NEW YORK, March 25 (WSH) — On the bustling streets of Flushing, New York, a modest yet warm traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) clinic named Deyutang became a “beacon of light” for many during the darkest days of the pandemic. Its founder, Dr. Weichao (David) Zhang, a TCM practitioner clad in white and guided by ancient wisdom, is the descendant of a long line of Chinese medicine practitioners.
Not only is Dr. Zhang licensed to practice Chinese medicine in the United States, but he is also a seventh-generation heir of TCM in China. His father, Sinan Zhang, was the inventor of China’s first acupuncture electrotherapy device. Inspired by his family’s belief in “healing the world with medicine,” Dr. Zhang has entered mainstream American society, offering herbal formulas and acupuncture treatments that bring hope to patients far from their homeland.
“TCM is the answer for our times”
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Chinese-American family running two wineries in Long Island faced a sudden crisis. Three out of the four family members—husband, wife, and their young daughter—were infected with the virus. The husband, a heart transplant recipient, was particularly vulnerable. The wife, who also tested positive, had to care for her husband and child while battling the illness herself, both physically and emotionally exhausted.
In a desperate search for help, she drove—through tears and weakness—to Deyutang, hoping Dr. Zhang could offer a solution.
Without hesitation, Dr. Zhang accepted the risk of infection and warmly welcomed the family. He personally prepared and administered herbal medicine for them. Thanks to the timely treatment, all three made swift recoveries. Remarkably, their four-year-old son, who took preventive herbal medicine and wore an herbal sachet provided by Deyutang, remained healthy and uninfected.
The family later recorded a heartfelt video message expressing their deep gratitude to Dr. Zhang and Deyutang. In this emotional journey, the strength of Chinese family bonds and the efficacy of traditional medicine intertwined to save a family on the brink. Dr. Zhang’s compassion and dedication as a healer shone through in this moment.
“Cancer cannot speak, but TCM understands”
Beyond his work during the pandemic, Dr. Zhang has also gained widespread recognition for treating chronic and serious illnesses. One of the most touching stories involves a patient named Mr. Han from Long Island.
Mr. Han, 65, had late-stage liver cancer. Afte00r several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, he became extremely frail—emaciated, insomniac, with a loss of appetite, constant bloating, and ascites. Dr. Zhang prescribed a regimen focused on warming the Yang, strengthening the spleen, and detoxification. This included a combination of herbal formulas, abdominal acupuncture, moxibustion, and daily herbal plasters.
With the support of herbal meals prepared by his family—using astragalus, atractylodes, and codonopsis—Mr. Han gradually regained his strength and appetite, and the ascites significantly subsided. Within three months, he no longer needed painkillers, and after six months, he was able to go for walks on his own.
“Dr. Zhang didn’t ask me to fixate on ‘cancer,’ but reminded me to focus on being human again,” Mr. Han shared. “He said, ‘Let’s nourish the person first, then we’ll talk about the illness.’”
Multiple roles, one mission
Dr. Zhang is not only a highly skilled clinician but also a passionate advocate for the modernization and global promotion of TCM across cultures and disciplines. His work extends far beyond the clinic—into communities, institutions, and international exchanges.
He founded the New York TCM Supply Center, which now serves dozens of U.S.-based TCM clinics, herbal pharmacies, and wellness centers. All herbs are sourced directly from certified regions in China and screened using modern testing technologies. “Safety, authenticity, and standardization are the foundation for TCM to thrive in the U.S.,” he says. His system helps establish a traceable and regulated herbal supply chain in the American TCM community.
Tai Chi, herbal cuisine, and cultural bridges
As President of the Wudang Tai Chi Foundation, Dr. Zhang frequently organizes free Tai Chi classes in Central Park and the Flushing Botanical Garden for people of all ages and backgrounds. In spring and summer, one can often see multi-generational groups practicing under his guidance. “Many Americans come to know TCM through Tai Chi,” he notes. “What we teach is not just movement, but the flow of Qi and the balance of the mind.”
As Chairman of the U.S. Chinese Medicinal Cuisine Association, he actively promotes the concept of “medicine and food from the same source” in mainstream nutrition and lifestyle sectors. He has given lectures at NYU’s School of Public Health, introducing audiences to the healing properties of yam, astragalus, goji berries, and codonopsis. Before Thanksgiving 2023, he and his team released a “Holiday Digestive Health Recipe” that gained popularity in supermarkets and community wellness centers.
He also co-edited and published the Practical Handbook of Medicinal Cuisine for North America, now used as supplementary teaching material in many TCM and integrative medicine programs. “Medicinal cuisine is not just about nutrition—it’s preventative medicine embedded in daily life,” he explains.
In Dr. Zhang’s eyes, TCM is not merely a technical system, but a life philosophy rooted in daily living, nurturing body, mind, and spirit.
“Chinese medicine doesn’t ‘fight’ disease—it accompanies the body, helping it gradually return to its natural rhythm and balance,” he says.
David Zhang (left) and his elder brother Takchio Cheong (right) attend the Hubei Provincial Culture and Tourism Promotion Conference.
A global healer with local roots
This philosophy is the true essence of his mission: to let ancient wisdom flourish in the modern world, and to help people far from their homeland find balance and health—whether through a bowl of herbal soup or a round of Tai Chi.
In a particularly moving moment, a spinal therapist and an American teacher devoted to Eastern medicine sought him out via the Shaolin Temple Overseas Association. They were so impressed by his acupuncture techniques that they performed a traditional kneeling ceremony to formally acknowledge him as their master—showing the deep reverence Westerners can have for TCM.
With UN General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid (76th Session)
Final words: let the world feel the warmth of Chinese medicine
From his roots as a descendant of a Ming Dynasty bodyguard clan to becoming a leading figure in New York’s Chinese medicine community, Dr. Zhang has forged a unique path of East-West integration. During the pandemic, he became a bridge for overseas Chinese to believe in, understand, and embrace traditional Chinese medicine—with each herb, each bowl of soup, and each acupuncture needle.
“I want Westerners to see that Chinese medicine isn’t just ancient legend—it’s a science with heart.”
He’s not just safeguarding a clinic; he’s safeguarding a living thread of civilization.
