Traditional medicine on life support

Apothecary: Lee Ching-chang (left) and daughter Lee Chia-ling preparing herbal mixes (above) at their medicine shop in New Taipei City. — AFP

TAIPEI: Traditional medicine store owner Gu Cheng-pu knows her dispensary can only stay open as long as her ailing father-in-law lives, their careers hostage to a quirk in Taiwanese law that is killing off the industry.

At the back of her shop in New Taipei City, Gu tips a plate of freshly cut Chinese liquorice roots into a wok of boiling honey, the first step in preparing one of her many traditional remedies.