33. Medicated wine and black foods: A wise choice for men to nourish their kidneys.

The medicine's potency is doubled when combined with alcohol.

Medicated wine combines the effects of both alcohol and medicine, but its primary function is medicinal.

As the saying goes, "Wine is the best of all medicines," meaning that wine itself has medicinal properties. Moreover, wine can dissolve all the fat-soluble and water-soluble active ingredients in medicinal materials, greatly enhancing their efficacy.

"Wine enhances the effects of medicine, and medicine enhances the effects of wine," meaning that wine and medicine can mutually enhance each other's effects.

If a single dose of medicine can exert three-tenths of its efficacy, then when used in medicinal wine, it can reach six to eight-tenths of its efficacy.

Moreover, the alcohol and medicine are mixed together, which increases the potency of the alcohol. If you can usually drink half a glass of alcohol, you can only drink a sip of medicinal wine.

Medicated wines can be divided into animal-based medicinal wines, plant-based medicinal wines, combined animal and plant-based medicinal wines, and mineral-based medicinal wines.

Commonly used medicinal materials include ginseng, snake, wolfberry, deer antler, deer penis, cordyceps, and American ginseng.

Different types of alcohol have little impact on the therapeutic effect; men can choose the alcohol content and aroma according to their personal preferences.

Those with a low alcohol tolerance can choose low-alcohol spirits around 38°; those with a high alcohol tolerance can choose high-alcohol spirits around 52°.

Generally, we don't choose qujiu (a type of Chinese liquor) because it is fermented with yeast, and the aroma of the yeast will mix with the smell of the medicine, producing an odd taste.

Usually, aged baijiu or huangjiu are chosen, as they produce a light and fragrant aroma when mixed with medicinal herbs.

The advantage of baijiu (Chinese white liquor) is that it is not easily spoiled and can be stored for a long time.

The medicinal material can be placed whole, or cut into tablets or segments of 3-5 mm, but it is rarely ground into granules.

Because granules can easily make the medicine solution cloudy and reduce light transmittance, and granular drugs dissolve quickly and have a high concentration.

Large granules are only used if rapid dissolution is required.

Ground glass bottles are often chosen for storing medicinal wine, as they are easy to seal and prevent the medicine from oxidizing.

Dark-colored bottles are best. If you use a transparent bottle, be careful not to expose it to direct sunlight.

There are also specific guidelines for the ratio of medicine to alcohol.

Generally, the soaked medicinal herbs account for about 1/3 of the total volume of the medicinal wine.

There are specific methods for preserving and consuming medicinal wine.

Men can soak medicinal herbs in alcohol and store them at room temperature, but they should be kept sealed and protected from light. They should be shaken several times a day. This is called the "cold maceration method" and is the most commonly used method.

Another method is "hot boiling," which involves heating the medicinal herbs in wine to warm the body and relieve exterior symptoms.

However, this method causes the alcohol to evaporate easily, resulting in a lower alcohol content, and it is not suitable for long-term storage. Therefore, it is only suitable for short-term consumption.

When the color of the medicinal wine stops darkening, it indicates that the active ingredients of the medicine have stopped seeping out, the concentration of the medicinal wine has reached its maximum, and it is ready to be taken.

Generally speaking, animal-based medicinal wines should be soaked for 1 to 2 weeks before consumption, while plant-based medicinal wines can be consumed in 3 to 5 days.

Some precious medicinal herbs can be soaked repeatedly. When there is still an inch of liquid left before the herbs are finished drinking, new wine can be added to continue soaking.

When drinking, take one to one and a half ounces each time.

Men who are not good at drinking can mix the medicinal wine with rice wine or cold boiled water and drink it according to the prescribed amount.

There are no restrictions on the timing of taking tonic medicinal wines; however, it is best not to take medicinal wines for treatment on an empty stomach or with meals; and sedative medicinal wines are suitable to be taken 1 to 2 hours before bedtime.

Do not drink this kind of medicinal wine.

Do not consume medicinal wine if any of the following conditions are present: the wine is cloudy, contains obvious flocculent matter, has darkened in color, has an oily film on the surface, has a weaker aroma, or has a very obvious rancid smell.

Men should prepare medicinal wine under the guidance of a doctor to avoid unknowingly drinking homemade "bitter wine".

Black foods nourish the kidneys and prevent the heart from turning black.

The kidneys are the source of male youth and are of great significance to men. Nourishing the kidneys through food is the most natural and effective way to do so.

At this time, black foods begin to play a significant role. The concept of "black nourishing the kidneys" refers to black sesame seeds, black beans, kelp, and other black foods, which can help men nourish their kidneys, strengthen their bodies, and maintain youthfulness during the cold winter season!

Black fungus has many benefits besides nourishing the kidneys.

