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Seasonal tonics are an interesting tradition, but the calendar alone does not decide what suits you. Christine discusses your present needs and the exact granule preparation being considered.

As the weather cools, seasonal tonics and sweet herbal pastes start to appear in shop windows, often promoted as a gentle way to get ready for winter. Traditions like these can be an interesting starting point for a conversation about Chinese medicine. Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, simply prefers that a change in the weather is not taken as a reason for everyone to begin the same product.

Why the calendar is not enough

In traditional practice, certain preparations have been linked with the colder months. A new season on its own, however, does not show that a particular person needs a tonic. A pleasant taste or a familiar jar also does not make a preparation free of risk, especially for someone with a complex medical history.

Granules rather than a seasonal recipe

Christine dispenses Chinese herbal medicine as granules in labelled bottles, not as pastes or tonic recipes to make at home. If you would like to talk about seasonal care, the conversation focuses on your present needs and on the exact preparation being considered.

What Christine considers

When the topic comes up at the Lane Cove clinic, she will look at:

• what concern prompted your interest;
• your health history, including pregnancy or plans for pregnancy;
• any surgery you have coming up;
• every medicine and supplement you use.

Choosing because of a real need makes more sense than buying because a shop display has changed.

Keeping track once you start

A granule plan should come with a clear product name, written measuring and storage directions and an agreed time to review. Keep that sheet with the original bottle. If your other medicines change, let Christine know, and mention the herbal product to your GP and pharmacist. Should you feel unwell and wonder whether the granules are responsible, contact her for guidance rather than adjusting the amount yourself.

A seasonal conversation worth having

Deciding that nothing new is needed this season is a perfectly good outcome. Christine sees each consultation as a chance to weigh options rather than to sell something. If someone has given you a seasonal product, bring it with you to Lane Cove and she will read the label alongside you.