How to Read “Medicinal moxibustion burns hot on the body, poisonous sake is sweet”
Kusuri no kyū wa mi ni atsuku, doku na sake wa amai
Meaning of “Medicinal moxibustion burns hot on the body, poisonous sake is sweet”
This proverb expresses a fundamental truth about human nature. Things that are good for us often feel unpleasant, while harmful things tend to feel attractive.
Moxibustion has healing effects, but it’s hot and painful. Sake tastes delicious and feels pleasant, but drinking too much becomes poisonous.
Through this contrast, the proverb teaches an important truth. What truly benefits us often involves pain or effort. On the other hand, easy and comfortable things often harm us in the long run.
Even today, we see this pattern everywhere. Studying, exercising, and waking up early are things we know we should do, but they feel difficult. Staying up late, eating too many sweets, and scrolling mindlessly through our phones feel enjoyable but often lead to regret.
This proverb teaches us not to be swept away by immediate pleasure. Instead, we should think about long-term benefits and act accordingly.
When you’re tempted by sweet temptations, remember these words. They can give you the strength to control yourself.
Origin and Etymology
The exact first appearance of this proverb in literature is unclear. However, we can understand how it came to be by looking at its components.
“Medicinal moxibustion” refers to moxibustion applied to cure illness. Until the Edo period, moxibustion was one of the most common medical treatments for ordinary people.
However, its effectiveness comes from heat stimulation. The moment it’s applied, it burns hot and causes pain. Even knowing it’s good for your body, the moment itself is painful.
“Poisonous sake,” on the other hand, refers to alcohol that harms the body. For people in the Edo period, sake was a daily pleasure. But they knew from experience that drinking too much would damage their health.
Still, sake is sweet. The pleasure of it passing down your throat is hard to resist.
This contrast probably arose from people’s lived experiences. Through medical treatment and daily drinking—situations everyone experienced—people expressed a truth similar to “good medicine tastes bitter” from a different angle.
The concrete expressions of moxibustion’s heat and sake’s sweetness, both felt through the body, give this proverb its persuasive power. It’s a teaching rooted in daily life, condensing the wisdom of common people.
Interesting Facts
Moxibustion is recognized as effective even in modern medicine. The WHO (World Health Organization) acknowledges the effectiveness of acupuncture and moxibustion treatment.
Heat stimulation promotes blood circulation and strengthens immunity, which has been scientifically proven. People in the past knew this effect through experience.
In the Edo period, sake was called both “the chief of all medicines” and “the source of all illnesses.” In the right amount, it becomes medicine, but too much becomes poison.
This dual nature is exactly why this proverb expresses it as “poisonous sake.”
Usage Examples
- I’m on a diet, but as they say, “Medicinal moxibustion burns hot on the body, poisonous sake is sweet,” so I’ll keep eating vegetable-centered meals today too
- It’s hard to be strict with my child about studying, but “Medicinal moxibustion burns hot on the body, poisonous sake is sweet,” so I’ll ask them to endure it for now
Universal Wisdom
This proverb speaks to a deep understanding of human nature. Our sensations and our true interests don’t always align.
Our bodies and minds are designed to react sensitively to immediate pleasure and pain. We avoid pain and seek pleasure. This is a natural response for any living creature.
But what makes humans different from other animals is our intelligence. We can judge things from a long-term perspective, going beyond these instinctive reactions.
Yet we still repeat the same mistakes over and over. Why? Because immediate sensations are so powerful.
The heat of moxibustion is pain felt right here, right now. But its effects appear gradually later. The sweetness of sake can be tasted instantly on the tongue. But its harm might not appear for years.
This proverb has been passed down for so long because humans have always fought this contradiction. Even when reason tells us what’s right, emotions and desires get in the way.
This conflict is what makes us human. That’s why our ancestors left us this teaching. What is truly valuable often lies beyond pain.
This truth never fades, no matter how times change.
When AI Hears This
The human brain changes how it calculates value based on temporal distance. Behavioral economics experiments show interesting results.
When asked “Would you take 10,000 yen today or 11,000 yen in one year?” most people choose today. But when asked “Would you take 10,000 yen in five years or 11,000 yen in six years?” more people choose six years later, even though it’s the same one-year difference.
In other words, we can judge distant future events calmly, but our calculations go wrong when things are right in front of us.
“Poisonous sake is sweet” in this proverb perfectly captures this phenomenon. At the moment of drinking, the brain overvalues immediate pleasure.
The suffering of a hangover is temporally distant, so its value gets heavily discounted. Research shows humans discount the value of something one year away to about half its present value. This is called hyperbolic discounting.
What’s interesting is the “medicinal moxibustion burns hot on the body” part. The benefits of moxibustion appear in the future, but the pain of heat exists right here, right now.
In other words, benefits get discounted while costs get magnified—a double punch. That’s why we can’t keep up healthy habits even when we know they’re good for us.
The human decision-making system was optimized through evolution to “survive the present moment.” That’s why we’re structurally bad at long-term cost-benefit calculations.
Lessons for Today
What this proverb teaches modern you is the true meaning of kindness and strictness.
Being lenient with yourself is easy. I’m tired today, so I’ll skip exercise. I’ll look at my phone just a little longer. I’ll work hard starting tomorrow.
Following these voices feels comfortable. But is that really taking care of yourself?
Truly loving yourself sometimes means being strict with yourself. Waking up early to study, facing people you find difficult, choosing healthy meals.
Those moments are painful, but your future self will surely thank you.
The same applies to people you care about. Is it true kindness to say only pleasant things because you don’t want them to dislike you?
Sometimes speaking harsh words is an expression of love, wishing for their growth.
When you encounter sweet temptations, pause for a moment. Ask yourself: Will this truly benefit me?
That small question will guide your life little by little, but surely, in a better direction.
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