阅读理解
Herbal medicine (草药), which has been used for medicinal purposes, is the use of plants to treat diseases. Many herbalists use the entire plant, from the flowers, stems, leaves, and roots, in the form of everything from teas to pills. These plants contain natural, chemical things that can treat the body for a variety of diseases- such as allergies, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, chronic fatigue, and cancer, among others.
Nowadays an increasing number of people prefer to adopt these plants to treat their diseases because, compared with chemical medicine, herbal medicine has its own advantages. Herbal medicine and remedies (治疗) are more effective than chemical medicine for certain diseases. The chemical medicine given by a chemist could have certain negative side effects. However, many of the herbal medicine and remedies do not have negative side effects. If any, they are softer than chemical medicine. Obesity is the cause of many of the health problems. Herbal medicine can help weight-loss more effectively and improve overall health.
However, the cure using herbal medicine and supplements (营养品) would take some time, and therefore people are supposed to possess enough patience. Worse still, herbal medicine contains a variety of ingredients (成分) and people have to be sure that their body agrees with the ingredients and that it is not allergic (过敏).
A point worth mentioning here is herbal remedies and medicine for certain illnesses may have negative side effects. These side effects may not be shown at once, but would take months or even years. In the early stages, if the herbal medicine is not agreeing with you, it is wise to stop using it.
When used correctly and directed by doctors, herbs can help treat a variety of diseases. But keep in mind that the herbal medicine industry is not regulated, so herbal products are often misleading and may contain additives (添加剂) and that are not listed on the label (标签). Some herbs may cause allergic reactions or interact with other drugs, and some are poisonous if used improperly or at high doses (剂量). Taking herbs on your own increases your risk.
