Though chronic stomach inflammation patients are warned against alcohol, a little warm Shaoxing wine is acceptable. Most chronic stomach problems are caused by cold energy in the stomach.

Drinking a little Shaoxing wine won't hurt the stomach, instead, it can help dispel the cold, promote blood circulation and healthy energy, and thus relieve stomach problems. And it is especially recommended while eating seafood, as it can help neutralize the cold of seafood and prevent diarrhea.

Shaoxing wine is also widely used as yaoyin (guiding drug) in TCM. The most popular way is to make medical wine soaking herbs in Shaoxing wine and keep it for months before drinking.

Some herbs cannot dissolve in water, but do so in alcohol. And the alcohol can help reinforce the medical function of herbs while accelerating the speed in which they take effect.

Usually, the higher alcohol concentration the wine is, the better the effective ingredients will dissolve. Mild beer and wine are not good dissolvers in this case. Though strong white spirits dissolve herbs the best, it is too much of a stimulant for most people. Those who do not drink alcohol often may suffer diarrhea or itchiness after drinking white spirit. Therefore, Shaoxing wine with a moderate alcohol percentage is accepted by most TCM doctors. There are more than 70 recorded medicines that require Shaoxing wine as an ingredient.

In addition, some Chinese medicine needs to be eaten with Shaoxing wine. That includes patent drugs that promote blood circulation, remove blood stasis or dispel cold or dampness such as huoluo dan (veins and artery relieving pill) and maqianzi san (nux vomica pill).

You can drink Shaoxing wine at room temperature, add ice or heat it depending on your preference. But TCM strongly recommends heated it in cold weather.

The traditional way to warm Shaoxing wine: Place a bottle of it in water and heat the water. Shaoxing wine at about 35 degrees Celsius gives the best smell and tastes good.