Herbal medicine

Herbal medicine is the use of plants to (0) cure an illness. This form of medicine, often used (1) ………. more conventional types of drugs, has been practised through the centuries, and probably began several thousands of years (2) ………. Today it is increasing in popularity, and herbal medicine shops are becoming a familiar (3) ……….. .

The most comprehensive classification of herbal (4) ………. was John Parkinson’s Theatrum Botanicum, published in 1640. Now there are many such books available, and (5) ………. on the plant and the treatment, the whole plant or individual parts may be used in the cure. (6) …………, seeds, fruit flowers, leaves, stems, and barks of plants are used (7) ………. preparing a remedy for a sick person. (8) ………. commonest way to treat an illness is infusion, where the fresh herb or plant is boiled, then strained and drunk like tea. The tincture, another common form of (9) ………., is part of the herb or plant mixed (10) ………. five parts of alcohol. Nowadays, herbal medicine is available in forms easier to (11) …………, such as lotion, liquid or (12) .......... .

Many diseases, (13) ………… and pains can be treated with herbal medicines. Some commonly treated conditions are colds and influenza, when peppermint, ginger and yarrows are (14) ………… together; insomnia is helped with passion flower, hops and lime flowers, and if you feel (15) ……….., camomile and peppermint are very effective.

0	A	assist	В	medicate	С	doctor	D	cure
	A	to the side	В	aside	С	sideways	D	alongside
	A	since	В	ago	С	before	D	passed
	A	display	B	view	С	sight	D	outlook
	A	remedies	B	supports	С	relieves	D	doses
	A	depending	B	relying	С	hanging	D	resting
	A	Distinctly	B	Usually	С	Positively	D	Genuinely
	A	by	B	from	С	in	D	with
	A	The	B	Some	С	An	D	One
	A	prescription	B	doctoring	С	therapy	D	care
	A	to	B	with	С	over	D	for
	A	have	B	be	С	make	D	take
	A	medicine	B	cap	С	potion	D	tablet
	A	aches	B	agonies	С	pangs	D	hurts
	A	mixed	B	tied	С	joined	D	united
	A	sore	B	sick	С	painful	D	injured

Part IV. Writing

1. Write a letter to your friend inviting him/her for a dinner party. Describe your ideas about the party and the food you are going to cook. Ask your friend about his/her favourite dish.

2. Your pen friend has written you a letter asking for advice on how to improve his/her eating habits and get fit. Write a letter offering advice.

3. You have had a class discussion about the following statement:

Fast food is a good alternative to cooking for yourself.

Now your teacher has asked you to write an essay expressing your opinion and giving reasons for your point of view.

4. Young people today are addicted to junk food. Do you agree? Write us an article telling us what you think. The best article will be published next month. Write your article.

UNIT 4