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A bottle of herbal granules should leave you clear about which product it is and where its directions are. Check identity, storage and use-by details, and ask before using anything damaged or unexpected.

Convenience still needs clarity

Granules in a bottle are quick to prepare and easy to carry, which can make a herbal plan more realistic for people juggling work, family and perhaps several therapies. Convenience, though, should never come at the cost of knowing exactly which product you have and how it is meant to be used.

Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, supplies Chinese herbal medicine in granule containers, and each one should leave you clear about its name and where its directions are written.

Questions about your bottle

• What is the product called, and how can I confirm it matches my prescription?
• How should I measure and prepare it?
• Where should it be stored once opened?
• What does the use-by information mean in practice?

Go over these with Christine at the Lane Cove clinic whenever you collect a new product.

Checking before you use it

If a bottle is cracked, the seal is broken or the contents look unexpected, contact Christine before taking any. Colour and texture are poor guides to what a formula is, so do not decide from appearance alone. Granules that seem damp or clumped are also worth asking about.

Keeping track

Hold on to the original label and written sheet, because together they carry the product name and directions. Note on the sheet when your next review is due. Changes made by your GP or another doctor are worth passing on, and an unexpected symptom deserves a phone call to the clinic rather than a quiet change in how much you take.

Fitting granules into daily life

Think about where the bottle will live, whether you travel often and how you will remember each dose. Keeping it where the written storage directions say, close to something you do every day, can make the routine easier. If travel or shift work complicates things, mention it at your appointment so the plan suits your week as well as the prescription.