Effects of Alcohol on the Human Body
Effects of Alcohol on the Human Body
Traditional Chinese medicine holds: "Alcohol is the essence of grains and water, pungent and sweet, warm in nature, entering the heart and liver meridians, capable of activating blood, removing stasis, unblocking meridians, dispelling wind and cold, eliminating accumulation, warming the interior, and enhancing drug efficacy." *Bencao Bei Yao* records: "Moderate drinking harmonizes blood and qi, strengthens spirit, wards off cold, enhances mood, drives away evil, removes filth, warms internal organs, and promotes drug action. Excessive drinking injures spirit and depletes blood, damages the stomach, exhausts essence, triggers fire, generates phlegm, provokes anger, and fuels desire, leading to damp-heat diseases."
Modern medicine states: "Moderate intake benefits, excessive intake harms." Moderate drinking increases saliva and gastric juice secretion, promotes digestion and absorption, enhances blood circulation, dilates blood vessels, increases cerebral blood flow; it stimulates mental activity, boosts appetite, strengthens the heart, improves alertness, aids sleep, and relieves fatigue. Excessive drinking harms health.
Alcohol has dual effects—both nourishing and medicinal. Proper consumption accelerates blood circulation, activates blood flow, reduces cardiac load, and effectively prevents cardiovascular diseases. Traditionally, people believed those with coronary heart disease must abstain completely. But studies show: highest blood pressure among alcoholics, followed by non-drinkers, while moderate drinkers have the lowest, most normal blood pressure. Research also finds moderate drinking increases blood protein levels, reducing the risk of arteriosclerosis and heart/lung diseases. Why does moderate drinking reduce heart disease risk? A biologist discovered plant estrogen in strong whiskey, revealing its secret: this estrogen increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, thus preventing heart disease. Ancient Chinese medicine believed alcohol could unblock meridians. As stated: "Alcohol is the leader among all medicines"—a supreme evaluation of its medicinal value. This tradition continues today, using alcohol to soak herbs for prevention and treatment.
Since fruit wines, huangjiu, and beer are low-alcohol beverages rich in nutrients, amino acids, and vitamins, regular moderate consumption undoubtedly benefits health. If possible, consistently drinking small amounts of natural grape wine can strengthen the heart, enrich blood, soften blood vessels, and treat various types of anemia. Grape wine contains sugars, alcohols, acids, proteins, minerals, esters, amino acids, and essential vitamins like vitamin C, B6, and D—supporting human growth and disease prevention. Some doctors recommend: low-blood-pressure patients drink 15 ml of clove wine daily as an effective auxiliary therapy. Beer, rich in carbon dioxide, has remarkable cooling and heat-relieving properties, making it an ideal refreshing, nutritious drink in summer—quenching thirst, aiding digestion, strengthening the spleen and stomach, stimulating appetite, and offering therapeutic benefits for conditions like hypertension and anemia. Medicinal wines fall into two categories: tonifying wines and medicinal wines. The former nourish the body and promote health—classified as beverage wines; the latter are primarily for treating diseases. Physiological studies show that after moderate drinking, pancreatic hormones increase significantly. This digestive hormone secreted by the pancreas greatly benefits health. As people age, especially entering middle and old age, bodily functions decline—moderate drinking is thus beneficial for health.