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Herbal granules are still active products. Bring a full list of your medicines and supplements so Christine can consider suitability before any herbal prescription in Lane Cove.

Herbs are still active substances

It is easy to assume that anything sold as a herb must be gentle. A plant extract can still affect the body and interact with other products, just as an item from the pharmacy can. Before Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, considers a herbal prescription, she needs the whole picture: prescription medicines, over-the-counter tablets, vitamins, protein powders and anything ordered online from overseas.

At this clinic, Christine supplies her Chinese herbal medicine as concentrated granules, each in a labelled bottle. A neat container does not replace a conversation about suitability; each bottle still needs a clear identity and directions written for the person who receives it.

Questions that protect you

Ask what the bottle contains and what you should do if a dose is missed, the directions seem unclear or a new symptom appears. Knowing the answers in advance saves guesswork later.

A few habits can create problems: taking more because things seem slow, passing your bottle to a friend, or using a product simply because it suited a relative. A familiar-looking container tells you nothing about whether its contents were chosen with your health in mind.

Keeping your plan organised

A clear herbal plan includes the product name, the written measuring and storage directions, the use-by date and a time to check in. Keep those directions with the original bottle and label rather than in a drawer elsewhere. If your GP or another prescriber changes a medicine, let Christine know before your next dose so the plan can be reconsidered.

Unsure whether a new symptom is linked to the granules? Contact Christine rather than experimenting with smaller or larger amounts on your own. If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or booked for surgery, tell her and your doctor as well.

Making the appointment count

Photograph the label of every product in your bathroom cabinet, including teas and powders, and bring the images along. Christine reviews herbal options at the Lane Cove clinic, and a complete picture of what you already use gives her a much safer place to start.