Dr. Chi Wai Wong, appears unflappable when he reminisces about his accomplishments and life experiences. Only when we changed the topic in discussing the future role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), does he raise his voice and talks creatively and endlessly about its potential to be a vital necessity in our modern society. It is refreshing to see an expert at his field be so humble yet passionate about how he can further contribute to his profession even after 35 years of dedication to his career.

When conversing with Dr. Wong, he has a calm, compassionate and relaxed aura about him yet when he speaks; there is aged wisdom and respectfulness that is strongly rooted from his heritage. He has devoted over half his life to the development of Zhong Guo Yao Chai Inc, his family-owned herbal pharmacy. Like many developing businesses, it was never a smooth path but he feels his success is illustrated by his company's ability to stay viable through threatening times. In particular, Zhong Guo Yao Chai Inc was one of the few businesses in Chinatown that was able to survive and sustain itself through the aftermath of 9/11 (the bombing of the World Trade Center), given its close vicinity of his office to Wall Street in New York City. The obstacles that Dr. Wong and his family had to surpass displays incredible commitment and perseverance.

Dr. Chi Wai Wong is a licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner in New York who focuses on the healing modalities of acupuncture, herbology, Oi Gong and medical massage (Tui Na). He is a native from Shen Zhen of Guang Dong province in China. He received his Medical Degree in China and became a surgeon where he learned acupuncture anesthesia. He then immigrated to United States in 1976, and established Zhong Guo Yao Chai Inc., in 1979. Since the development of his practices in New York City and Long Island, he has specialized in the research and advancement of utilizing Chinese medicinal modalities for clinical application.

Dr. Wong prides himself as being one of the pioneers in helping the establishment of the protocol for smoking cessation in the 1980s. This has been documented and discussed in conferences for Acupuncture in Drug and Rehabilitation. Another one of Dr. Wong's aim at that time was to further the field of Oi Gong (Energy Work) where he received an award for Best Article, entitled the "Clinical Effect of Inducing Medical Qi Gong: an analysis of 40 Clinical Cases" at the First International Conference on Traditional Rehabilitation of Medicine held in Beijing in 1989. Currently, he is the Director of the World Academic Society of Medical Oi Gong. In addition to his innovative ideas to do research, he sees patients on a daily basis and in which some travel from all across the United States to New York to get treated from the expertise of this renowned doctor.

It is with great commitment to his work that Dr. Wong has developed and improved over 200 types of traditional Chinese herbal formulas. These medicinal herbs are now are widely used to treat pathologies that cause hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hepatitis, migraines, arthritis, eczema and cancer. The signs and symptoms related to these diseases are just some of the conditions that Dr.Wong has been able to treat with immense success. He has become an experienced family physician that continuously sees patients with illnesses related to the pain management, internal medicine neurology, orthopedics, obstetrics/gynecology, and pediatrics.

When asked about Dr.Wong's greatest accomplishment in his years of research for Chinese herbology, unquestionably, it is the development of the herbal supplement called Wild Ginseng & Collagen. The base formula consists of but not limited to a mixture of herbs, vitamins, and minerals of Wild Ginseng, Collagen, Ling Zhi, Hong Jing Tian, Bu Lao Cao, Dong Chong Xia Cao, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and an assorted variety of multi-vitamins. This formula is personally prescribed for each patient, according to their ailment. Overall, the principle behind the combination this supplement is that these ingredients together, make the body and its cells more viable and stronger. Collagen is known to be a protein in repairing and rebuilding of the muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments from trauma in addition. to being a building-block component for cartilage, bones and connective tissues in skin elasticity and hair strength.

This theory behind the mechanism and chemistry behind Chinese herbs is complex so the best method to illustrate the effectiveness of the supplement, Wild Ginseng and Collagen combination, is by describing some successful case studies. The first one is about a 38 y.o Hispanic male who suddenly became weak and numb in his four limbs. Although he went through a series of diagnostic testing, his Western Physicians could not come up with a diagnosis or cause of disease. Eventually, his body became flaccid and paralyzed and sought the help of Dr. Wong through a family friend. In combination of weekly acupuncture, tui na, and the oral intake of Wild Ginseng and Collagen tablets for six weeks, he was fully recovered and mobile.

