Answers.Body: <p>Beer apparently not only lowers the risk of kidney stones, but also helps dissolve and pass existing kidney stones (additionally by dilating the ureters—the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder).</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Beer consumption was inversely associated with risk of kidney stones; each bottle of beer consumed per day was estimated to reduce risk by 40% [...]</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p><sup><a href="http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/150/2/187.full.pdf">Hirvonen, T. et al. Nutrient Intake and Use of Beverages and the Risk of Kidney Stones among Male Smokers. 1999. [PDF]</a></sup></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-23T22:36:09.073Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-23T22:36:09.073Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew Cheong
Answers.Body: <p>Just like wine, absolutely! I'm not a doctor and I am not giving medical advice; I am not liable whatsoever for your drunken antics. </p>
  
  <p>With that said, in addition to kidney benefits:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Beer contains high amounts of silicon, which makes bones stronger</li>
  <li>In moderation, it has been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular problems. However, when abused, cardiovascular problems spike instead. It helps to raise levels of "good cholesterol" which helps to keep arteries free of blockages.</li>
  <li>It may help out your brain, keeping Alzheimer's disease at bay.</li>
  <li>It is high in antioxidants and helps reduce your risk of cancer.</li>
  <li>It is high in B vitamins, namely B6 and B12</li>
  <li>Moderate amounts of any alcohol, beer included, may help decrease your risk of stroke by reducing the chance of blood clotting in the cardiovascular system.</li>
  <li>I highly doubt this one, but apparently, studies have shown a reduced risk of diabetes among men who drink occasionally.</li>
  <li>Studies have shown that it has been linked to lower blood pressure.</li>
  <li>It contain fiber! Beta-glucans in particular, which are a soluble type of fiber.</li>
  <li>Like sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi, yogurt, miso, and kombucha, beer is a fermented food, so many of the benefits of fermented foods such as aiding in digestion may apply to beer as well.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p><a href="http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/10-surprising-health-benefits-beer" rel="nofollow">Yahoo Beauty</a></p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.medicaldaily.com/4-health-benefits-beer-drinking-antioxidants-b-vitamin-and-protein-are-there-dont-overdo-it-258658" rel="nofollow">4 Health Benefits Of Beer Drinking: Antioxidants, B-Vitamin, And Protein Are There... But Don't Overdo It</a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-23T23:37:19.183Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-10-08T14:55:46.433Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2016-10-08T14:55:46.433Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: audiFanatic
Answers.Body: <p>There are a number of uses I have heard of people using beer for.  I will add a personal experience below as well.</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>I have heard of people washing their hair with it, believing it helps promote healthy hair and scalp.</p></li>
  <li><p>Heavy, high starch beers, have long been used as a food source for fasting monks, sort of a liquid bread.</p></li>
  <li><p>Beer is commonly used for cooking certain things because the alcohol (as with wine) helps bring out certain flavors.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Additionally I want to mention something I use it for.  This works for me because of very specific reasons and <strong>I am not recommending that anyone else try it.</strong>  However, I get asthma frequently following upper respiratory illnesses (I have since I was a teenager).  I have a couple of alternative medical strategies for dealing with this depending on what is available.  Note, if you have asthma, don't take medical advice from me: asthma can be life threatening.  Work with a doctor.   However, among other things, I find that drinking a number of drinks of beer or wine for two nights in a row will cause the asthma to clear up until I get sick again.  This naturally works best when I am not otherwise consuming alcohol, but it allows me to be mostly medication free regarding my asthma (doing this two to three times a year).  Again this has a bunch of risks, so I am mentioning it just for informational purposes.  In general anything medical deserves a great deal of respect because what can cure can kill.</p>
  
  <p>Also some kinds of traditional beer have very specific health benefits.  In Indonesia, "tape hitam" (black rice beer, consumed with the lees as a sort of soup) is generally understood to reduce blood cholesterol.  As it turns out the helper cultures used are extremely close (and sometimes the same) as those which produce lovostatin.  In fact lovostatin was originally found in Chinese fermented rice products.</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-24T03:33:18.697Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-24T03:33:18.697Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Chris Travers
Answers.Body: <p>Not to be snarky, but there are as many uses for beer as there are people who use it.  I'm here because I use it, specifically high-hop/low alcohol (IPAs) as an alternate for sleep medication, since I don't want to be taking the same ones all the time.  (And though it's impossible to separate the sleep benefits, I think it helps with anxiety, not just at consumption time, too).</p>
  
