EY Y04 L11 Alternative Medicine

  1. There are many types of complementary and alternative health practices, such as massage, acupuncture, reiki, tai chi, meditation and homeopathy. Name one that you have heard about or that you have read about online. Tell us about it.
  2. Is this something you have tried? If yes, how was the experience? Would you recommend it? If no, would you ever consider trying it?
  3. Have you or anyone you know ever taken Chinese medicine? If yes, what was it for? What were the results? Was the medicine expensive? If no, would you ever consider taking Chinese medicine?
  4. Do you take vitamin supplements or buy "genki" drinks? Why?
  5. Tell us about an alternative medicine that you feel is a scam, a con or a waste of money.
  6. Do you look up the medicines that you are prescribed by your doctor online? Why?

Question 1

I have always been interested in yoga and meditation for both physical and mental health. It has been increasingly popular worldwide over the last decade or two.

Question 2

I did practice yoga for a year or two a few years ago. I found it to be very beneficial. I felt better and enjoyed being more flexible. It was useful while teaching kids because I was moving around a lot and getting up and down from the floor. Doing yoga also inspired me to try and cook healthier food. I would like to start doing it again. I highly recommend it to anyone for stress relief and for general health.

Question 3

I have been taking a blend of mushroom supplements for about 14 or 15 years. I finally found my favorite brand about 10 years ago after doing some research on how they prepare the extract from the mushrooms. The main mushroom I like to have in the blend is called reishi (lingzhi 靈芝), known as the "mushroom of immortality" for over 2,000 years in China. I have noticed that when I take it daily I don't catch any colds or viruses, so I believe it really does strengthen the immune system. My doctor also said that my arteries are in extremely good condition for my age. Reishi is said to be beneficial to the heart and cardiovascular system. That's why I continue taking it.

Question 4

I take a multivitamin daily since I probably don't eat enough vegetables. I don't take the full amount, though. I do drink Ripobitan D sometimes, too, if I feel I need a little extra energy. It also tastes very good!

Question 5

I can't think of a particular one, but I believe it is important to do a lot of research before trying any kind of alternative medicine. Alternative medicine is not regulated and could be potentially dangerous, so I like to find real evidence and read any scientific studies I can find.

Question 6

Yes, I always look up any medicine and read about it in detail before taking it. I want to make sure I know what I am putting into my body and what the potential side effects could be. I try not to take any medicine, if possible.

Tough Vocabulary