Bourbon Cold Remedy

One of the oldest remedies for the common cold is a hot toddy. Hot toddies are usually made with bourbon and supposedly help soothe sore throats and clear the nose. Although there is no medical proof that hot toddies work, many people still turn to a hot whiskey tumbler when they are feeling under the weather.

Can the Hot Toddy Cure a Cold?

• Some say the hot toddy dates back to the nineteenth century in either India or the UK. A New York Times article states that in 1918 hot toddies had become so widely used as an influenza preventative that a Public Health Service physician in Baltimore sent a note to the Surgeon General expressing his concern. Dr. Ronald B. Turner, a cold researcher and pediatrics professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, states in another New York Times article that while there is no data to medically prove that a hot toddy can prevent or cure colds, he did say, “There is some evidence that honey, or other sweet demulcent compounds, can have a benefit to coughs.” He added: “A placebo at best.” The American Lung Association says that most adults catch two to four colds and year and recommends avoiding treating the common cold with alcoholic beverages because they cause dehydration.

  In any case, there may be some advantages to the hot toddy, even though they may not be medical. Warm beverages can loosen up the sinuses and the bourbon will help you sleep like a baby. However, you should limit your intake to one a night. Traditionally, hot toddies should be drunk before bed to help aid sleep. Too much alcohol can actually make a cold worse. Alcohol should not be taken with over-the-counter cold medicines or if you are pregnant.

Making a Hot Toddy

• To make a hot toddy, mix 1/4 cup bourbon, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup lemon juice, and 3 tablespoons of water in a mug. Heat it in the microwave until it is very hot or until it is bubbling and steaming. Add a slice of lemon, a couple cloves or a cinnamon stick if you like.

  If the bourbon is too strong for your palate, you can also heat up a cup of water, add a tea bag to steep, then add 1/4 cup bourbon, 3 teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon honey. The tea helps offset the taste of the bourbon.

  Breathe the hot steam in and then sip the toddy slowly. If you are traveling hot toddies are usually served up at bars or ski resorts.