Does drinking beer cause one to get "shanghuo" (a traditional Chinese term for internal heat or inflammation)?

Drinking a small amount of beer will not cause heatiness, but consuming a large quantity of beer, to the extent of causing a hangover, may lead to symptoms of heatiness. All types of alcohol are harmful, and if possible, one should abstain from drinking.

1. No Heatiness

Beer has a relatively low alcohol content and contains various enzymes, multiple amino acids, low-molecular-weight sugars, carbon dioxide, vitamins, and other substances. Among these, amino acids and low-molecular-weight sugars produce a significant amount of heat when digested and absorbed by the body. If the amount of beer consumed is not excessive, and the individual is not constitutionally prone to heatiness, the heat intake from beer is generally low, and it usually does not cause heatiness.

2. Causes Heatiness

Beer contains alcohol, which is spicy and hot in nature, having the effect of enhancing fire and yang. If an individual already has symptoms of damp-heat or phlegm-dampness and consumes large amounts of alcohol over a long period, it can exacerbate the damp-heat symptoms in the body, leading to heatiness. Excessive consumption of beer is definitely harmful, as alcohol can damage the liver. Eating grilled food while drinking beer can increase the burden on the liver, leading to liver diseases. Patients with chronic gastritis who drink beer may suffer from gastric mucosa damage, and in severe cases, it can lead to gastric cancer. It is recommended that patients actively abstain from alcohol.