Medicated wine, as a health drink that integrates traditional medical wisdom and wine culture, is deeply loved by people. By combining Chinese medicinal herbs with wine, it not only retains the characteristics of promoting blood circulation and relaxing muscles and tendons of wine, but also effectively extracts the active ingredients in the herbs through alcohol as a solvent, making the medicinal effects more significant and easy for the body to absorb. This ancient health drink has a long history and can be traced back to ancient times, when people were already aware of the supportive role of wine in medicine.
In the long history of Chinese culture, the relationship between wine and medicine is inseparable. The ancients discovered that fermented fruit juice could alleviate some disease symptoms, which led to the exploration of combining wine and medicine. The “Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon” discusses the use of medicated wine, indicating that as early as the Warring States period, the medical value of medicated wine was well understood. Modern medicated wines mostly use high-quality white spirits as a base because they can better dissolve the effective ingredients in the herbs. However, depending on individual constitution or needs, low-alcohol wine can also be chosen as an alternative, which may require a longer soaking time.
Medicated wine has a wide range of efficacy, with different formulas targeting different ailments. For example, deer antler wine and clam wine help improve symptoms of yang deficiency; angelica wine and prepared rehmannia wine are effective for blood deficiency, palpitations, and insomnia; ginseng wine and codonopsis wine are suitable for those with qi deficiency and fatigue; and added eight treasures wine and shiquan dabu wine are excellent for tonifying both qi and blood. They not only treat diseases but also enhance physical fitness, delay aging, and improve quality of life.
There are various methods for making medicated wine, including cold soaking and hot soaking. Homemade versions typically use the cold soaking method, where herbs are placed in a container with wine, sealed, soaked for a period, and then filtered. This simple and enjoyable process allows people to personally prepare medicated wine that suits their constitution at home.
In general, medicated wine not only carries profound cultural heritage but also continues traditional wisdom in modern society. With its unique form, it provides a convenient and effective self-care method for people pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Through proper consumption, medicated wine can benefit both the body and mind, becoming a beautiful part of daily health maintenance.
