Blog

A bag of dried herbs can raise plenty of kitchen questions. Here is what to clarify with Christine before you cook your first batch at home.

Why the first batch raises the most questions

Standing in your kitchen with a bag of dried roots, bark and leaves can feel very different from sitting in the consultation room where the formula was explained. Details that seemed obvious at the time, such as how long to simmer or which packet goes in last, are easy to misplace once you are home. Chinese herbal medicine prescribed at the Lane Cove clinic is written for one person, so the method attached to it matters as much as the ingredients.

Questions to settle before you leave

Ask Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, to put the preparation steps for your formula in writing. A few points worth covering:

• which pot or vessel suits the herbs, and whether any material should be avoided;
• the order in which ingredients are added, and whether a packet is labelled for separate handling;
• how much water to start with and roughly how much liquid should remain;
• how to store the cooked liquid and how long it can be kept;
• what to do if the pot boils dry or the brew smells scorched.

When something does not go to plan

Burnt batches happen to almost everyone at some stage. Rather than straining off what is left and hoping it is fine, contact Christine and describe what occurred. The same applies to a label you cannot read or a bag that looks different from the last one. A neighbour's shortcut or a method from a previous prescription may sound reasonable, yet it was not written for the herbs now on your bench.

Keeping the paperwork with the herbs

Store the written method beside the original packaging, together with the formula name and the date of your next review. If your GP or another practitioner starts, stops or changes a medicine, mention it before you cook the next batch. Should a new symptom appear and you wonder whether the herbs are involved, ask for guidance instead of quietly altering the amount you drink.

Bringing your pot questions to Lane Cove

A photo of your stovetop or the pot you plan to use can make the conversation quicker and more concrete. If you would like to walk through the method step by step, book a consultation at the Lane Cove clinic and bring the herbs along so the labels can be checked together on the spot.