ब्लॉग

Relatives' food rules can outgrow the prescription itself. Bring your granule bottle, its directions and your usual meals, and ask which dietary suggestions truly relate to your plan and why.

When food lists grow longer than the prescription

Mention Chinese herbs to relatives and someone will soon tell you to give up cold drinks, spicy dishes or seafood. These lists travel quickly and can end up longer than the prescription itself. In a clinic where people often weigh naturopathic eating plans, massage and acupuncture side by side, conflicting food advice is a common source of confusion.

The question worth asking is narrower: which dietary suggestions relate to the granule product you are taking, and what is the reason for each one?

Information worth sharing first

Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, can only tailor food guidance when she knows your situation. Before herbs are started at the Lane Cove clinic, bring the bottle you have been given with its written directions, and tell her about:

• food allergies or intolerances;
• your usual meals and eating times;
• any eating plan suggested by your GP, dietitian or another practitioner;
• difficulty fitting enough variety or appetite into your day.

Sorting essential advice from tradition

Some suggestions may matter for a particular product, some may be short term, and others reflect traditional preference rather than a firm requirement. You are entitled to ask Christine which category each falls into. Cutting out whole food groups without a clear purpose can make eating harder, so check before making sweeping changes.

Good guidance should be realistic for your household and should not clash with what other health professionals have advised. If two sets of advice seem to pull in different directions, show her both, and ask her to clarify any instruction that looks hard to follow.

Keeping track as things change

Note the product name, how to measure and take it, and when the plan will next be looked at, and keep that note with the bottle. Medicines prescribed elsewhere can change during a course of herbs, so let Christine know when that happens. If you develop a symptom and wonder whether the granules or a food is involved, ask rather than altering amounts on your own.

Before your next appointment, jot down a typical week of breakfasts, lunches and dinners. Going through it together turns a vague list of forbidden foods into a few clear points that fit your life.