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Our Team
Rena Zhai
L.Ac. PhD. OMD
In order to implement an effective and personalized treatment plan for her patients, Dr. Zhai integrates both contemporary medical science and the traditional principles of Chinese medicine, the roots of which can be traced back at least 3,000 years. She is a licensed acupuncturist in the State of California, with a PhD in Oriental medicine, and is also NCCAOM certified (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine).
With over 20 years’ experience, Dr. Zhai has operated her own Chinese medical clinic in Santa Monica since 2000. Beginning in 2006, she has developed a working partnership with Jessica Cho, MD, at Wellness At Central City. Our patients benefit greatly from our comprehensive approach, which links Western medicine diagnoses with proven traditional Chinese treatments.
Graduating from medical school in China in 1986, Dr. Zhai received her MD license and worked at Changchun Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She arrived in the United States in 1998 and served as a clinic supervisor and acupuncture instructor at Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, CA. In 2007, she completed a PhD program at South Baylo University, Los Angeles, where she studied Western medicine diagnoses, the classic theory of Chinese medicine and its applications.
Dr. Zhai can provide you with the ‘big picture’ in terms of your health and advise you on how to address whatever issues you may have. If your situation is complicated and you prefer a natural solution, please bring laboratory blood test reports for consideration.
Richard Fengtao Wang
LAc. MTOM
I discovered my interest in Chinese medicine after helping my family’s acupuncture clinic. Over the years, I have witnessed many patients receive miraculous results from traditional Chinese acupuncture and herbal treatments. These experiences set me on the course to master Chinese medicine in order to help others experience real healing.
Studying at Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, CA, I earned my Masters in Acupuncture and Herbology. I am a licensed acupuncturist in the State of California, and am also a NCCAOM certified acupuncturist and herbalist (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine).
I began my practice at Dr. Zhai’s acupuncture clinic in Santa Monica. Since my primary focus is pain management, I have dedicated my career to learning and applying every acupuncture technique effective for relieving pain for my patients. As a result, I was trained by Master Professor Bo Zhiyun, the founder of abdominal acupuncture, and Master Professor Qi Yong, the founder of navel acupuncture. I have employed these advanced techniques in treating patients for pain management and other chronic issues, receiving extremely satisfactory results.
Dr. Zhai’s treatments combine acupuncture, herbal medicine and nutrition, depending on the various health conditions of her patients. A simple case, such as pain management, might only require acupuncture and herbal medicine. For more complicated cases or those that have shown no improvement from acupuncture treatment by other providers, Dr. Zhai will create a detailed treatment plan after analyzing your case, including your lab report.
Patients come to our clinic for many reasons. The most common conditions that respond well to treatment are pain management—such as arthritis, migraine headaches, stress, chronic fatigue syndrome, common cold, Bell’s palsy, infertility, post-menopause, dysmenorrhea, sinus allergy, eczema. Chinese medicine can also greatly benefit patients with the following conditions: diabetes, high cholesterol, GI disorders, arrhythmia, immune system deficiency, cancer treatment support, hair and weight loss.
If you’re looking for a healthcare provider who is highly knowledgeable and experienced as both a practitioner and instructor, who knows how to give you the best of both worlds—integrating Western and Eastern medicine—you can choose Dr. Zhai with confidence.
Abdominal acupuncture and navel acupuncture are very powerful and effective acupuncture techniques for many reasons. First, since they are treating the roots of your health issue, the functioning of your entire body will improve along with the relief of your pain. These acupuncture techniques can even be used for severe pain management for those battling cancer and for the neuropathy experienced by diabetic patients. The treatments are also effective for those with chronic illness, such as dizziness, depression, and Bell’s palsy.
Secondly, the great advantage of acupuncture and navel acupuncture is that the patient can see the results immediately when they compare their symptoms before and after the needling. Thirdly, needling is painless—which is a great benefit for patients, especially for those who are nervous and concerned about discomfort. It is not necessary to needle the painful area.
In addition to my private practice, I have partnered with medical doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists specializing in the treatment of pain management, orthopedic issues and injuries, post-surgical recovery, acute and chronic issues. I have also employed Chinese herbal medicine and nutrition along with acupuncture to achieve the best results for patients.