With the onset of winter, almost everyone gets sick or has a cold, mainly the latter. Although there isn’t a real treatment for the common cold, there are things you can do to temporarily lessen some of its symptoms. In particular, hot palm wine is a common home remedy for colds. The best advice is to always stay away from alcohol and stick to other drinks if you are sick. However, drinking some hot tea with alcohol may help relieve some cold symptoms.
Check out some of these delectable alcohol cures. There is no scientific basis for alcohol being the best remedy, and we don’t recommend that you quit the drug altogether. Read on!
Does Liquor Good for a Cold?
Alcohol lessens the severity of your symptoms even though it cannot cure a common cold. Alcohol is a vasodilator when consumed in moderation, which means it helps your blood vessels widen.
Getting sick means there is a foreign substance in your body. Your cells respond by sending greater blood flow to areas like your nose and throat, which causes blood vessels to swell up. Your blood vessels need to be dilated in order to allow you to breathe enough.
Drinking less alcohol than the recommended amount relaxes your blood vessels, which increases the number of white blood cells and beneficial chemicals that reach the infected area. However, be careful not to exceed one to two ounces of liquid per day. Otherwise, your body will be working overtime to prevent alcohol’s side effects, which you don’t need when recovering from a cold.
Alcohol has different effects on the immune system depending on how much a person consumes. According to older research, long-term alcohol use can make a person 3-7 times more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections, including colds. However, other studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may decrease the number of colds people get overall. This might be the case because alcohol affects specific immune response components.
This effect may be brought on by a number of mechanisms, including the release of inflammatory cytokines, which could be advantageous for short-term infection prevention.
What Liquor is Good for a Cold?
Hendrick’s Hot Gin Punch
The primary ingredient in gin, juniper berries, are renowned for their medicinal properties and are said to help fight coughs and lung congestion since ancient times. In order to treat a cold, this beverage can actually be very helpful.
A Hot Toddy
An effective cold treatment is a hot toddy. Pour 1 ounce (30 milliliters) of whiskey and 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey into a mug, then squeeze in the juice of 3 lemon wedges. Stir to combine before adding 8 ounces (240 milliliters) of boiling water. Poke 8 to 10 cloves into a lemon wedge and plop it into the mug.
Both honey and lemon have antibacterial properties, which may be used to treat respiratory tract infections brought on by bacteria and typically following a viral infection like the common cold. Secondary bacterial infections can occur after having a common cold.
A Honey-ginger-lemon Whiskey
Slice up a ginger root that is 1 inch (25.44 centimeters) long after peeling it. It should be mixed with 8 ounces (240 milliliters) of water, half a lemon juice, and 1 teaspoon of honey. In a small saucepan, bring everything to a boil before straining the concoction into a mug. 30 milliliters of whiskey should be added, then stirred. Consume the tonic while it’s still warm.
A Gaelic Punch
Six lemons’ worth of zest should be combined with one cup (12 tablespoons) of sugar. Wait between an hour and two hours, then stir once more and stir in 8 ounces (250 milliliters) of boiling water. The sugar should dissolve after some stirring. After straining the entire mixture, stir in 750 milliliters (3.2 cups) of whisky. A further 32 ounces (4 cups) of water should then be added. Add some nutmeg to it and six thin lemon slices, each studded with four cloves, to the mixture. Drink hot.
Knob Creek Horse’s Neck
When ginger is added to any beverage, you will notice the effect right away. It is one of the most effective ingredients for fighting colds, according to research. The drink can be made by combining Knob Creek bourbon with lemon and ginger beer.
A Bourbon
Try this recipe for relief if you have a cough or a sore, scratchy throat. In a mug, mix 2 ounces (60 milliliters) of bourbon with 2 ounces (60 milliliters) of lemon juice. Put the mug into the microwave and heat for 45 seconds. Stirring while heating for an additional 45 seconds, add 1 tablespoon of honey. While it’s still hot, consume your cough medicine.
A Whisky Chai
Whisky chai is a tasty concoction that combines regular chai tea with a small amount of whisky. 16 powdered cloves, 1 teaspoon ginger, 8 powdered cardamom pods (without seeds), 20 powdered black peppercorns, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, and 2 powdered cinnamon sticks should be combined to begin. Pour one quart (one liter) of whole milk into a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the spices, stir, and then wait 10 minutes before drinking the milk.
Some Notes
Instead of using alcohol to treat cold symptoms, there are other methods you can try. They include:
Over-the-counter Medications
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications can reduce the symptoms of a cold, making a person more comfortable. These medications include:
- Decongestants: To ease breathing, these drugs constrict the blood vessels in the nose. Pills, drops, and sprays are the three forms in which they are offered.
- Cough medication: These medicines can lessen the urge to cough, which will lessen the symptom’s interference with sleep.
- Pain medications: For the relief of pain and fever, adults can take acetaminophen. Children can safely take acetaminophen. The right dosage should be obtained by consulting a pharmacist, though. Kids should not be given aspirin.
Always adhere to the directions on OTC medication labels. Some cold and flu products are not suitableTrusted Source for children under certain ages. Some are also not suitable for people taking other drugs or those with other health conditions.
Final Thoughts
Some earlier studies have suggested that moderate liquor consumption may reduce the frequency of colds. including rum, whisky, and others. Alcohol should not be used as a decongestant or as a treatment for a cold. In general, health authorities do not recommend drinking liquor during a cold.
