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Holding a bottle of herbal granules and unsure of the steps? Christine supplies granules with written directions, and is happy to go through them slowly with carers in Lane Cove.

When the bottle is on the bench and the doubts creep in

Many people who look after an ageing parent or partner find themselves holding a bottle of herbal granules, wondering whether they remember every step correctly. That uncertainty is completely understandable. Each prescription comes with its own small directions, and one product may be measured quite differently from the next.

Feeling unsure does not mean you have done anything wrong. It simply means the instructions deserve to be read from the page rather than carried in memory.

Granules, not a cooking project

When Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, prescribes Chinese herbal medicine at the Lane Cove clinic, it is supplied as granules in labelled containers. Christine does not supply loose herbs to cook at home. Each product comes with written directions for preparing, measuring and storing it. Useful things to clarify include:

• which bottle is which, if there is more than one;
• how to measure each dose and what to mix it with;
• where to keep the bottle and how to read its use-by information;
• what to do if a dose is missed.

A method remembered from an older prescription, a relative's routine or a recipe for cooking herbs should not take the place of the directions written for this product.

Keeping everything together for peace of mind

Carers often juggle several medicines at once. Keeping the direction sheet beside the original bottle makes it easier for anyone helping out to follow the same routine. Please tell Christine whenever a doctor starts, stops or swaps another medicine, so the herbal plan can be looked at again with that in mind.

If a new symptom appears and you cannot tell whether it is connected to the granules, phone for advice instead of quietly altering the amount. Guesswork tends to add worry rather than remove it.

A short visit to go over the instructions, perhaps with the person you care for beside you, can turn an unfamiliar task into an easy habit. Christine can take her time, repeat anything that felt rushed and check that you both feel confident before the first dose.