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There are many varieties of fermented rice wine, with varying degrees of purity. Only those brewed from rice are suitable for medicinal use. The *Classic of Medicine* (Huangdi Neijing) states: "Wine is the liquid of heat-producing grains; its nature is fierce." The sea freezes into ice under extreme cold, yet wine never freezes, clearly demonstrating its hot nature, which stands out among all substances. However, when used in pharmaceutical preparation, it is employed to accelerate the action of drugs. For conditions involving pain in the limbs and bones, the power of wine is necessary to circulate freely through the meridians, opening and unblocking them. Excessive consumption leads to physical deterioration and mental confusion due to its toxicity.

In the past, three people traveled far while exposed to dew. One ate a full meal, one drank wine, and one fasted. The fasting person died, the well-fed person fell ill, but the one who drank wine remained healthy. This demonstrates that wine can ward off cold and repel evil toxins. However, taken in small amounts, it harmonizes the blood vessels and aids in repelling evil and cold; taken in excess, it aggravates fire and disturbs the mind, causing harm. Those taking cinnabar (Zhusha), milkstone (Zhongru), or other mineral drugs should not consume wine long-term, as wine draws the qi of these minerals downward, potentially transforming stagnant blood in the limbs into carbuncles and sores.

The *Ling Shu* chapter of the *Huangdi Neijing* states: "Wine is the essence of water and grain, the liquid of cooked grain. Its qi is rapid and fierce. Upon entering the stomach, it causes gastric distension; its qi rebels upward, filling the chest. The liver floats and the gallbladder becomes horizontal, resembling a brave warrior who does not know how to avoid danger." Brewing methods vary, and names are numerous. The best quality is made from glutinous rice and yeast (qu). It guides drug efficacy along the meridians most swiftly. Wines with pungent flavors disperse and circulate throughout the body's surface, reaching even the highest points of the head. Sweet wines moderate the middle jiao. Bitter wines descend. Bland wines promote urination and descend rapidly.

Drinking wine hot injures the lungs; drinking it warm injures the spleen and stomach. Consuming it in moderation nourishes the spleen and supports the liver, enhances complexion, benefits the skin, unblocks blood vessels, thickens the intestines and stomach, resists mist and damp-heat pathogens, combats wind-cold, harmonizes the meridians, and effectively assists drug potency. It drives away evils, repels demons, relieves sorrow, stimulates interest, expresses thoughts, and speaks freely. However, indulging in wine aggravates fire and disturbs the nature: the spleen becomes sluggish due to fire, the stomach vomits due to fire, the heart becomes confused and manic due to fire, the liver becomes irritable due to fire, the gallbladder loses fear due to fire, and the kidneys suffer depletion of essence due to fire. This rots the stomach and intestines, steams the sinews and melts the marrow, incites anger and lust, scatters essence and consumes blood, causes ministerial fire to flare recklessly, scorches lung metal, generates phlegm, cough, hemoptysis, and consumptive injuries.

Moreover, people know to abstain from morning drinking but do not realize that night drinking is even more harmful. Sleeping after getting drunk and overeating causes heat-carbuncles in the triple burner, damaging the heart and eyes. Since night qi should converge, wine counteracts this by dispersing it. Over time, the source of essence is depleted. Mild cases lead to paralysis, consumptive diseases, and chronic ailments; severe cases damage the spirit and shorten lifespan, causing significant harm.

When used medicinally, different preparations have different indications: Ginger wine treats jue-ni (cold extremities) and ke-wu (sudden fright/external pathogen invasion); Purple perilla wine manages convulsions and hemiplegia; Scallion and fermented soybean wine resolves irritability and dispels wind-cold; Mulberry fruit wine tonifies the five zang organs to brighten the eyes and ears; Dog meat juice wine greatly tonifies primal yang; Grape wine effectively reduces phlegm and repels evil; Achyranthes root (Niuxi) with dried rehmannia (Shengdihuang) wine nourishes yin deficiency; Goji berry with epimedium (Yinyanghuo) wine supports impotence. Additionally, she-jiu (community wine) placed in an infant's mouth can help them speak early; held in the mouth and sprayed on walls repels mosquitoes and flies. Distilled liquor (shaojiu) disperses cold and breaks stagnation, but its dryness consumes blood, damages the stomach and gallbladder, and harms people severely. Wine lees applied to bruises promote blood circulation, relieve pain, and can also treat snake bites and frostbite.

Main Indications (Integrated with Smallpox/Rash Diseases): Unblocks blood vessels and circulates through the meridians. For any smallpox/rash detoxifying herbs, exterior-releasing herbs, or blood-invigorating herbs where the moistening and purgative properties need to be removed, they must be soaked, washed, or stir-fried with wine to circulate throughout the body's surface. However, excessive consumption causes itching and aggravates fire; caution is advised.