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An article about herbs for an upset stomach can look like a handy shortcut. Here is why a careful practitioner explores the cause of nausea before discussing any product.

When your stomach is churning, a web page listing herbs for queasiness can look like a ready-made answer. A careful practitioner, however, will want to understand the nausea itself before recommending anything at all.

Many possible causes

Feeling sick can stem from prescribed medicines, early pregnancy, infections, migraine, anxiety and plenty of other sources. No ingredient list can tell you which of these applies. Kitchen familiarity proves little either: a spice you cook with every week is not the same thing as a concentrated herbal product, which may not suit everyone.

Details to bring to the consultation

• When the nausea arrives and how long each episode lasts
• Companions like headaches, reflux or dizziness
• Remedies or changes you have already tried
• A complete list of medicines and supplements

Dr Christine Shen, Acupuncturist, the herbal prescriber at the Lane Cove clinic, works through these points before deciding whether herbal care is even appropriate.

When medical assessment comes first

Repeated vomiting, a dry mouth with scant urine, or strong abdominal pain are reasons to seek medical attention through your GP or, where needed, an emergency department. Cycling through one home remedy after another only delays that assessment.

Keeping track of any herbal plan

If a product is prescribed, make sure the label, the dosing routine and the review date are on paper before you go. Keep that sheet in the box and mention to Christine any change to your other medicines. If something new crops up and its link to the product is unclear, check with the clinic instead of altering the amount by guesswork.

What to expect from a good practitioner

A herbalist who questions you closely about the nausea before raising herbs is approaching your care in a sensible order. When you are comparing providers, that sequence of questions first and products second is one of the clearest signs of careful, client-centred practice, and it is easy to recognise during an initial phone call.