"Seven generations of my family have used this herbal remedy to treat people in the neighbourhood with broken limbs," says Muong ethnic therapist Quach Thi Vien, of northern Hoa Binh Province's Yen Lac District.

Pensioner Vien, a Muong ethnic woman, says that she was handed down the special remedy by her mother, and for decades she has fixed the broken bones of thousands of patients without so much as touching their fractures.

Normally, broken and fractured bones are dealt with splints and casts or a dislocation is dealt with by popping the bone back into the right place. Such treatments are supposed to provide optimal conditions for bones to repair themselves and for healing to take place.

However, no splints, casts or any physical intervention are part of Vien's remedy. People who visit her house in Doi Hamlet, Lac Luong Commune, hardly find a single piece of medical equipment.

She says that all her medical components lie in a bag, and merely consist of several kinds of leaves, two bronze coins and a knife.

When a patient visits, she chops the leaves into small pieces and puts them in a small cloth wrap. Next, she scrapes the surface of the bronze coins so their dust mixes with the leaves. Then, she ties the package and pricks it with a needle.

While pricking the pouch, she whispers some incantations.

The patient takes the herbal package home and then hangs it at a recommended height and distance from their bed.

"For child patients, the package is hung 7-9m away and for adults, about 2-3m. If the package is too close to the patients, it makes them uncomfortable but if it is too far away, the remedy won't have an effect," says Vien.

Every two or three days, the package is changed and replaced. The process stops when the patients no longer feel pain and can move normally, she says.

Vien says that the remedy has been passed on by her family from generation to generation. The great grandfather of her great grandfather was the first Muong man to receive the remedy.

According to family folklore, during a trip to the coastal province of Quang Ninh he stayed at a Chinese family's house when the host's daughter-in-law was suffering from labour pains.

The host was famous for a broken bone remedy but did not know anything about gynaecology and childbirth. Fortunately, the guest had a Muong traditional remedy that ensured a safe birth.

The Chinese host then shared his broken bone remedy with the Muong guest and gave the man two bronze coins as a token of his thanks.

Now, the seventh generation of the family are practicing the gift, with Vien using it to treat people.

Local people are very familiar with Vien's method of treatment.

Bui Van Thuc, an official at the communal People's Committee says that the commune's population totals some 5,200 people, but there is only one health centre, with one doctor, one pharmacist and five nurses.

Whenever local residents break their arms or legs, they visit herbalists like Vien for treatment.

To show their gratitude, some patients treated her as if she was their mother or grandmother.

Vien usually refuses to accept money but instead is quite happy to receive a bottle of wine or cakes.

Taking their offerings, Vien respectfully puts them on her altar. She says it is a Muong traditional custom to thank the gods in the sky and earth for granting people with natural herbal remedies.

People throughout the area are aware of Vien's reputation and trust in her ability.

Bui Van Dong, a poor farmer in Yen Tan Hamlet, Lac Luong Commune says that without Vien's treatment, he would have become disabled.

A few years ago, when travelling through a local forest, he slipped down a ravine. Villagers discovered him after two days of searches. He was unconscious, with both of his legs crushed by rocks. The legs were so damaged that the doctor recommended immediate amputation to avoid infection.

Dong was terrified at the thought, and remembered Vien who had treated his son's broken arm before.

Discharging himself from the hospital, Dong invited Vien to his house and asked for help.

The herbalist said the injury was so serious that she was not sure she would be able to save the legs but she would try.

For two months, Vien visited Dong's home every three days to give him the package of herbal plants.

The pain was regularly relieved and the patient felt better and better. Dong can now walk normally and he says it is all thanks to Vien's remedy.

Vice chairman of Hoa Binh Province's Traditional Medicine Association Nguyen Minh Hien says that the association has about 2,000 members and 90 per cent of them are herbalists whose remedies were mainly handed down from previous generations. The effectiveness of the remedies has been proven through practical use.

Hien guesses that there may be an inner energy which the healer can utilise to ensure healing. In addition, the healer chants incantations, the melody of which may act as a form of hypnotism that make patients feel comfortable or act as a stimulus on their brain to focus the healing process.

Dr Bui Van Ve, head of Lac Luong Commune Clinic says he has been well aware of Vien's remedy for a long time.

"Many people from other localities also go to her for bone treatment. One of my colleagues had a broken leg when he was a child. After several days of being treated by Vien, he could walk.

"People go to her for help, as she has successfully treated many people," he concludes.