Another case is about a 55 y.o Asian female, who suffers from lupus sebaceous and is taking prescribed pharmaceutical hormone for over two years without any results. She initially came to see Dr. Wong for relief in the side effects caused by her medication but after taking the Chinese herbal supplements Lupus Sebaceous Capsule (Hong Ban Lan Chuang), Wild Ginseng & Collagen and Common Three Wing Nut Root (Lei Gong Tng Jin Gao), she was functionally recovered after six months. She had alleviation of constant pain and was not continuously fatigued. The last case worth mentioning is about a 40 y.o. Italian woman who underwent plastic surgery in the breasts five months ago. The healing process from the surgery was not going well and affected areas consisted of open wounds that were infected, bleeding and filled with pus. Her physician put her on a series of antibiotics with no results. Out of desperation, her relatives referred her to Dr. Wong who applied Sai Mei An powder externally (which she reapplied everyday) and asked her to take Wild Ginseng & Collagen tablets for one month. Within that duration, the infection and pus dissipated, the bleeding was controlled in which the patient's breasts started to heal normally. She said she felt eternally indebted and thankful to him and addressed him as an "angel from above".

Dr. Wong does not claim that his herbal formulas are cure-ails by any means. He feels that with proper diagnosis and treatment, the application of TCM modalities can be an essential source of therapeutic application. The idea of TCM is to prevent illnesses through the maintaining a healthy way of life and if one does get sick, he/she must use all the available resources to get better. From his experience, he finds that integrating Western and Eastern approaches to medicine is the most effective. Dr. Wong not only strives to promote TCM, but indirectly the preservation of Chinese culture since it derives from ancient Chinese philosophical thought. He has spent over thirty years lecturing in the media and various universities along with being published in journals and newspapers. His main theme is often the many ways one can incorporate TCM in the daily life, through diet and nutrition. Most recently, he has been promoting the positive effects of drinking ionized water.

Clean drinking water is hard to come by in our polluted environment and given that humans are 70% water, it is imperative to good quality drinking water. Even bottled water is not always pure in quality. Through thorough investigation and evaluation of different water filters, Dr. Wong found great value in ionized water. Ideally, good quality of water has characteristics of being easily absorbed and excreted, a pH of 7.5-9.0, rich in minerals and active hydrogen but no traces good health and help with fighting diseases.

It is invaluable knowledge like that mentioned above, is what is intriguing about Dr. Wong. He loves to share his wealth of knowledge to others and have conversations about the well-being and health of man. It is apparent that he is as generous with his knowledge as his is as a father and husband. Dr. Wong takes incredible fulfillment in raising and providing for his wife and children. He describes his wife, Lai Tuen Chan, as the epitome of the perfect wife and mother in that she has an amazing ability to manage a business and household with such grace and ease. She is his greatest supporter and life partner. His daughter, Dr. Dorothy Wong, is a TCM practitioner as well and currently is an adjunct professor at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in New York. His son Kevin Wong, is in the midst of his undergraduate studies with aspirations to be a teacher.

Dr. Wong acknowledges that without the love and support of family, he would not be able to achieve all his accomplishments. His family vouches of his hard work and dedication to his profession, academia, and health of others. Some achievements include being selected into the book of Chinese Overseas Who's Who Foundatior (1993); the book of World's Who's Wh( Foundation (1994); the book of Americar Who's Who and to be honorary presiden of International Medical Associatiol (1995); and the Most Admired Man 0 the Decade (1998) for the Who's Who' Intellectual Foundation. At the presen time, Dr. Wong is an Associate Professc for Beijing University of Traditionc Chinese Medicine, a consultant for th, Association of Hong Kong Orthopedi & Traumatology and is an author fc various medical textbooks, articles an journals in the areas of acupuncturE orthopedics and internal medicine f( the field of Traditional Chinese Medicin in China. He has been featured Tim Out New York magazine, Newsda' and NBC news. He has a weekly rad' segment on 1040AM in regards to iSSUE pertaining to TCM and general healtl These are just vignettes of Dr. Chi W Wong's life experiences over the last E years. We will be in great anticipati< and excitement to see what Dr. Wor discovers in the field of medicine in tt upcoming years. Indeed, it has been rewarding journey for Dr. Wong to SE that all his years of labor, sweat, patienl and devotion to his profession he benefited so many people's lives.