Nowadays, an increasing number of people with health problems are using alternative

medicines and treatments instead of visiting their normal doctor.

ALTERNATIVE HEALING METHODS ARE BECOMING MORE POPULAR

Today, there are many people who have problems with their health tend to use medicines
and treatments without going to hospital. In my opinion, this trend is a negative
development that people should not follow.

There are many reasons that people should visit their doctor and limit use of unknown drugs
and treatment. Firstly, people may use the wrong medicines and treatment. In the modern
and technological society, people can easily look up information on the Internet and there is
so much information that they can control and understand. Therefore, they may choose
wrong drugs and treatments that can not only have a negative impact on their health but
also make the disease worse.

Secondly, many people can easily be taken advantage of and defrauded. There are a lot of
scammers who sell poor quality, ineffective and non-healing drugs. It is easy for patients to
trust the advertisements of these people and buy drugs of unknown origin leading to
adverse health effects. Moreover, people who lack knowledge and information can use
drugs and treatment with wrong dosage and method. For example, using more than the
prescribed dose will lead to side effects of the drug, reduce the effectiveness of the drug
and adversely affect health.

In conclusion, many sick people choose to use drugs and medicines and do not visit their
doctor. Personally, I think this is a negative issue that has a bad effect on patient's health
because they may use wrong medicines and treatment, be tricked into buying poor quality
drugs and use drugs with wrong dosage.

In recent years, a growing number of unwell individuals have begun to adopt the use of alternative
medicines and treatments. In my opinion, though these can sometimes be effective, this trend is
negative overall due to the superiority of modern medicine.
Those who support alternative remedies argue there is historical evidence in favor of their
effectiveness. A pertinent example of this would be the popularity of traditional Chinese medicine in
Asia. Many of their medicines and treatments date back hundreds or even thousands of years. Over
that time, they have been tested and their effect verified in some cases. Contemporary health
researchers are often able to later identify the scientific rationale but it is possible there are remedies
in use today that we still do not understand. This ignorance should not serve as a justification to
question their overall importance.
However, the vast majority of viable medical treatment is modern. Scientists now understand more
rigorously the underlying structures of cells, viruses, bacteria, cancers, and various other maladies.
This has allowed for the creation of undeniably effective procedures such as surgery and the
discovery of crucial medicines like penicillin. There is no doubt as to why these medicines work and
therefore in the future they will only become more refined and safe. In contrast, traditional medicine
may be effective for unknown reasons but its applicability is limited and it will not advance overtime.
 In conclusion, with few exceptions, traditional medicine is a better alternative to less verifiable
treatments and pharmaceuticals. Individuals can attempt to use them but should rely on their usual
doctors.
Analysis
1. In recent years, a growing number of unwell individuals have begun to adopt the use of alternative
medicines and treatments. 2. In my opinion, though these can sometimes be effective, this trend is
negative overall due to the superiority of modern medicine.
1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who support alternative remedies argue there is historical evidence in favor of their
effectiveness. 2. A pertinent example of this would be the popularity of traditional Chinese medicine
in Asia. 3. Many of their medicines and treatments date back hundreds or even thousands of
years. 4. Over that time, they have been tested and their effect verified in some
cases. 5. Contemporary health researchers are often able to later identify the scientific rationale but
it is possible there are remedies in use today that we still do not understand. 6. This ignorance
should not serve as a justification to question their overall importance.
1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Short sentences can make your writing clearer.
6. Use complex and simple sentences.
1. However, the vast majority of viable medical treatment is modern. 2. Scientists now understand
more rigorously the underlying structures of cells, viruses, bacteria, cancers, and various other
maladies. 3. This has allowed for the creation of undeniably effective procedures such as surgery
and the discovery of crucial medicines like penicillin. 4. There is no doubt as to why these medicines
work and therefore in the future they will only become more refined and safe. 5. In contrast,
traditional medicine may be effective for unknown reasons but its applicability is limited and it will not
advance overtime.
1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. Finish the paragraph strong.
1. In conclusion, with few exceptions, traditional medicine is a better alternative to less verifiable
treatments and pharmaceuticals. 2. Individuals can attempt to use them but should rely on their
usual doctors.
1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then
check below.
In recent years, a growing number of unwell individuals have begun to adopt the use of
alternative medicines and treatments. In my opinion, though these can sometimes be effective,
this trend is negative overall due to the superiority of modern medicine.
Those who support alternative remedies argue there is historical evidence in favor
of their effectiveness. A pertinent example of this would be the popularity of traditional
Chinese medicine in Asia. Many of their medicines and treatments date back hundreds or even
thousands of years. Over that time, they have been tested and their effect verified in some
cases. Contemporary health researchers are often able to later identify the scientific
rationale but it is possible there are remedies in use today that we still do not understand.
This ignorance should not serve as a justification to question their overall importance.
However, the vast majority of viable medical treatment is modern. Scientists now understand
more rigorously the underlying structures of cells, viruses, bacteria, cancers, and various
other maladies. This has allowed for the creation of undeniably effective procedures such
as surgery and the discovery of crucial medicines like penicillin. There is no doubt as to why
these medicines work and therefore in the future they will only become more refined and safe. In
contrast, traditional medicine may be effective for unknown reasons but
its applicability is limited and it will not advance overtime.
In conclusion, with few exceptions, traditional medicine is a better alternative to less verifiable
treatments and pharmaceuticals. Individuals can attempt to use them but should rely
on their usual doctors.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you
remember the new vocabulary:
in recent years in the last few decades
growing increasing
unwell sick
begun started to
adopt start using
medicines pills, drugs, etc.
treatments ways to deal with illnesses
though despite
effective works well
trend pattern
negative overall bad in general
due to because of
the superiority of modern medicine how much better new medicine and doctors are
support alternative remedies favor less traditional doctors
argue point out
historical evidence examples from the past
in favor of supporting
effectiveness works well
A pertinent example of this would be a good instance of this is
popularity how common it is
traditional Chinese medicine older treatments from China
date back from a long time ago
Over that time as time passes
tested verified
verified proven true
in some cases sometimes
Contemporary health researchers are doctors today can
later identify after that figure out
scientific rationale good reasons
remedies in use today treatments now
ignorance not knowing about
serve as are the basis for
justification reason for
question doubt
overall importance how valuable they are in general
vast majority most of
viable medical useful treatment
rigorously intensively
underlying structures basic parts
cells fundamental component of life
viruses dangerous spreading diseases
bacteria cause disease
cancers a serious illness
various other maladies different diseases
allowed for made it possible
creation making of
undeniably effective procedures definitely work
surgery operating on someone
discovery finding of
crucial medicines key treatments
penicillin a drug for treating infections
There is no doubt as to it can’t be denied that
therefore thus
refined made better
safe not dangerous
In contrast however
unknown reasons ignorance of why
applicability how much it can be used in other cases
limited contained
advance move forward
with few exceptions not many other instances
better alternative to better way to
less verifiable treatments medicines that can’t be trusted
pharmaceuticals drugs
attempt try
rely on dependent on
usual doctors normal doctors