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At the Lane Cove clinic, Chinese herbal medicine comes as granules in labelled bottles with written directions. Ask what the product contains, how to follow its directions and when it will be reviewed.

Walk into any health shop and you will see herbal products as capsules, powders, tinctures and teas. With so much variety, choosing a format can feel like the main decision. In reality, the format is only the starting point, and the directions that come with a product matter far more.

How the Lane Cove clinic supplies herbs

Chinese herbal medicine at the Lane Cove clinic is dispensed as granules in labelled bottles. The clinic does not supply raw herbs to cook at home. Each bottle comes with written directions for preparing, measuring and storing, along with a use-by date, set out for the person it was prescribed for.

Looks are not the answer

An attractive package or a familiar-looking bottle can feel reassuring. Neither tells you whether a product suits you. Clear identification and written instructions are what keep the plan safe, and those come from a proper conversation.

Fitting a routine to your life

From a whole-person view, daily rhythm matters. Someone with a hectic schedule or a sensitive stomach may want to talk about timing, taste and how measuring fits into the morning or evening. Raising these practical points is reasonable, as long as safety stays at the centre.

Questions to put to your practitioner

Ask Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, what is in the product she has chosen, how to read and follow each written step, and when the two of you will look at the plan again. If any part is unclear, ask her to explain it in plain words before you start.

Labels and containers

Keep the granules in their original labelled bottle rather than tipping them into an unmarked jar where the name could be lost. Do not borrow instructions from another preparation, even one that looks similar. Store the paperwork with the bottle so anyone involved in your care can see exactly what you use.

When things change

If a doctor adds, stops or changes one of your medicines, revisit the herbal plan with Christine instead of assuming the earlier advice still holds, and mention the granules to your pharmacist. An unexpected symptom is a reason to phone for guidance, not to start tinkering with the measure.

A shared responsibility

Honest updates and regular review make a herbal plan easier to live with. Christine welcomes questions at every stage, however small they may seem.