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Alcohol and cold beverages each have three benefits: first, they nourish the Lung by utilizing the cold within warmth; second, they nourish the Spleen by utilizing the warmth within cold; third, they prevent people from drinking excessively. However, those who are fond of drinking and those with Cold in the Middle Jiao should not consume them.

Zhu Danxi said: The Materia Medica only states that alcohol is extremely hot and toxic, but does not mention that it generates damp-heat resembling Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo), which can be verified by the aversion to cold and shivering seen after drunkenness. Its nature is good at ascending and dispersing, severely damaging Lung Qi, assisting Fire to generate Phlegm, thereby transforming into various diseases. For mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, spontaneous sweating, pain and itching, nasal congestion, epistaxis (nosebleed), diarrhea and dysentery, or Heart-Spleen Stomach pain, which can still be dispersed and expelled; for severe cases, it leads to Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst), internal carbuncles, Fei Wei (Lung Atrophy), internal hemorrhoids, Gu Zhang (Drum-like Distension), blindness, asthma, Lao Sou (Consumptive Cough), epilepsy, Tan Ge (Phlegm Obstruction), hematemesis (vomiting blood), and even diseases difficult to name. Tao Hongjing said: Drinking too much damages the Spirit and shortens lifespan; can one not exercise restraint to preserve health? All rice wines are toxic; wine that does not cast a clear reflection when poured on a person should not be consumed. Mixing wine with milk causes Qi stagnation; eating beef with wine causes worms to grow in the abdomen. One must not lie down after drinking. All sweets are contraindicated with alcohol. Alcohol toxicity can be resolved with Ge Hua (Flos Puerariae) and Hong Dou (Adzuki Bean). There are many types of wine, but only those brewed with glutinous rice flour and Qu (fermentation starter) are suitable for medicinal use. Tian Zao (Sweet Fermented Rice Paste) tastes salty and is warm in nature, non-toxic. It treats Cold Qi in the Middle Jiao, aids digestion, removes fishy odors, and eliminates toxins from all vegetables; it prevents food from spoiling during storage, softens mixed substances, moistens the skin, and regulates the Zang-Fu organs. Wine aged less than three years, when collected with a vessel, can be used to massage Feng Sao (wind-induced skin eruptions), stop vomiting and hiccups, resist Wind-Cold, treat bruising and blood stasis from trauma, soak and wash frostbite, and apply to snake and bee stings. Hong Qu Jiu (Red Yeast Rice Wine) is extremely hot and toxic. It triggers Hong Xiang Jiao (Tropical Ulcer/Foot Rot), Chang Feng (Intestinal Wind), and Tan Chuan (Phlegmatic Asthma). It is particularly excellent for breaking Blood stasis, detoxifying, warding off Mountain Miasma Cold Qi, and treating traumatic injuries.

Vinegar
V收敛s throat sores, reduces abscesses, treats Jaundice, dissipates Water-Dampness, breaks Food Retention, postpartum Blood Dizziness can be fumigated with vinegar, and burning wine or meat toxin vomiting like pouring can be treated.

Vinegar means "to arrange," capable of arranging the Five Flavors to achieve balance. It tastes sour and is non-toxic. It treats throat sores by astringing them, reduces abscesses, treats Huang Dan (Jaundice), dissipates Water-Qi, aids digestion, and breaks hard accumulations of Zheng Ku (masses). To treat Women's Blood-Qi Heart-Stomach pain and postpartum dizziness due to Blood deficiency, heat charcoal until red, throw it into vinegar, and allow the patient to inhale the vinegar vapor frequently, as Sour flavors benefit Blood. For illness caused by overeating burning wine, vegetable, fish, or meat toxins, drink one cup of vinegar immediately to induce vomiting. It also treats traumatic injuries and metal wounds, killing evil toxins. Grinding Xiong Huang (Realgar) and applying it to Bee Wasp stings utilizes its astringent property to prevent dispersion. Excessive consumption damages complexion, injures Muscle and Zang-Fu organs, harms teeth and sinews/bones, and offers no benefit to men. There are Mi Cu (Rice Vinegar), Mai Cu (Wheat Vinegar), and Zao Cu (Date Vinegar); Rice Vinegar is mostly used medicinally because it retains complete Grain Qi. Aged vinegar is better. However, Southern vinegar made from fried rice is the strongest. For medicinal use, mix one part vinegar with two parts water. Northern vinegar is made by taking one dou of late rice, cooking it into rice, fermenting with Qing Hao (Artemisia Annua) for three days until yellow, adding two bowls of cold water per bowl of rice, and four liang of Shao Jiu Qu (Baijiu Starter), sealing it in a jar, and stirring every morning with a willow stick after seven days. After forty-nine days, remove dregs and boil; this vinegar is not very strong, initially very bitter, hence called Ku Jiu (Bitter Wine).

Sauce
Sauce tastes salty and sour, though cold and purgative, it harmonizes the Five Zang organs, removes Heat, stops irritability, resolves drug injury, and relieves pain from fire burns or wasp stings on fingers.

Sauce means "to harmonize." Harmonizing the Five Flavors to calm the Five Zang organs, therefore the Sages could not do without it. Soy sauce that is aged is good. Non-toxic. It removes Heat, stops irritability and fullness, kills toxins from hundred medicines, scalds/burns, and all Snake Insect, Wasp, Fish Meat, Vegetable Mushroom toxins causing Xiao Er Wu Gu (Childhood Innocent) malnutrition. There are also Rou Jiang (Meat Sauce) and Yu Jiang (Fish Sauce), both called Xi (Acidic Condiment), not used medicinally. Yu Ren Jiang (Elm Kernel Sauce) is also pungent and delicious, kills various insects, promotes urination and defecation, treats Evil Qi in Heart and Abdomen, but should not be eaten in excess. Wu Yi Jiang (Murraya Sauce) has stronger efficacy than Elm Sauce; excessive consumption causes hair loss; if pregnant women eat it with Sparrow meat, the child's face will turn black.

