David:I understand that Chinese medicine is based more on natural products while western medicine more on chemical products. Are Chinese people more accustomed to Chinese medicine?
我知道中医更多地注重天然药物而西医则更多注重化学药品。比起西药，中国人是不是更多习惯吃中药？

You:It is hard to tell. Because as far as I know, Chinese medcine and western medcine had their own characteristics, with differents affects for a specific illnesses. For example, one of Chinese medcines' benefits is in specific areas such as certain chronic diseases.
很难说。因为中药和西药各有各的特点和效力，例如，对某些特定的慢性病来说，中药要比西药好。

David:What other differences are there between Chinese and western medicine?
那么中药都有哪些优势呢？

You:Since Chinese medicine believes that the different parts of the human body are all interrelated, it strives to bring balance to the body as a whole. In contrast, western medicine considers the human body as a machine made up of individual and independent parts.
治疗慢性病方面吧。中医认为，人身体里的各个部位都是相互影响的，所以中医更注重对整个身体的调理。而西医的治疗方法是把人体当作一台由许多零件组成的机器来之治疗，因此更注意对人体部分的调节。

David:It sounds like Chinese medicine is more wholesome than western medicine. However, 70% of the medicine is western medicine. Why do people buy western medicine instead of Chinese medicine?
事实上，听起来好像中药比西药更有益于健康。然而，人们消耗的西药占总消耗药量的 70% 。既然中药真的比西药好，为什么人们还去买西药？

You:As I mentioned earlier, Chinese medicine is more effective for specific diseases. Chinese medicine does not represent the whole pharmaceutical market, only about 20-25% of it. There are certain categories of pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics that are not included in Chinese traditional medicine. 　
正如我刚才所说，中药治疗某些特殊疾病的确很有效，但它在所有药品中只占 20% 到 25% 的比例，并没有成为整个医药市场的中流砥柱。像抗生素之类的药品，在传统中药当中是没有的。

David:But antibiotics can be harmful if they are taken too often. All in all, Chinese medicine sounds healthier. Maybe I should go see a Chinese doctor if I get sick. Thanks.
但是经常服用抗生素对人体有害。总之，中药似乎更有益于身体健康。如果我生病的话或许我应当去看中医。谢谢！