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Herbal medicine from the Lane Cove clinic comes as granules in containers with written directions. Here is what to check in the first week and when to call Christine.

Why your granules come with their own directions

A bottle of herbal granules looks simple until you get home and wonder how much to measure, what to mix it with and where it should be kept. Small details slip away between the consultation room and the kitchen bench, and two products can call for quite different handling.

Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, prescribes Chinese herbal medicine at the Lane Cove clinic. Her herbal medicine is supplied as granules in containers, and the clinic does not supply loose herbs to cook at home. Each product comes with written preparation, measuring, storage and use-by directions, so you are not relying on memory once you are back in Lane Cove or elsewhere on the lower North Shore.

A practical checklist for your first week

• Which bottle is yours, and how to confirm the product name on the label.
• How to measure each dose, and what to use for measuring.
• What the granules are mixed with and when they are taken.
• Where the bottle should be stored and what the use-by date means once it is opened.

When something does not look right

A damaged lid, a smudged label or contents that look different from last time are all good reasons to pause. Contact Christine and describe what you noticed before taking anything you are unsure about. A cooking recipe from a friend, an online video or a quantity you remember from an earlier prescription was written for something else and should not override the directions supplied with your bottle.

Keeping your paperwork together

Store the written directions alongside the original bottle so the product name and instructions stay in one place. If your GP or another prescriber changes one of your medicines, let Christine know. Should a new symptom appear and you wonder whether the granules are involved, seek advice instead of trying a smaller or larger amount.

Before your next appointment

Jot down any step that felt confusing during the first few days and bring the list with you. Christine can go through it with you, clarify the written notes where needed and confirm when your herbal plan will next be looked at together.