Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, has been around for thousands of years and integrates Taoism(a nature-based philosophy) with elements of Buddhism and Confucianism. Centered around the core belief is that qi is the essential energy that flows through our bodies and powers all human life. 【小题1】

The first suggests that everything about a person is interrelated. 【小题2】 And they affect one another because of this interconnection.

The second assumes that every person is part of the natural world, and in so being, is affected by everything from the time, the place, the season, to one’s age, genetic disposition(组成), and physical condition.

The third states that, like all things in nature, we are regenerative(再生的) and have the inborn ability to heal our bodies. 【小题3】.

The fourth is that prevention is the key to staying well. 【小题4】 Do not ignore the warning signs. In this way, you can prevent a more serious condition from developing.

【小题5】 They include herbal medicines and diet, foot reflexology (反射论) massage, tai chi, acupuncture, and acupressure (针压法) — to name a few of the more well-known ones. These methods are used to promote the unrestricted flow of qi throughout the body, which is said to promote health. They are also used to balance the opposing forces of yin and yang, believed by Taoists to be found in all things.

Researchers in the African country of Niger have introduced a new vaccine that protects against the diarrheal disease called rotavirus(轮状病毒). A scientific test has shown that the new vaccine is effective, safe and easy to use. Experts believe it will be more widely used than the two rotavirus vaccines now given to children.

The new vaccine is important because rotavirus is a serious illness that can lead to death. It kills more than 215,000 children each year—about 600 a day. Two vaccines against rotavirus are already available. However, they are costly and difficult to use.

They must also be kept cold. In many African countries where people suffer from rotavirus, refrigeration and electricity are unreliable. As a result, the existing rotavirus vaccines are not widely used.

Researchers have been working on a new vaccine for rotavirus called BRV-PV. They have recently tested the vaccine with young children in Niger. Researchers gave 1,780 babies the BRV-PV vaccine. Only 31 cases of rotavirus developed in those babies. The researchers say the clinical trial shows that BRV-PV was nearly 67 percent effective.

Dr. Emmanuel Baron is the director of Epicentre, a research group that is part of Doctors Without Borders, an aid group. Epicentre researchers conducted the clinical trial. “We saw actually three things. The first is that this vaccine is efficient. The second is that this vaccine is safe. And we also saw a good acceptability by both the care providers and the families.”

The new vaccine does not need refrigeration for up to six months. Medical workers mix it with liquid and give it to babies three times: when they are 6 weeks old, 10 weeks old, and 14 weeks old.

The vaccine is expected to cost $ 6. The price will likely drop as more people are given the vaccine.

Baron says medical workers in countries where rotavirus is a serious health threat are waiting for the World Health Organization to give the green light to the vaccine. Then, medical workers can start giving the new vaccine to children.

When I was a junior doctor in surgery, I was told that a group of researchers found the music played in operating theatres isn’t just a way for the doctors and nurses to pass the time-it can actually have very positive benefits for the patients too. Obviously there’s good evidence for its benefits in patients having surgery under both local and general anesthetic.

The study has shown that playing certain types of music with a rhythm like the heartbeat was as effective as midazolam-an anesthetic given to patients going through a variety of procedures. Studies have also shown that music can help reduce post-operative pain so much that patients are less dependent on medicine to reduce their pain.

The operating room is a rigid place tightly governed by procedures that make sure operations run smoothly. Among all the rules and regulations though, I suppose the one thing that there is choice over is the type of music played. The most senior surgeon in the room gets to choose the music.

Although it tends to be classical music, it obviously opens up all sorts of possibilities — suitable songs that could be played. “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees is one I hope surgeons consider, for example. My mum is about to have her eyes operated, so she should, I think, ask her surgeon to play “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash. But some should perhaps be avoided, for the sake of the patient. I think I’d rather have that anesthetic when having a surgery, than listen to “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, for example.