Anne Vastel is a Quebecer, a herbalist-therapist accredited by the Guilde des herboristes du Québec. Sylvie Chagnon is French, a graduate in Chinese medicine and Qi Gong from two hospitals in Beijing. Two women, each passionate about her own field, whom life brought together and who share a common desire: to link Chinese medicine with Western medicinal plants.

This work is the fruit of patient and painstaking labour, a weaving together of two very different ways of thinking, two distant civilisations. It draws on the clinical experience of both authors, who needed four years of joint work and experimentation to build a bridge between these two modes of care.

This book is intended for TCM practitioners who wish to better understand Western plants, for herbalists drawn to Chinese medicine, and also for anyone interested in plant-based care.

Its starting point is the energetic imbalances of the Zang Organs and Fu Bowels, with details on each plant, an explanation of its effects on the physical and psycho-emotional body, the preferred forms (infusion, decoction, tincture, vinegar, powder, glycerite), dosages, contraindications and subtle actions.

In plain words, each plant, root, leaf and flower reveals its potential — 111 plants are thus presented.