Henry 的气色看起来不太好，Bob 问起他最近发生了什么事 …
Bob: Henry, are you alright? You look a little under the weather.
Bob：Henry，你还好吗？你这几天看起来气色不太好。
Henry: It’s because of my allergies. I always have terrible allergy attacks when the seasons are changing.
Henry：是因为我的过敏，我每次换季时都会过敏发作。
Bob: I’m sorry to hear that, dude.
Bob：老兄，很遗憾听你这样说。
Henry: Meh. Right now it’s not too bad. During the night it’s worse. I have to keep an inhaler on my bedside table in case I get an asthma attack.
Henry：嗯，现在好很多了。晚上的时候状况比较糟，我床头柜还得放着吸入器以防气喘发作。
Bob: That sounds serious! Have you tried anything to get rid of your allergies?
Bob：听起来很严重！ ！你试过任何方式处理这个问题吗？
Henry: I have, but none of the treatments have been that successful.
Henry：试过，但是没一个真的有帮助。
Bob: How about Chinese medicine? There’s a famous Chinese medicine clinic around our school.
Bob：中医疗法呢？我们学校附近就有一间很有名的中医诊所。
Henry: I suppose it’s worth a try. So far, I’ve only tried Western medicine.
Henry：我想是可以试试看，我目前只试过西医。
Bob: Yes, maybe acupuncture could be the trick.
Bob：对呀，或许针灸就有办法治疗你的过敏。
Henry: Acupuncture? What is that?
Henry：针灸？那是什么？
Bob: It’s a treatment that uses needles to penetrate your skin.
Bob：那是一种把针刺进皮肤的疗法。
Henry: What!?
Henry：什么！ ？
Bob 你这样一说 Henry 怎么敢去看中医啦！
allergy (n.) 过敏
allergy 为名词，意思是「过敏」，文中的 allergy attack 则可翻为「过敏发作」，attack 在文中是疾病「发作」的意思。
Cold air triggers my allergies.
冷空气诱发我过敏。
allergic 为其形容词，例如：be allergic to sth. (对…过敏)。
My brother is allergic to shrimp.
我弟弟对虾子过敏。
asthma (n.) 哮喘
asthma /ˈæzmə/ 意指「哮喘；气喘」，asthma attack 指的是「哮喘发作」。这个字源自希腊文，在希腊文中 asthma 指的即是「呼吸急促；喘」。气喘病患者身边随时要备着吸入器 (inhaler) 以防气喘发作。
The patient suffers from asthma, and carries an inhaler with him at all times.
这位病患受气喘所苦，身边总是带着吸入器。
acupuncture (n.) 针刺疗法
acupuncture 意指「针刺疗法」(即为台湾人熟知的「针灸」中「针」的部分)，这个字由拉丁字首 acus- (针) 加上字根 puncture (穿刺) 所组成。
Acupuncture is commonly used to ease back pain.
针刺疗法常用来减缓背痛。
penetrate (v.) 穿透
penetrate 为动词，意思是「穿透；穿过；进入」。
The mountain pass cuts a route that penetrates the mountains and leads to a remote village.
这条山路穿过山间直达一座偏远的小镇。
所以 Henry 最后决定去看中医吗？
Henry: How many needles are we talking about exactly?
Henry：等等，你指的是多少根针？
Bob: I’m not sure… maybe a dozen? (Henry’s face turns pale) Don’t worry! The needles are only inserted into acupoints, which only causes slight soreness. Some say it’s no worse than a mosquito bite.
Bob：我不确定，或许一打？ (Henry 面容苍白) 别担心！针只会被插入穴道里，只会有一点点酸痛感。顶多像被蚊子叮一样。
Henry: Right…
Henry：好喔…
Bob: Or maybe you could try cupping therapy. The doctor puts some special cups on your back, creating suction to help treat your illness.
Bob：或者你可以试试拔罐。医生会在你的背上放一些特殊的杯子，利用吸力治疗疾病。
Henry: Would that hurt?
Henry：那会痛吗？
Bob: No, it’d only leave some red spots on your back. However, you’ll only know which type of therapy you’re going to receive after the doctor takes your pulse.
Bob：不会，只会在你背上留一些红色印子。不过呢，还是要先让医生给你把脉，才会知道你要用哪种治疗法。
Henry: Cool. It sounds like magic.
Henry：酷耶。听起来像魔法。
Bob: I think so as well. The doctor may also prescribe you some Chinese medicine.
Bob：我也这样觉得。医生可能也会开一些中药给你。
看来 Henry 最后应该会去尝试中医疗法了
来复习单字吧！
acupoint (n.) 穴位
acupoint 意指「穴位」，它是不是长得和 acupuncture「针刺疗法」很像？没错！他们的字首都来自拉丁文 acus- (针)，加上字根 point (点) 再演变一下成了 acupoint，字面意思为「针刺的点」，也就能理解为「穴位」了。
The human body has hundreds of acupoints.
人体拥有上百个穴位。
soreness (n.) 酸痛感
sore 为形容词「酸痛的」，加上名词结尾 -ness 成为 soreness (酸痛感)，例如：relieve soreness (减缓酸痛)。
Herbal patches are said to help relieve soreness.
据说草本贴片有助于缓解酸痛。
cupping therapy (n.) 拔罐
cup 意指「杯子」，therapy 为「疗法」，因此 cupping therapy 指的即是「拔罐疗法」。拔罐会留下红印字，「红印子」英文为 red spots。
The athlete has a few red spots on his back from receiving cupping therapy.
那位运动员的背上有一些拔罐造成的红色印子。
take sb.’s pulse (phr.) 把脉
pulse 意指「脉搏」，take sb.’s pulse 即是「为某人把脉」。
My pulse shot up like crazy after I climbed seven floors.
我爬完七层楼后，脉搏快得疯狂。
The doctor took Tommy’s pulse after he went in for a checkup.
Tommy 进去检查然后医生帮他把脉。