  <p>Beer, particularly the hoppy stuff, is known to raise blood estrogen levels. <a href="http://goo.gl/qctfH3" rel="nofollow">http://goo.gl/qctfH3</a>.  Frankly, though I'm no expert by any stretch, I'd say a (that's one) bitter IPA at bedtime is the perfect prescription for menopausal insomniacs.</p>
  
  <p>There's so much to read about beer and hormones.  To each his (her) well-read own.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-11-10T05:02:33.130Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-11-10T05:02:33.130Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: touiquette
Answers.Body: <p>Beer is alcohol no matter what people may think. Alcohol is a dangerous drug that happens to be legal right now. </p>
  
  <p>There are no proven benefits to drinking, bathing, washing hair or dishes in beer.</p>
  
  <p>Beer has a reputation of being safer than whiskey, but the opposite is true.
  Both can kill you.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-01-10T19:54:17.393Z
Answers.Text: This is factually, scientifically incorrect.  There are many well respected studies that have shown there are positive health effects from alcohol consumption.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Xander
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-12-30T00:43:40.900Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-12-30T00:43:40.900Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Dave Hamrix
Body: <p>Are there any common medicinal uses for beer? I'm thinking along the lines of how liquor can be used as an antiseptic and less of how red wine can improve your heart health.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2017-05-03T13:05:59.883Z
Comments.Text: I would use caution referring to a question on Stack for the medicinal properties of beer. While some journalism will tout health benefits of drinking alcohol, it can often be for page views, and may not always be based on sound science. For this, people should rely on Google Scholar, and scientific source papers.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Cdn_Dev
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-01-23T22:23:10.153Z
Comments.Text: I think this question would be better phrased "alternative uses" rather than "homeopathic uses." Homeopathy is specifically a system of alternative medicine developed in the 18th century—and widely considered a pseudoscience.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Andrew Cheong
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-01-23T22:27:33.790Z
Comments.Text: I changed it to say medicinal instead of homeopathic.
Comments.UserDisplayName: crownjewel82
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-01-24T03:12:07.537Z
Comments.Text: This question appears to be off-topic because it is about medical advice.
Comments.UserDisplayName: wax eagle
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-01-24T16:19:02.503Z
Comments.Text: Voted to close with reason "too broad". There are multiple answers to this question, all of which are equally valid.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Ryan Kinal
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-01-24T19:10:33.270Z
Comments.Text: So, are questions about pairing off-topic because it's "about food?" This is about medicinal advice, but also about beer. And why is this too broad? The answer is _"Yes, there are medicinal uses[, and here are some examples.]"_
Comments.UserDisplayName: Andrew Cheong
Tags: <health>
Title: Are there any medicinal uses for beer?
UserDisplayName: crownjewel82
ThreadText: # Are there any medicinal uses for beer?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-23)
  
  Are there any common medicinal uses for beer? I'm thinking along the lines of how liquor can be used as an antiseptic and less of how red wine can improve your heart health.
  
  **Tags:** health
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: I think this question would be better phrased "alternative uses" rather than "homeopathic uses." Homeopathy is specifically a system of alternative medicine developed in the 18th century—and widely considered a pseudoscience.  
  > **username_0**: I changed it to say medicinal instead of homeopathic.  
  > **username_3**: This question appears to be off-topic because it is about medical advice.  
  > **username_4**: Voted to close with reason "too broad". There are multiple answers to this question, all of which are equally valid.  
  > **username_2**: So, are questions about pairing off-topic because it's "about food?" This is about medicinal advice, but also about beer. And why is this too broad? The answer is _"Yes, there are medicinal uses[, and here are some examples.]"_  
  > **username_1**: I would use caution referring to a question on Stack for the medicinal properties of beer. While some journalism will tout health benefits of drinking alcohol, it can often be for page views, and may not always be based on sound science. For this, people should rely on Google Scholar, and scientific source papers.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 5 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2014-01-23. Score: 11 | Accepted answer
  
  Just like wine, absolutely! I'm not a doctor and I am not giving medical advice; I am not liable whatsoever for your drunken antics.
  
