Kansas Association of Oriental Medicine (KsAOM) is the professional organization for Licensed Acupuncturists in Kansas. Our goal is to educate about, support and promote the safe and effective practice of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AOM) in Kansas, for the benefit of patients, practitioners, and the profession.

Evidence-based, Cost-effective, Safe. . . Licensed Acupuncture.
As a safe alternative to opioids, acupuncture is non-addictive and without dangerous side effects. The CDC and FDA now include acupuncture in recommendations for alternative treatments for pain relief, and the American College of Physicians recommend acupuncture as first line treatment for back pain, before going to drug or invasive therapies.
http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2579926
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/NewsEvents/UCM557071.pdf
http://annals.org/aim/article/2603228/noninvasive-treatments-acute-subacute-chronic-low-back-pain-clinical-practice
https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-crisis

Acupuncture is well-received by patients when compared to painkillers. In a study reported in the Medical Journal of Australia on June 18, 2017, in an Emergency Room clinical trial of 528 patients, they found, "Overall, nearly 83 percent of acupuncture-only patients said they would probably or definitely repeat their treatment, compared with about 81 percent in the combined group, and 78 percent who took painkillers alone." The lead investigator, Marc Cohen said in a university news release, "Emergency nurses and doctors need a variety of pain-relieving options when treating patients, given the concerns around opioids such as morphine, which carry the risk of addiction when used long-term."

While acupuncture is generally not covered by insurers in Kansas, it garners good reports from ASH, one of the largest insurance providers for acupuncture services. In a recent report by American Specialty Health (ASH), a $332-million company that manages acupuncture benefits provided by licensed acupuncturists for many of the nation’s largest insurance companies, ASH’s chief health services officer, Douglas Metz, DC, is quoted summing up these findings:

“When 99% of your members receiving services from an ASH-contracted provider rate the overall quality of care and service as good to excellent, then we know ASH and our [licensed acupuncture] providers are doing something right,” he said. “We’re very pleased to offer health services that exceed national benchmarks for patient satisfaction.”
http://www.integrativepractitioner.com/whats-new/news-and-commentary/major-acupuncture-managed-care-plan-reports-positive-triple-aim-outcomes/

Oriental Medicine (OM) also called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical model with diagnostics, syndrome differentiation, and therapeutic treatment. A fundamental premise of OM is to promote health by reinforcing innate abilities to heal, and maintain, our body-mind and spirit’s natural support systems.

Acupuncture is a therapy within Oriental Medicine used to influence the inherent capability of the body to restore homeostasis, that is, the natural balance of health, and to promote healing and relieve pain. The insertion of an acupuncture needle acts as a catalyst for a string of events; a trigger that can ignite a chain of internal communication that facilitates the natural balance of systems in the body, that, when working efficiently, foster healing and optimum health.

OM therapies can include diet, herbs, acupuncture, moxibustion, exercise, meditation - including tai chi and qi gong, tuina anmo- a form of bodywork, cupping, gua sha, and others, to meet the unique needs of the individual patient.

OM is safe and effective, and grew in Asia over millennia through comparative studies of the natural world, experience, and empirical knowledge. It continues to be relevant today and is now used worldwide, further illuminated by comparative science, bioscience, modern research, and clinical trials.

Your Acupuncturist or OM practitioner will evaluate your health condition at the initial visit and talk with you about your goals. If it is determined that treatment is right for you, he or she will explain the treatment plan and what to expect. Most practitioners encourage you to ask questions, and to provide feedback on your progress, throughout your treatment plan.

To find a Licensed Acupuncturist in your area see “Find a Practitioner”

For links to studies and articles on AOM see “AOM Information”

To advocate for Acupuncture in Kansas see "Find Your Legislators"

To financially support AOM and the costs of advocacy and education in Kansas see "Donate"