NEWS RELEASE

North American Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Day

It is estimated that as many as 43% of Americans have used or are currently using some form of complementary medicine, and that 1 in 10 Americans have tried acupuncture.

As a result of this increasing acceptance of and demand for complementary medicine, October 24 had been named North American Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Day (NAAOMD). NAAOMD is part of an effort to increase public awareness of the progress, promise, and benefits of acupuncture and Oriental medicine. This day is supported through a unique international partnership of organizations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The partnership includes professional associations, research organizations, and educational institutions.

Some Striking Statistics:

• Nearly one out of every 10 adults in the U.S has tried acupuncture. 60% said they would readily consider acupuncture as a potential treatment option. (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine)

• An estimated 36% of U.S. adults use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Among the common CAM practices identified by the survey were acupuncture, acupressure, herbal medicine, tai chi and qi gong. (National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a component of the National Institutes of Health)

• Fifteen percent of hospitals now offer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies and almost 60% of medical schools offer courses in CAM. (American Hospital Association)

• Acupuncture has been cited by the World Health Organization (WHO) to treat over forty-three conditions. The 1997 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Conference on Acupuncture stated, “The data in support of acupuncture are as strong as those for many accepted Western medical therapies. One of the advantages of acupuncture is that the incidence of adverse effects is substantially lower than that of many drugs or other medial procedures used for the same conditions.” (WHO/NIH)

Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is beneficial for problems such as: pain, arthritis, asthma, upper respiratory conditions, digestive and urinary disorders, insomnia, depression, addictions and more. Acupuncture and Oriental medicine is beneficial for problems such as: pain, arthritis, asthma, upper respiratory conditions, digestive and urinary disorders, insomnia, depression, addictions and more.

For those interested in learning more about acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) will be hosting free Open Houses on October 6th, November 3rd and December 1st from 1 - 4pm. Guests will be invited to take a tour of the campus, speak with students and faculty, and arrange to sit in on a class and experience acupuncture and Chinese medicine first hand in the College’s Community Clinic.

ACTCM offers Master’s and Doctoral degrees in acupuncture and Traditional Chinese medicine, certification in Tui Na and Shiatsu massage and an affordable holistic clinic open to the public. The college, a non-profit institution, has provided affordable, quality health care to the public and trained professionals in acupuncture and Chinese medicine since 1980. ACTCM has been the recipient of many awards for its curriculum, faculty and clinic, and has been voted “Best of the Bay” by both the San Francisco Weekly and the San Francisco Bay Guardian.

For more information on North American Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine Day, or ACTCM’s Community Clinic and academic programs, please call (415) 355-1601 x12.