  With that said, in addition to kidney benefits:
  
  * Beer contains high amounts of silicon, which makes bones stronger
  * In moderation, it has been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular problems. However, when abused, cardiovascular problems spike instead. It helps to raise levels of "good cholesterol" which helps to keep arteries free of blockages.
  * It may help out your brain, keeping Alzheimer's disease at bay.
  * It is high in antioxidants and helps reduce your risk of cancer.
  * It is high in B vitamins, namely B6 and B12
  * Moderate amounts of any alcohol, beer included, may help decrease your risk of stroke by reducing the chance of blood clotting in the cardiovascular system.
  * I highly doubt this one, but apparently, studies have shown a reduced risk of diabetes among men who drink occasionally.
  * Studies have shown that it has been linked to lower blood pressure.
  * It contain fiber! Beta-glucans in particular, which are a soluble type of fiber.
  * Like sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi, yogurt, miso, and kombucha, beer is a fermented food, so many of the benefits of fermented foods such as aiding in digestion may apply to beer as well.
  
  [Yahoo Beauty](http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/10-surprising-health-benefits-beer)
  
  [4 Health Benefits Of Beer Drinking: Antioxidants, B-Vitamin, And Protein Are There... But Don't Overdo It](http://www.medicaldaily.com/4-health-benefits-beer-drinking-antioxidants-b-vitamin-and-protein-are-there-dont-overdo-it-258658)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2014-01-23. Score: 7
  
  Beer apparently not only lowers the risk of kidney stones, but also helps dissolve and pass existing kidney stones (additionally by dilating the ureters—the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder).
  
  > Beer consumption was inversely associated with risk of kidney stones; each bottle of beer consumed per day was estimated to reduce risk by 40% [...]
  
  [Hirvonen, T. et al. Nutrient Intake and Use of Beverages and the Risk of Kidney Stones among Male Smokers. 1999. [PDF]](http://aje.oxfordjournals.org/content/150/2/187.full.pdf)
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_6 on 2014-01-24. Score: 3
  
  There are a number of uses I have heard of people using beer for. I will add a personal experience below as well.
  
  1. I have heard of people washing their hair with it, believing it helps promote healthy hair and scalp.
  2. Heavy, high starch beers, have long been used as a food source for fasting monks, sort of a liquid bread.
  3. Beer is commonly used for cooking certain things because the alcohol (as with wine) helps bring out certain flavors.
  
  Additionally I want to mention something I use it for. This works for me because of very specific reasons and **I am not recommending that anyone else try it.** However, I get asthma frequently following upper respiratory illnesses (I have since I was a teenager). I have a couple of alternative medical strategies for dealing with this depending on what is available. Note, if you have asthma, don't take medical advice from me: asthma can be life threatening. Work with a doctor. However, among other things, I find that drinking a number of drinks of beer or wine for two nights in a row will cause the asthma to clear up until I get sick again. This naturally works best when I am not otherwise consuming alcohol, but it allows me to be mostly medication free regarding my asthma (doing this two to three times a year). Again this has a bunch of risks, so I am mentioning it just for informational purposes. In general anything medical deserves a great deal of respect because what can cure can kill.
  
  Also some kinds of traditional beer have very specific health benefits. In Indonesia, "tape hitam" (black rice beer, consumed with the lees as a sort of soup) is generally understood to reduce blood cholesterol. As it turns out the helper cultures used are extremely close (and sometimes the same) as those which produce lovostatin. In fact lovostatin was originally found in Chinese fermented rice products.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2015-11-10. Score: 2
  
  Not to be snarky, but there are as many uses for beer as there are people who use it. I'm here because I use it, specifically high-hop/low alcohol (IPAs) as an alternate for sleep medication, since I don't want to be taking the same ones all the time. (And though it's impossible to separate the sleep benefits, I think it helps with anxiety, not just at consumption time, too).
  
  Beer, particularly the hoppy stuff, is known to raise blood estrogen levels. <http://goo.gl/qctfH3>. Frankly, though I'm no expert by any stretch, I'd say a (that's one) bitter IPA at bedtime is the perfect prescription for menopausal insomniacs.
  
  There's so much to read about beer and hormones. To each his (her) well-read own.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_8 on 2015-12-30. Score: -3
  
  Beer is alcohol no matter what people may think. Alcohol is a dangerous drug that happens to be legal right now.
  
  There are no proven benefits to drinking, bathing, washing hair or dishes in beer.
  
  Beer has a reputation of being safer than whiskey, but the opposite is true.
  Both can kill you.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_9**: This is factually, scientifically incorrect.  There are many well respected studies that have shown there are positive health effects from alcohol consumption.  
  
  ---
  
  