Ancient Chinese healing methods     1     (spread) along the Silk Road for over two millennia, but the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has further boosted the internationalization of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, the BRI,     2     aims are to better connect the world and expand common prosperity, has brought the healing powers of TCM     3     more countries and regions, bridging different cultures and promoting international cooperation.

In Budapest, Traditional Chinese Medicine Center of Hungary (Qihuang Center) provides     4     ray of hope for patients seeking relief from various health issues. One such patient is Jozsef Frenyo, an 80-year-old     5     (retire) teacher who suffers from hearing impairment due to an inflammation (发炎) of the middle ear five years ago. Since then, he had to use a hearing aid -- until he visited the Center two months ago when a “miracle”     6     (occur).

After     7     (give) more than 10 acupuncture treatments by TCM expert Zhang Haifang, from northwest China’s Gansu Province, Jozsef’s hearing improved     8     (significant). He no longer needs the hearing aid.

The center has also helped Jozsef’s son, Csaba Frenyo, who has been struggling with obesity-related health     9     (issue). A combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine treatments helped him lose nine kilograms within a month,     10     (ease) his back and knee pains.

2 . “Going wireless is the future for just about everything!” That is a quote from scientist Sreekanth Chalasani, and we can’t help but agree. Realizing this, a team of scientists has made a breakthrough toward wirelessly controlling human cells using sound, in a technique called “sonogenetics (声遗传学).” This concept may seem strange but let us explain.

Basically, the term “sonogenetics” means using ultrasound (超声波) to change the behavior of cells in a non-invasive manner. “We already know that ultrasound is safe, and that it can go through bone, muscle and other tissues, making it the ultimate tool for controlling cells deep in the body,” says Chalasani.

Low-frequency ultrasound waves can target a particular protein that is sensitive to the signal. This research, published in Nature Communications, focused on TRPA1. When this protein is stimulated through the ultrasound waves, it also stimulates the cells which carry it. What type of cell is being stimulated depends on the outcome. For example, a muscle cell may contract with stimulation, or a neuron (神经元) in the brain will fire. In this experiment, scientists genetically marked cells with an increased concentration of TRPA1, making them the key targets of the ultrasound waves.

Currently, treating conditions like Parkinson’s disease requires scientists to implant electrodes (电极) in the brain which stimulate certain disordered cells. Researchers hope that sonogenetics can one day replace these invasive treatments.

In the future, the team wants to adjust the placement and amount of TRPAI around the body using the gene treatment. Gene delivery techniques have already been shown to be successful in humans, such as in treating blindness. Therefore, it’s just a case of adjusting this theory to a different sound-based setting.

“Gene delivery techniques already exist for getting a new gene—such as TRPA1—into the human heart,” Chalasani says. “If we can then use an external ultrasound device to activate those cells, that could really change pacemakers.” There is still a while to go before this treatment can become a reality. The future for sonogenetics, though, looks bright.

3 . Reasonable people should not have blind faith in the medical profession.     1     We have to check out the medicine we take. We have to ask for second and even third opinions. We must do some research. We have to use our common sense and be informed about our health care.

While it is true that modern Western medicine has risks, we shouldn’t reject it totally.     2     Most people who get good medical care are healthier and live longer.

If this is the case why has “alternative” health care become so popular in North America and Europe? Often the fear of surgery motivates people to look for these alternatives. Many people think that these treatments will help even when the situation seems hopeless to Western doctors.     3     Surgeons perform dangerous surgery, but natural healers (治疗师) do not seem to give dangerous treatments. People don’t think alternative care would kill anyone by mistake.     4     No one wants to go to a doctor in a cold hospital clinic. Since some doctors don’t have a nice “bedside manner”, people like the attention they get from alternative healers.

    5     All doctors and healers are human beings who can make mistakes. They can miss things and waste valuable time. No matter what happens, we have to think about all of the different options. Remember, there are millions of patients who are alive and well today because of “conventional” Western medicine.

Acupuncture, one of the most famous Chinese medical treatments, is increasingly well received among the world with solid evidence    1    it has a certain edge over western medicine.

    2    (date) back to the Stone Age, the magic needles    3    (measure) between 15 and 75 millimeters in length played a critical role in treating patients in the old past of China and over time, these needles     4    (change) in materials and shapes. While examining a patient, the acupuncturist looks at the patient’s skin and tongue, listening to the sound, smelling his breath, asking about his condition and feeling his pulse. According to    5    results of the check-up, the acupuncturist selects certain points on the body called acupuncture points. So far, more than 360 acupuncture points have been identified, each of     6    linked to a different part of the body. However,    7    acupuncture actually works is not clearly understood, and no agreement has been reached. But anyway, there really existed such a phenomenon    8    patients can restore health after being treated by the acupuncture, so    9    the uncertainty about its medical basis, these years it has been applied to treat a wide range of health problems and is preferred at home and abroad. In 2010, acupuncture was included in the UNESCO ICH. Today, it is recognized     10    a symbol of TCM and has come into widespread use.

6 . Digital Medicine

Could the next suggestion from your doctor be downloading an app? Collectively known as digital medicine, a large number of apps in use or under development can now detect or monitor mental and physical disorders or directly administer therapies.     1    

Many detection aids rely on mobile devices to record such features as users’ voices, locations, facial expressions, exercise and sleep; then they apply artificial intelligence to mark the possible change of a condition. Some smart watches, for instance, contain a sensor that automatically detects and warns people of a dangerous heart rate.     2     These wearable detection aids will not replace a doctor any time soon but can be helpful partners in stressing concerns that need follow-up.     3     Some are being developed to detect things such as cancerous DNA, stomach bleeds, body temperature and oxygen levels. The sensors inside your body can then send the data to apps for recording.

    4     For the most part, those intended to diagnose or treat disorders must be proved safe and effective in clinical trials and earn regulatory approval; some may need a doctor’s permission.

Clearly, society must move into the future of digital medicine with care — ensuring that the apps go through strict testing, protect privacy and go smoothly into doctors’ work. With such protections in place, healthcare costs could be saved by marking unhealthy behaviours and helping people to make changes before diseases set in.     5     For researchers, the patterns that emerge will provide them with novel ideas for how best to build healthier habits and prevent diseases.

8 . PRACTITIONERS

9 . It’s quite common for some people to forget to take their medicines. Others might get well before finishing the prescription and no longer need the leftovers. No matter what the reason might be, unused medicines are likely to do serious harm to children or pets.     1    

To deal with unwanted medicines, quite a number of people simply throw old pills into the garbage or flush(冲掉)them down the toilets.     2     Some medicines can become poisonous over a period of time, and others contain powerful chemicals, which might damage water pipes, pollute the environment, or even cause harm to people and animals. Where and how to treat those medicines?

    3     These places often have drop-off bins for collecting unwanted medicines. Professionals there will help you get rid of those medical wastes. Police stations and fire departments may also have drop boxes where drugs can be safely thrown away. Some medical items have special guidelines for disposal(处置). Used needles that are sharp and may cause infections and diseases must be thrown away at specially designated zones.Inhalers, which are likely to explode, should also be taken to specific places.To find out where to drop off these items, call a local hospital or police station.     4    

Lastly, when handling the prescription medicines,separate pills from packaging that contains personal information.     5     Doing this will ensure that your medical information remains hidden from anyone who is digging around in the garbage.