Maltose
Maltose is sweet and warm, tonifies Lung Deficiency, stops thirst, eliminates Phlegm and Cough naturally, warms Stomach, promotes appetite, further eliminates Blood Stasis; distension, vomiting, Damp-Heat should avoid containing these.

Cook Glutinous Rice into porridge, wait until cool, add Mai Ya (Malt), clarify, then boil again until amber-purple. The soft version is called Jiao Yi (Gelatinous Maltose), widely used in Jian Zhong Tang (Middle-Joint Decoction). The version that pulls white and solidifies strongly is called Yi Tang (Malt Sugar), not used medicinally. Various grains can make maltose, but Glutinous Rice is best. Non-toxic, enters Foot Taiyin Meridian. Tonifies deficiency and exhaustion, moistens Lung, stops thirst, eliminates Phlegm, stops cough, arrests sweating; also tonifies Middle Qi, strengthens Spleen and Stomach, promotes diet; removes retained Blood, stops hematemesis, and treats bruising and blood stasis from trauma; when charred and taken with wine, it expels foul blood; for bone stuck in throat or accidentally swallowed coins/rings, taking it helps expulsion. Contraindicated for those with Fullness in the Middle and vomiting. Danxi said: It belongs to Earth and is formed by Fire, greatly aggravating Heat within Dampness. Yan Yi states it moves Spleen Wind, referring to its peripheral effects.

Rock Sugar
Rock sugar, after refining, has a warm nature, discussed for Empty-Heat in Heart, Lung, and Large Intestine, assists Stomach, harmonizes Middle, stops irritability and thirst; excessive intake causes worms and damages tooth roots.

This is made by boiling and refining Sugarcane Juice. It tastes sweet and is non-toxic. Moistens Heart and Lung, removes Heat from Heart, Lung, and Large Intestine, assists Spleen, harmonizes Middle, eliminates irritability, stops thirst. Children eating too much develop Enterobius vermicularis (pinworms), wasting muscle, damaging teeth, causing Gan Ji (malnutrition). Danxi said: It generates Stomach Fire, which is the cause of dental damage. This is not Earth controlling Water, but Hot Earth generating Fire and Heat. He also said: Sweet generates Dampness, Dampness generates Fire. Those who eat many dates suffer dental caries, for the same reason. Those with abdominal fullness should not use it, due to its sweetness. Eating it with Crucian Carp causes Gan Worms; eating it with Malva verticillata generates Liu Li (flowing ulcers/sores); eating it with Bamboo Shoots causes the shoots not to digest, forming [blockage], leading to heavy body and inability to walk. Nai Tang (Milk Candy) comes from Zhejiang, made by mixing Rock Sugar and Cow Milk, boiling into blocks, can be made into cakes, yellow color, also called Nian Tang (Kneaded Sugar), easy to digest. Tastes sweet, cold in nature, cold and purgative, non-toxic. Treats Heart and Abdominal Heat Distension, thirst, brightens eyes, treats Re Mo (Hot Membrane) in eyes. Also combined with Date Flesh and Ju Sheng Zi (Sesame) into pills, take one or two pills dissolved in mouth after meals, moistens Lung Qi, assists Zang-Fu fluids.

Honey
Honey is sweet and neutral, likes entering Spleen, tonifies Middle, stops pain, treats Dysentery and Epilepsy miraculously, eliminates irritability, stops thirst, moistens dry stool, suitable for Red Eyes and oral/dental sores.

There is honey from trees, from soil, from rocks, and from household beekeeping; their honey is the same. But Soil Honey tastes alkaline; Household Honey is harvested in small quantities and lacks aroma; Mountain Honey is mostly from rocks and ancient trees, obtained after one or two years, with pure and rich aroma. Yan Yi says: Wax should be new, Honey should be aged. Newly collected is thin and yellow; after long storage, it becomes white and sandy. Non-toxic. Sweet and bitter enter Spleen, thus it nourishes Spleen Qi, tonifies Middle deficiencies, stops abdominal pain, treats Chang Pi (Intestinal Abscess), Chi Bai Li (Dysentery with blood and mucus), various Convulsions and Epilepsy, eliminates mental restlessness and inability to eat, moistens Lung Dryness, treats Xiao Ke (Wasting-Thirst), difficult defecation, and anal swelling/blockage. Also treats Zhu Guan (Pearl Tube - eye condition), Fu Yi (Skin Opacity), Red Swelling, oral/tongue sores, Dental Gan Ji. For fire burns, scalds, hot oil burns, Erysipelas, sores on glans penis, various malignant sores and Leprosy, apply externally. It harmonizes hundred medicines, resolves various toxins, calms Zang-Fu organs, long-term use strengthens will and prevents aging. Contraindicated for those with Cold-Damp in the Middle. Sun Simiao said: Do not eat raw honey in the seventh month, as it may suddenly cause Fa Huo Luan (epidemic cholera-like disorder); excessive intake also generates various Winds. Refining honey must involve boiling with fire, covering with paper overnight until wax is removed from the paper, then boiling until color changes; approximately twelve taels remain from one jin, which is ideal, do not over-boil.