Day 171: Dr. Chang Gee Wo, Omaha, Nebraska
📌APIA Every Day (171) - In the late 19th century, Dr. Chang Gee Wo became a prominent Chinese physician in Omaha, Nebraska. His practice, located at 519 1/2 North 16th Street, offered free consultations and operated daily. Dr. Chang specialized in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, providing various patent medicines for different ailments. These included remedies like the "Last Manhood Cure," "Sick Headache Cure," and "Female Weakness Cure," each priced at $1. These medicines were prepared by the Chinese Medicine Company, which had its headquarters in Omaha and an office in Beijing.
Despite his success and popularity, Dr. Wo faced significant challenges due to racial discrimination toward Chinese immigrants and traditional Chinese medicine. Many Chinese doctors, including Dr. Wo, were often labeled as "quacks" by the American medical establishment and faced legal and social persecution. The medical community and law enforcement frequently targeted Chinese physicians, accusing them of practicing without proper licenses and seeking to undermine their businesses through regulations and sting operations.
Eventually, Dr. Wo relocated his practice to Portland, Oregon, where he continued to operate under the banner of the Chinese Medicine Company. His advertisements from the early 20th century indicate that he maintained a presence in Portland's medical market until at least 1924. Dr. Wo's career illustrates the broader challenges faced by Chinese immigrants and practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine in the United States during this period. Their contributions to healthcare were often marginalized, and they had to navigate a hostile environment that questioned their legitimacy and sought to exclude them from the medical profession.
LEARN MORE:
North Omaha History: Dr. Chang Gee Wo
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