Afraid of arrest at hospitals, injured #HongKong protesters have turned to underground medical networks for help - including traditional Chinese medicine practitioners who treat them w acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal tonics latimes.com/world-nation/s…
Here are some of the herbal tonics + an anti-burn ointment made specifically for tear gas + blue water cannon exposure (coughing, breathing problems, indigestion, skin burning). Note the creative names 😅 + the top right one is just essential oils for soothing anxiety & insomnia 
There are more than 50 TCM doctors in all 18 districts of HK offering treatment for free. The protesters are astonishingly young - mostly teenagers, some of whom have been arrested before.
They find the clinics via a Telegram group called 國難忠醫, “national calamity Chinese doctors.” 忠 is a pun for 中, meaning both “loyal” and “Chinese.”
Protesters are intentionally vague: “My arm is sore from throwing heavy objects,” one says. “I am nauseous after going out last night,” says another. “I ate a dragon egg,” says a patient, referring to tear gas exposure.
The group’s founder, a TCM student, studied in Guangzhou & once wanted to be a cop. He grew up apolitical, even through Umbrella, but made a 180 this summer when he saw police beating protesters on the streets. “I’ll never be able to forgive HK police in this lifetime,” he said.
He’s clear about the difference between Chinese culture & govt, as are many in HK, a bastion of Chinese tradition even among those who resent Communist Party rule. “Chinese culture is a way of life. What we want to take down is a regime that’s controlling people,” he said.
