What to do after drinking alcohol? When it comes to this question, people often mention the saying "Ge flowers and Ge roots can sober you up." In the ancient book "Mingyi Bie Lu," there are clear records of various medicines with the effect of sobering up, including Ge flowers, Di Yu, and olives.
What is Ge root? Medicinal Ge root comes from the dried roots of a perennial deciduous vine plant called wild Ge (or dry Ge), which is a Chinese herbal medicine with a cool and exterior-releasing effect. Ge root has a long history in Chinese medicine and was already recorded in the classic book of Chinese medicine, "Shennong Ben Cao Jing," where it was said to "resolve various poisons," which should include the poisoning caused by drinking alcohol.
The earliest use of Ge root for sobering up can be traced back to the "Zhouhou Beiji Fang" by Ge Hong in the Jin Dynasty, which states: "To treat severe drunkenness and continuous discomfort...drink one to two liters of fresh Ge root juice. It can also be boiled and drunk." In the Tang Dynasty, Zhen Quan's "Yao Xing Lun" clearly stated that Ge root can "stimulate appetite, aid digestion, and sober up from alcohol poisoning." Later, Chen Cangqi of the Yong Dynasty described in his book "Ben Cao Shi Yi" that Ge root can be steamed and eaten to "eliminate alcohol poisoning and prevent hunger."
Sun Siyao recorded in the "Beiji Qianjin Yao Fang" that drinking fresh Ge root juice can treat "unconsciousness due to drunkenness." Based on this, people often crush fresh Ge root, extract the juice, and drink about 300 milliliters of it, or use dried Ge root to boil and extract the medicinal juice for consumption. This can effectively sober up the intoxicated person by clearing heat and generating fluids. Due to its sweet and cool nature, Ge root can counteract the damp heat of alcohol, invigorate the stomach Qi, and effectively treat stomach weakness, heat, thirst, and alcohol-induced vomiting.
In Zhang Zhongjing's "Shanghan Lun" during the Eastern Han Dynasty, there is a famous formula called Ge Gen Fen Lian Tang, which is primarily used to treat superficial heat and diarrhea. Xu Hong in the Ming Dynasty said in his book "Jin Jing Nei Tai Fang Yi" that this formula "can treat hot wheezing in people with alcohol addiction, and its application is unlimited." Analyzing the composition of this prescription, Huang Cen and Huang Lian can relieve alcohol-induced heat and toxicity, and Ge root can also sober up. Therefore, this formula is also suitable for excessive drinking leading to vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain.
According to the analysis of its components, Ge root contains saponins and isoflavones, which can coordinate the immune system and endocrine system, improve metabolic disorders caused by excessive alcohol consumption, protect the liver, and show significant sobering effects. Modern research has provided a scientific basis for understanding the mechanism of Ge root's sobering effect.
