid pace,” said Kory Ward-Cook, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of NCCAOM. “Misconceptions about these areas of practice still exist. We want to take the mystery and fear out of making the decision to seek acupuncture and Oriental medicine therapies. This is why we are excited to join forces and form a partnership with AOM leadership organizations to celebrate AOM Day.”

The public interest and awareness that occurs with the celebration of AOM Day goes a long way toward dispelling the myths and misperceptions surrounding Oriental medicine and acupuncture. “AOM Day affords us a focused opportunity to communicate the health benefits, diversity and history of this medicine alongside those whose efforts are pivotal to the advancement of Oriental medicine in the U.S.,” said Rebekah Christensen, Executive Director of AAOM.

“The AOMAlliance is proud to be a long-time supporter of AOM Day,” said Michael R. McCoy, Ph.D., Executive Director of AOMAlliance. “We welcome our common effort, with like-minded organizations and individuals across the country and around the world, to call attention to the important benefits of this amazing approach to health care.”

“From the inception of this event four years ago, both national and international interest in commemorating this day continues to grow,” said Lixin Huang, MS, President of CCAOM. “This growth reflects increased recognition by the general public and health care professionals of the efficacy of AOM treatments.”

“AOBTA® supports AOM Day as an opportunity to unify our professions to educate all interested parties of the breadth and depth of Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) and Asian-Oriental medicine,” said Debra Howard, Dipl. ABT (NCCAOM), President of AOBTA.

For more information about AOM Day or about each participating organization, please visit www.AOMDay.org.

About AOBTA® - The American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia (AOBTA®) is a professional membership organization which promotes the distinct professional identity of Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) and its practitioners while honoring a diversity of disciplines that are rooted in the principles and assessments of Qi (life force energy). AOBTA® serves its community of members by supporting appropriate credentialing; defining scope of practice and educational standards; and providing resources for training, professional development, and networking. AOBTA® advocates public policy to protect its members. AOBTA® also promotes public education on the benefits, ethics, and principles of ABT. For more information about AOBTA®, please visit www.aobta.org.

About AOMAlliance - The AOMAlliance is a membership organization dedicated to improving the health of the American public through acupuncture and Oriental medicine. It is organized as a 501(c)(4), a social welfare organization. This reflects the philosophy, mission, and goals of the founders of the organization to create an organization that supports and reflects the whole community of AOM, not just professional practitioners. It sees itself as an inclusive "village" of everyone who uses the principles of energetic medicine in their lives and work. Our "village" is one of rich texture and diversity. This includes licensed AOM practitioners, detox specialists, Asian body workers, vendors of AOM products and services, teachers and colleges of AOM, herbalists, MD acupuncturists, consumers and others interested in AOM and who are committed to bringing AOM to others. The AOMAlliance maintains its commitment to place patients first and the belief that freedom to practice, based on standards of competency, clear differentiation of title and training, and appropriate referral, provides the best choices to consumers and the best healthcare to society. The AOMAlliance is proud of its commitment to the profession. For more information about AOMAlliance, please visit www.aomalliance.org.

About AAOM - The American Association of Oriental Medicine (AAOM) was formed in 1981 to be the unifying force for American acupuncturists who are committed to high ethical and educational standards, and a well regulated profession to ensure the safety of the public. Incorporated as a 501(c)(6) Professional Corporation, AAOM is governed by a 12-person board of directors and has fourteen standing committees. The AAOM represents and advocates on behalf of the professional Oriental Medicine provider in order to ensure that the well being of the public is protected, and to ensure that Oriental Medicine providers are given their rightful place in the healthcare system. For more information about AAOM, please visit www.aaom.org.

About CCAOM - The Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine is the national membership association for colleges and programs of acupuncture and Oriental medicine (AOM) in the U.S whose mission is to promote excellence in AOM education. Established in 1982, the Council currently comprises a membership of 50 AOM institutions, all of which are either fully accredited or in candidacy status for accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM), the national accrediting body for the AOM field. The Council’s member colleges are spread throughout 19 states in the U.S. Within the framework of ACAOM’s accreditation standards, these colleges offer training in a diversity of AOM traditions, including the traditional Chinese, Japanese, Five Element, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions. The Council’s colleges are also very active in providing AOM services to the public through their on-site clinics and more than 100 off-site clinics in local communities throughout the U.S. For more information about CCAOM, please visit www.ccaom.org.

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 and Oriental medicine 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 about NCCAOM, please visit www.nccaom.org.