ब्लॉग

A bottle of herbal granules should leave you clear on what it is and how to use it. Here is a simple checklist for the label, storage and use-by date.

Convenience still comes with questions

For busy households around Manly and Balgowlah, a bottle of herbal granules is far simpler to fit into the day than anything that needs cooking. The clinic does not supply raw herbs to prepare at home; instead, each bottle should make it plain which product you hold and where its individual directions are written down.

Knowing what you have received

When Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, prescribes granules through the Freshwater clinic, it is worth checking with her:

• the product name on the label, and how it matches your written instructions;
• how to measure and prepare each dose;
• where the bottle should be stored once opened;
• what the use-by information means in practice.

Checking the bottle

Before taking a dose, look over the packaging. If the seal is broken, the bottle is cracked, or the contents look or smell unexpected, put it aside and ring Christine before going any further.

Colour and appearance cannot identify a formula, so try not to judge a bottle by its shade or compare it with someone else's. Nor should you assume every product keeps equally well; storage guidance can differ from one preparation to another.

Fitting in with the rest of your care

Keep the label and instructions where you can see them, and let your GP or pharmacist know you are using herbal medicine, especially if other prescriptions change. Should a fresh symptom leave you wondering about the granules, contact Christine for advice rather than altering the amount yourself.

A tidy shelf, a clear routine

Giving the bottle a permanent spot, away from heat and out of reach of children, with its instruction sheet folded underneath, makes a missed dose or an approaching use-by date easier to spot. Any questions can come with you, photo of the label in hand, to your next Freshwater visit.