米酒的藥性探討－以臺北都會區坐月飲食爲例

坐月，是漢人產婦於分娩後實行的習俗，內容以進補、不碰水、不出門爲主。民間咸信，遵守習俗與禁忌的女性，產後三十日便能恢復健康、改善體質、母子均安，習俗內對「米酒」的使用甚廣，是饋贈產婦的重要禮物，入菜也入藥，是食材亦爲藥引，稀釋後可作爲產婦的擦澡水﹔現代女性產後仍保有坐月的習俗，習俗的內容與遵行方式或有更改，坐月期間仍舊大量地使用米酒。本文以當代臺灣漢人坐月習俗爲觀察，藉由坐月飲食近年來的變化，探討「米酒」的文化意涵，與正在改變的飲食意象。

關鍵字

產後飲食；坐月子；米酒；飲酒習俗

並列摘要

This study investigates changes in postnatal food choices among the Taiwanese-Han women in contemporary urban Taipei. The traditional ways of 'doing the month' food are rice-wine-based, and associated with food taboos. Recent changes in postnatal care in contemporary urban Taipei, as influenced by the prevailing western system of medical science, have led to a process of medicalization of 'doing the month' that not only challenges traditional food taboos by emphasizing a balanced diet but also introduces commercialized alcohol phobia. As a result, various body experiences are brought to the patient, and sometimes conflicts arise among the family members. In this study, I argue that, while the hot-cold dichotomy in traditional food classification still dominates, it is the increasing level of female self-awareness that controls what postnatal food is prepared and how. Through a variety of uses of rice wine, postnatal foods not only provide the patient with comfort and enjoyment, but also contribute to changes in self-identification.