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The tea for stress, the winter vitamin, the powder in the cupboard: small items are easy to forget. Here is a simple way to gather everything before seeing Christine in Freshwater.

The small things we forget to mention

Most of us can name our regular prescription tablets. Far fewer remember the herbal tea we drink when stressed, the protein powder in the cupboard or the vitamin taken only in winter. For older people managing several medicines, or carers keeping track on someone else's behalf, the list can become long and confusing.

Gathering everything in one place before a herbal consultation makes the discussion more useful and takes the pressure off remembering on the spot.

An easy way to prepare

Before your visit with Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, in Freshwater, try putting the following into a bag or onto a sheet of paper:

• product names and labels, or clear photos of them;
• roughly how often each one is used, including things taken only now and then;
• medicines started by a GP or another practitioner, and items bought online;
• anything started or stopped since your last visit.

A pharmacist can often print a medication history, which some families find very handy. Please check with Christine before adding any new product, even one from a supermarket shelf.

Bring the bottles themselves

Herbal medicine from Christine comes as granules in bottles with labels. Bringing those bottles, or their exact details, means the conversation is about the actual products rather than a guess. Two remedies described as natural may still interact, so open sharing is far more useful than assuming they sit well together.

If a different practitioner alters any medicine, tell Christine rather than assuming the earlier herbal plan still fits. Keep each bottle with its written directions and review date, and if a symptom appears that you cannot explain, ask for guidance before altering the amount.

For families sharing the care of a grandparent, one up-to-date list on the fridge or in a phone helps everyone stay on the same page. Bring it to each appointment, and Christine is happy to go through it with whoever is supporting the person, so the plan feels clear and shared.