Ling Lam Tit Tar in Seksyen 17, PJ
Tucked away in a timeworn house in Seksyen 17, Petaling Jaya, is a small traditional business established on the miracle of touch. For over 40 years, Ling Lam Tit Tar has healed not just bones, but also spirits, all from the warmth of a home that breathes stories through its walls.
Curious to learn more about this family-run practice, we visited the home to understand what drives the family’s devotion to this healing tradition.
A 46-year-old family-run business
Operating since 1979, this traditional practice based on ancient Chinese medicine is no gleaming clinic – you won’t find any glass partitions here, or the white-coated formality you would expect from a medical institution. Now run by the second generation, it is helmed by Ngui Pong, often affectionately referred to as sifu by those who come here for treatment.
The Johor-born master found his calling in the traditional arts and mastered herbal remedies, kung fu, and tit tar – a healing discipline in which both he and his wife, Wong Siew Lian, are certified. Officially licensed as Chinese medical practitioners, they continue to carry forward a heritage rooted in ancient wisdom.
For the uninitiated, tit tar is an ancient Chinese tradition known for its healing properties, particularly for bone and muscle pain. Patients come to this PJ home seeking relief from a range of ailments, from dislocated shoulders to everyday sprains and bruises.
The sifu himself seems to embody the very calling of his life – he is solidly built, with strong hands and sturdy legs. He is joined by his wife and all five of their children, each of whom grew up immersed in the sacred rhythm of their family’s healing tradition.
Even those who have undergone bone surgeries or conventional treatments often make their way here to see the sifu for a second opinion or perhaps, a gentler alternative. Many share stories of lasting relief from lingering pain or stiffness after just a few visits.
And remarkably, all of this care comes at a fraction of the cost of conventional medical treatments. Starting from RM60 per session, this shop’s affordability is not the only thing that draws people in – it is also the sense that something well-rooted and time-honoured is at work.
The old way of walk-ins
A consultation here is unlike a typical doctor’s visit. You walk in, take a seat, and wait for your turn in rows of chairs. There are no appointments, consultation cards, or follow-up dates. Here, it’s as homely as it gets.
When TheSmartLocal Malaysia asked why appointments aren’t taken, the second son, Ngui Kok Sin, explained that many of their elderly patients rely on their children to bring them. “It would be hard for them to keep to fixed schedules or reschedule – so it’s best to just accept walk-ins”, he shared.
For the family, helping people feel better without the burden of financial worry enriches them. “It feels good to know people leave feeling better,” he adds.
The way the family works together is a beautiful thing in itself. The father only has to gently touch the patient’s area of pain, and he can almost intuitively identify the issue. The daughter stands beside him, ready with the herbal patch and bandage, and proceeds to wrap the affected area with care and precision.
Traditional remedies by the family
The waiting time for consultation can stretch up to an hour. Still, the wait doesn’t deter anyone. And perhaps the most poetic part of the treatment process can be found in the kitchen.
Once a month, carefully chosen herbs are harvested, sun-dried, and finely ground using a beloved machine that has served the family for over 40 years. In this kitchen, the thick, earthy tit tar smells faintly of herbs, time, and something older than memory.
The history of the herbal patch is as old as the practice of tit tar itself. Tit tar, meaning “fall and hit” in Cantonese, originated centuries ago as a martial healing art used by warriors and kung fu practitioners.
When bones cracked and muscles tore in the chaos of combat, these patches were applied immediately to prevent further damage and to begin the healing process from the outside in.
Over time, the herbal patch went from being a battlefield medicine to a household remedy. Passed down through sifus, or masters, each patch formula became a closely guarded family secret.
Some use crushed safflower, turmeric, and frankincense for circulation; others blend in myrrh, honeysuckle, or drynaria root to reduce inflammation and ease pain. What remains consistent is the philosophy: healing through the synergy of natural elements, applied with care and skill.
“The herbal patch stays on for two days, as long as it doesn’t get wet”, says the daughter, Ngui Sheau Pey. “The warmth draws out stagnant energy, while the herbs seep in, layer by layer, gently nudging the body back toward balance,” she adds.
Besides consultations, the family also makes their own balms and plasters for purchase, such as Nutmeg Balm (RM10) and Tit Tar Balm (RM10). Crafted from scratch using traditional recipes, these items offer patients a way to self-follow up at home.
Sin, the second son, admits it might be difficult for all five children to be fully involved in the family business, but the beauty of the labour makes it all worthwhile. “My dad doesn’t take days off — even on Sundays, he still sees patients,” he said.
Here, in this home, the boundaries between life and work, love and labour, are blurred in the most natural of ways.
More than just a business at Ling Lam Tit Tar
In the bustling streets of PJ, this humble house stands as an ode to tradition, family, and the quiet beauty of doing things with heart. It’s the kind of place where healing isn’t outsourced to machines, but passed from one human to another.
And when the father wraps a joint or one of the children gently guides a patient to a chair, it’s not just knowledge being passed on. A good part of it is love, layered through generations.
If you want to support this family-run practice, you can find them at the address below:
Address: 63, Jalan 17A/7, Seksyen 17, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am-7.30pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: 012-292 8621
For more unique spots to check out with inspiring stories, read:
Cover image adapted from: The Smart Local Malaysia
Some quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
Photography by Yusintha.