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Generic lists of foods to avoid rarely fit everyone. Bring your granule bottle, its directions and your usual eating routine so Christine can explain which notes apply to you.

Separating essential advice from kitchen folklore

Ask around and you will soon collect a long list of foods people insist you must avoid while taking herbs. Many of those rules travel from friend to friend with little connection to the product you have actually been given. The more useful question is which advice applies to your own prescription, and why.

When you see Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, for herbal care in Lane Cove, she can explain any dietary notes that relate to you and to the granule bottle she has dispensed.

Information worth sharing at the consultation

• Food allergies or intolerances, including mild ones.
• Your usual eating pattern, such as shift work, skipped breakfasts or a vegetarian diet.
• Any difficulty keeping meals varied, whether because of appetite, budget or time.
• Medicines and supplements you take, so food advice fits your wider healthcare.

Bring the bottle itself and its written directions too, so the discussion is about the exact preparation rather than herbs in general.

Questions that clarify a restriction

When a food is mentioned, ask whether avoiding it is essential, only for a short period, or a traditional preference you can weigh up yourself. Christine can explain the traditional reasoning while keeping instructions realistic for a busy household. Cutting out many foods at once without a clear purpose can make eating harder and leave gaps in your diet, so check before removing anything. If you see a dietitian or your GP about nutrition, mention the herbal plan to them as well.

Keeping the details handy

Note the product name, the measuring directions and any food notes on one sheet and keep it with the original bottle. When a medicine is added or stopped elsewhere, tell Christine. If an unfamiliar symptom shows up and it is hard to say whether the granules or a change in eating is responsible, ask before altering the dose.

Making the plan fit your week

Instructions only work if you can follow them on an ordinary Tuesday as well as a quiet Sunday. Bring a rough outline of a typical week of meals to the Lane Cove clinic, and Christine can talk through which notes matter for your preparation and where there is room for flexibility.