Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Edison Tai.
Dr. Tai, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is Edison Tai; I am a licensed Acupuncturist; I am from Taiwan, a country that inherits real Chinese culture. My family in Taiwan is a Chinese medicine family. I have fifteen cousins; 11 out of them are medical doctors. Therefore, learning and practice Chinese medicine is what I did since I was a child. when I grow up, I work in a big hospital fitness department, I help weak patient rehab, and also get a personal trainer certification. In 2010, I apply to a university in Daphne, Alabama, to study a doctoral program in Sports Management. That’s how I combine my medical knowledge and my exercise science background. In 2012, I got a job in Denver, Colorado, that’s a big and famous sports nutrition company, and my job is to do research with elite professional athletes and publish the results as research papers in medical journals. When I work there, I also got my Ph.D. degree in 2013. I saw many professional athletes got injured in their athlete careers and cannot overcome injury. I want to help them as I did in hospital in Taiwan, but according to American law, I cannot do anything because I am just a researcher rather than a legal, medical practitioner, even I know how to do it. This is the main reason why I decided to get a medical license to help people. According to my knowledge and family background, an acupuncture license is my best choice. Now I can help people who needed, and I want to bring real Chinese Medicine to the U.S.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As a first-generation Taiwanese immigration, limited by culture barrier, it’s very difficult for me to let patients understand and true believe Chinese medicine treatment. To educate people and let them know acupuncture is not only inserting the needle into a patient’s body, is a part of Chinese medicine, which include using Moxibustion and Chinese herbs medicine. Also, it is holistic medicine; we treat people, make people healthy rather than treat a specific disease. In addition, it takes more time to let the patient know acupuncture is a natural therapy; it helps people to boost their own self-healing ability rather than just kill some virus.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
There are three major differences between Dr. Tai Acupunctre and the other Acupuncture clinic. First is my diagnosis method is way different from the general acupuncturists. There is a basic concept of medical treatment: If the diagnosis at the beginning is wrong, then all follow-up treatment is useless. The Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis is basic on “Four Examinations,” which are: looking diagnosis (checking tongue), listening diagnosis, smelling and tasting diagnosis, and touching diagnosis (feel the pulse). Especially the pulse diagnosis is for the final decision for patients’ syndrome but is also the most difficult skill. Usually, an acupuncturist will use their three fingers (index, middle, ring) to feel the patient’s pulse, but the results are quite subjective and difficult to assured. In my clinic, besides only using fingers to feel the pulse, a TCM pulse diagnosis device also is used. Since 1989, Jinmu TCM Pulse Diagnosis System has developed more than 30 years, and there are more than 141 research papers published on PubMed until 2021. Evidence shows it’s the most accurate TCM pulse diagnosis system in the world. Dr. Tai Acupuncture and is the only clinic that uses it in the U.S.
Secondly, my needle skills are developed by the Tai family, it’s more precise, efficient, and the most important is more safe and painless. There is a case from my patient before; I have a patient who really worries about the needle will cause pain, so I set her prone (face down) position and start to needle her. Until I finish my first five needles and insert my sixth one, she asks me, “Dr., are you already start?” This is a true story from my patient.
Finally, is I am from Taiwan. Most people in the world don’t know the difference between Taiwan and China; they will think Taiwan might be more close to Thailand because of pronouncing. In fact, China uses simplified Chinese for writing and Taiwanese use traditional Chinese. Traditional Chinese is from the 2nd AD and continues used now. This means all ancient medical books are written by traditional Chinese, and a Taiwanese acupuncturist can easy to read and understand them. I modify my TCM skills from all classical and bible level medical books; also, all my herbs medicine prescription is from the classical formula. The knowledge of ancient Chinese medical classical is extremely difficult, and It’s impossible for people who cannot read traditional Chinese to make it.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Open your mouth to ask is very important, but I am more believe fate. Do the things you like; when you doing it longer enough, the people who walking in front of will show up and guide you, no matter use positive (teach) or negative (depress) method. The way I use is always focus on my work and let people know I do my best, and it’s really work on me to attract people who interested on me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dredisontaiacupuncture.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.tai_acupuncture_thenest/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrTaiAcupuncture
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dr-tai-acupuncture-addison?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
