Any Advice or Experiences with Wine as a “Medicine”? 🍷

[Beggar for the Spirit]

Many people seem to enjoy the taste of wine. As for me, I have never really liked any kind of alcohol.  However, if a person is having some stomach problems or gastrointestinal issues, well the Oxford Companion to Wine describes wine as “man’s oldest documented medicine” which we know is in harmony with the Bible.  We also have an article that quoted the book The Origins and Ancient History of Wine which reported: “It has been shown experimentally that living typhoid and other dangerous microbes rapidly die when mixed with wine.”

 

So the purpose of this topic is to ask:

• Has anyone had any experience with wine helping their stomach issues?
• Which wines might be the best “medicine”?
• And is it best to drink wine before or during or after eating a meal? 

Looking forward to your comments, thanks 🍷 

 

Edited 10 hours ago by Beggar for the Spirit

[Amygdala]

Hello dear brother Neil, that is definitely an interesting question. I am not a wine expert, as I also rarely drink and feel similarly with certain wines, but I can perhaps just share with you a brief word of caution. Wine maybe good for perhaps akute infections, such as bacterial (typhoid) or perhaps even viral or parasitic infections as you described above. But for anyone suffering for a  time with some kind of stomach condition on a chronically ill basis, wine would be contraindicated. Why is that? Wine would increase acid production in the stomach. So if someone suffers with stomach ulcers, acid reflex, gastritis, takes medication, has divertikels, morbus crohn, colitus, or some kind of stomach mucous inflammation, alcohol of any kind could make those conditions worse. Alcohol is acidy, contains histamine, and will increase stomach acid production, so has contraindication effects. 

 

If you are suffering from stomach issues, best is to seek out a doctor and get tested for any infections, and if none, then to get to the underlying reason for it. Even sometimes healthy people can develop a problem with FODMAP, and need to avoid certain foods for a time, but then can resume after the stomach settles again. If you are living in the US, perhaps a functional doctor can help with diagnosis, and an experienced naturopath can assist with natural remedies. Get better soon. 

[cme]

I understand its a "particular" wine. 

[Dages]

About stomach issue you may want to test Kefir (not a wine) as a drink (not yogurt).

 

It has helped me very well with some issue (acid/reflux).

This isn't really a medicine, it's just natural stuff. You can make your own quite easily.

 

 

[computerwiz]

8 hours ago, Beggar for the Spirit said:

Has anyone had any experience with wine helping their stomach issues?

 

Nope....I've had the opposite experience though.

 

8 hours ago, Beggar for the Spirit said:

Which wines might be the best “medicine”?

 

Just my opinion, but probably "none".

 

It is my understanding that the % of alcohol we have in today's beers & wines are higher than previously.  And if it isn't high in alcohol, it's high in sugar.  Therefore, more skewed towards the harmful side of things, rather than medicinal.

 

 

8 hours ago, Beggar for the Spirit said:

And is it best to drink wine before or during or after eating a meal?

 

I would say during, purely for the anti-microbial effects (if any) and so you end up eating less.  Drinking before could make you hungrier.  And drinking afterwards could make you fuller than comfortable.

[Hope]

My purely anecdotal experience is that wine/alcohol can help calm a nervous stomach. It does mine, at least. I don't know about genuine illnesses.

 

It can also pair very nicely with certain foods to enhance the flavors of each. It's a comfy feeling to have a nice pinot noir with a delicious steak or hearty pasta supper. 🍷