Two women in Hong Kong were arrested for allegedly practicing traditional Chinese medicine without a license and qualifications. A 56-year-old beautician at a beauty centre in Tsim Sha Tsui and its 41-year-old director were arrested on Monday, the former for illegally giving traditional Chinese medicine therapy and the latter for assisting and allowing her employee to practice.

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A female cop went undercover and posed as a woman who wanted to have a child but can't conceive. The beautician went on to perform the traditional moxibustion therapy. It is a traditional Chinese heat therapy where a licensed therapist holds burned dried mugwort (moxa) sticks, a kind of Chinese herb, and held over certain points of the body.

"Our undercover officer was told that moxibustion therapy could help her get pregnant easily. But the woman is not a qualified or registered Chinese medicine practitioner," said acting chief inspector Chan Chi-keung.

Police found a machine with moxa powder and more than 2 kg of moxa powder that were sent to the government laboratory for examination.

The two women were brought to the police station for questioning. If found to violate the Chinese Medicine Ordinance, they will be faced with a maximum of three years behind bars and a 89,000 yuan fine, but for the mean time, it is more likely that the accused will be released on bail while authorities investigate further. 

TagsTwo women, illegal, Chinese medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Chinese therapy, undercover, moxibustion therapy, moxa