My father recently received a box of saffron and a box of cordyceps. He wants to soak them in alcohol and consume them as medicinal wine. Both of these are traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients and I'm a bit concerned. Can saffron and cordyceps be soaked in alcohol?
Can Saffron and Cordyceps be Soaked in Alcohol?
Yes, they can.
Saffron has a sweet taste and neutral nature. It has the effects of promoting blood circulation, resolving stasis, relieving depression, and calming the mind. It is mainly used to treat female irregular menstruation, amenorrhea, and postpartum lochia retention, among other conditions. Cordyceps is a nourishing herb with a sweet taste and neutral nature. It has the effects of tonifying the lungs and kidneys, stopping coughing, nourishing deficiencies, and replenishing essence and qi. Alcohol is a good semi-polar organic solvent. The active ingredients in saffron and cordyceps are easily soluble in alcohol. There is no drug conflict between the three and they can enhance the effects of the medicine and stabilize its properties. Therefore, saffron and cordyceps can be soaked in alcohol.
What are the Benefits of Saffron and Cordyceps Wine?
Tonifying Kidneys and Enhancing Essence
Saffron has the ability to promote blood circulation and the active ingredients in it can increase renal blood flow, maintain the patency of renal capillaries, and preserve renal function, thereby tonifying the kidneys and improving male sexual function. Cordyceps enters the kidney meridian and has the effect of tonifying the kidneys and enhancing essence. Saffron and cordyceps wine can be beneficial for conditions such as impotence, premature ejaculation, weak lower back and knees, and hearing loss.
Promoting Blood Circulation and Regulating Menstruation
Saffron has a strong effect of promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis. It can clear the body's blood vessels and meridians, maintaining their patency. It has certain auxiliary therapeutic effects on conditions such as amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea caused by blood stasis, scanty menstrual flow, and traumatic swelling and pain.
Stopping Cough and Dissolving Phlegm
Cordyceps enters the lung meridian and has the effects of tonifying the lungs and stopping coughing. The active ingredients in it can help to dilate the bronchi and clear the "garbage" in the lungs and bronchi, thereby relieving asthma, expelling phlegm, stopping coughing, and preventing pulmonary emphysema.
Boosting Immunity
The extract from saffron can enhance the immune function of cells, help cells resist bacterial and viral infections, and strengthen the ability of cells to engulf foreign substances. The components in cordyceps can eliminate aging and necrotic cellular tissues, fight against viruses, bacteria, and other microbial infections, increase the number of immune system cells and tissues, promote antibody production, and enhance the function of immune cells. Therefore, saffron and cordyceps wine can help boost immunity.
Nourishing the Heart and Brain
Saffron has a strong effect of promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis. It can help dilate the blood vessels of the heart and brain, maintain their patency, improve the heart's tolerance to oxygen deficiency, and reduce the burden on the heart and brain. The active ingredients in cordyceps can help clean the blood vessels of the heart and brain, reduce vascular resistance, restore vascular elasticity, improve blood circulation, help lower blood pressure and blood lipid levels, and enhance the heart's tolerance to oxygen consumption. Therefore, saffron and cordyceps wine can nourish the heart and brain.
How to Make Saffron and Cordyceps Wine?
Ingredients: 4 grams of saffron, 10 grams of cordyceps, 1000 milliliters of white wine.
Instructions:
1. Wash the cordyceps and cut it into coarse powder.
2. Put the cordyceps and saffron into a wine jar.
3. Pour in the white wine, seal the jar, and shake well.
4. Let it sit for about 15-30 days before consuming.
5. Take 10-20 milliliters at a time, 1-2 times a day, after meals.
What Precautions Should be Taken When Drinking Saffron and Cordyceps Wine?
1. Do not consume excessive amounts
It is generally recommended to drink 10-20 milliliters of saffron and cordyceps wine at a time, 1-2 times a day. Excessive consumption of saffron can cause skin bleeding or excessive internal heat. Cordyceps contains a certain amount of arsenic, and long-term excessive consumption may lead to chronic poisoning.
2. Do not consume on an empty stomach
Alcohol can stimulate the gastrointestinal tract. If consumed on an empty stomach, it may affect digestion and cause discomfort in the digestive system. It is recommended to take saffron and cordyceps wine after meals.
3. Prevent allergic reactions
Some individuals may be allergic to saffron, cordyceps, or alcohol, which can cause itching, rashes, abdominal pain, and nausea. If unsure about allergies, it is advisable to start with a small amount and continue consumption if there are no adverse reactions.
Who Should Not Drink Saffron and Cordyceps Wine?
1. Pregnant women
Saffron has a strong effect of promoting blood circulation, which can stimulate uterine smooth muscles and cause contractions, potentially leading to miscarriage. Additionally, alcohol is not beneficial for fetal growth and development.
2. Patients with gastric or intestinal ulcers or bleeding
The blood circulation promoting effects of saffron and the stimulation from alcohol can irritate the stomach and intestines, potentially causing ulcer rupture or increased bleeding, leading to severe bleeding risks. Therefore, those with gastric or intestinal ulcers or bleeding should not consume saffron and cordyceps wine.
3. Yin deficiency with excessive heat
Both cordyceps and alcohol have warm properties. Cordyceps has a strong tonifying effect on the kidneys and essence, and excessive consumption of saffron and cordyceps wine may exacerbate yin deficiency symptoms such as dry throat, bleeding gums, hot flashes, and night sweats.
4. Damp-heat accumulation in the body
Saffron and cordyceps wine have strong nourishing effects and can be greasy in nature. Consumption by individuals with damp-heat accumulation may aggravate symptoms such as heaviness in the body, sticky stools, and a yellowish and greasy tongue coating.
5. Individuals with fever due to external pathogenic factors
Cordyceps has warm and greasy properties, and consuming saffron and cordyceps wine during a cold or fever may cause the pathogenic factors to stagnate in the body, exacerbating the fever symptoms or causing other discomfort.
6. Minors
Saffron and cordyceps both have strong tonifying effects on kidney yang, and some components in cordyceps have effects similar to androgens. Minors' physical and mental development is not yet complete, and consuming saffron and cordyceps wine may lead to premature sexual development.
7. Hypertensive patients
Hypertensive patients should use caution when consuming saffron and cordyceps wine, as alcohol can stimulate vasoconstriction, leading to a direct increase in blood pressure and causing symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and palpitations.