Black fungus is an excellent anti-cancer food. Due to its extremely high fiber content, it can effectively remove waste and carcinogens from blood vessels, prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and dilute carcinogens in the large intestine, thus helping to prevent colorectal cancer.

Black fungus also has the effects of regulating blood sugar, reducing blood viscosity, and lowering blood cholesterol.

Eating black fungus can increase satiety and help control weight.

Black fungus can dissolve and soften indigestible foreign objects such as hair, chaff, wood chips, sand, and metal shavings that are accidentally ingested.

To prevent and treat gastrointestinal discomfort or illnesses caused by various foreign objects, it is advisable to eat more black fungus, especially for men who work in fields such as hairdressing, mining, dust, sawing, repair, and road maintenance.

Black fungus also has a significant dissolving effect on endogenous foreign bodies such as gallstones, kidney stones, bladder stones, and fecal stones.

The fermentation and plant alkaloids contained in black fungus have the property of promoting the secretion of various glands in the digestive and urinary tracts, and working with these secretions to catalyze the expulsion of stones, lubricate the ducts, and facilitate the expulsion of stones.

At the same time, black fungus also contains a variety of minerals that can produce a strong chemical reaction with various stones, peeling, differentiating, and eroding the stones, causing them to shrink and be expelled.

Regular consumption of black fungus can also help prevent conditions such as thrombosis.

Black rice, a staple food, also nourishes the kidneys.

Black rice contains 18 kinds of amino acids, as well as trace elements such as selenium, iron, and zinc, and vitamins B1 and B2. It has extremely high nutritional value and can nourish the kidneys, strengthen the spleen, improve eyesight, and promote blood circulation.

Long-term consumption of black rice can promote sleep and treat symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, anemia, gray hair, eye diseases, and soreness in the waist and legs.

Black beans help men become stronger and more nourished.

Black beans are rich in protein, fat, carbohydrates, as well as nutrients such as carotene, vitamins B1, B2, and niacin. They can nourish the liver and kidneys, and healthy liver and kidneys are very helpful in improving eyesight.

In addition, black beans are rich in antioxidants-anthocyanins-and vitamin A, which is beneficial to the eyes.

These two important nutrients not only relieve eye fatigue but also help prevent vision loss.

Here's a trick for men: soak black beans in aged vinegar.

Because aged vinegar can promote the dissolution of nutrients in black beans, it helps to efficiently absorb nutrients.

Making vinegar-soaked black beans is very simple. First, prepare a frying pan, put in the black beans but no oil, and stir-fry over medium heat for about 5 minutes. After the black bean skins burst open, turn to low heat and stir-fry for another 5 minutes, being careful not to burn them.

After frying the black beans, let them cool for 15 minutes, then put them into a clean container with a lid. Add aged vinegar and soak for about two hours. Once the black beans have absorbed the vinegar, they are ready to eat.

Besides helping to prevent vision loss, black beans soaked in vinegar are also very effective in treating chronic fatigue, coldness, shoulder pain, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, all of which are common ailments among office workers.

Black beans soaked in vinegar can be eaten on the same day they are made, and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to six months, so you can make a larger batch each time.

Black beans have a natural sweetness, and black beans soaked in vinegar have a mellow flavor and taste quite good.

If you don't like the sour taste of vinegar, you can add a small amount of honey.

Kelp and seaweed enhance libido and make men more masculine.

Among foods that enhance libido and improve sexual function, seaweed such as kelp and nori are undoubtedly a very important category.

Seaweed is rich in iodine and other nutrients, which can help ensure the normal function of the thyroid gland.

Men with hypothyroidism experience impaired metabolism of male hormones, leading to symptoms such as low libido and decreased sexual function. Seaweed can help address this deficiency.

In addition, seaweed is rich in zinc.

Zinc deficiency in men can lead to a decrease in sperm count and quality, as well as a decline in sexual and reproductive function. Therefore, seaweed is a good remedy for men who are unable to enjoy sexual happiness due to zinc deficiency.

Among seaweed foods, kelp has the effect of soothing the liver and regulating qi.

The liver is closely related to sexual function. On the one hand, the liver governs emotions. Only when emotions are smooth and the flow of qi is unobstructed can a person generate sexual desire and complete sexual activities normally. On the other hand, the liver governs blood. Only when liver blood is sufficient can it adequately supply the penis and maintain its erection and firmness.

In terms of composition, kelp contains some polysaccharides and alcohols, which have anticoagulant effects, are beneficial to vascular endothelial cells, can prevent atherosclerosis, and thus reduce the occurrence of erectile dysfunction.

Seaweed and eggs can be made into a soup with shrimp or greens, which is said to have aphrodisiac effects. Kelp can be steamed to retain its flavor and nutrients.