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Packaging tells you little about whether a herbal product suits you. These questions help you understand the granule bottle and directions you take home.

Chinese herbal medicine now comes in many shapes, from capsules to liquid extracts, and it is natural to have a preference. At Rainbow Medicine the choice is simpler: herbal medicine is dispensed as concentrated granules in bottle containers, and the clinic does not hand out raw herbs for home cooking.

Looks can be misleading

How a product is packaged tells you very little about whether it suits you. An attractive bottle or a familiar-looking label does not answer the questions that matter for your health. What counts is clear identification of the product and written instructions you can actually follow.

Questions to ask about your preparation

When Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, suggests a herbal product, consider asking:

• What exactly does this bottle contain?
• How should I measure and prepare each dose, and where is that written down?
• How should it be stored, and what does the use-by date mean?
• When will we review whether to continue?
• Could it interact with anything else I take?

Keeping labels where they belong

It can be tempting to tip granules into a nicer jar or a weekly organiser. Leave them in the bottle they came in, with the instruction sheet nearby, so there is never any doubt about what it is or how to use it. If a step is unclear, ask Christine before using the product rather than borrowing directions from a different preparation.

When your medicines change

If your GP starts, stops or adjusts a medicine, revisit your herbal plan rather than assuming the original advice still holds. Let Christine know promptly, and if something new crops up that might be linked, a quick phone call is far wiser than changing the dose by guesswork.

Herbal medicine at Lane Cove

North Shore residents can arrange a herbal consultation at the Lane Cove clinic. If you travel often, work irregular hours or find certain tastes hard to manage, say so early, because those details help shape a plan you can realistically follow. This page is general guidance and does not replace a personal consultation.