How to Treat Colds With Hot Brandy

If you are looking for a simple, relaxing way to pamper yourself when you have a cold, a Hot Toddy is perfect. Not only is it tasty, but it also has health benefits that sooth the symptoms of your cold. Another plus is that it's is a natural method; you do not need to ply yourself with over-the-counter medicines. Enjoy.

Things You'll Need

• Teacup
• 3 oz. of hot water
• 1 1/2 to 2 oz. of brandy
• 1 tsp. of honey
• Lemon slice

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Instructions

• 1

  Bring approximately 3 oz. of water to a boil-enough to fill a teacup nearly to the top. You may want to use tea instead to add a different flavor, but plain hot water allows you to enjoy the mellow taste of the brandy mixture.

• 2

  Pour 1 1/2 to 2 oz. of brandy into a teacup, depending on your preference. Brandy has several properties to recommend it as a treatment, such as the antimicrobial properties of the alcohol and its ability to thin the mucus built up by the cold. In proper amounts, it can also be very calming.

• 3

  Add the hot water to the brandy and then stir a spoonful of honey (to taste) to the mixture. Honey is soothing for sore throats and irritated mucus membranes; it is also believed to have sedative properties and relieve coughs and stuffy noses.

• 4

  Cut a wedge of lemon and squeeze it into the Toddy. Lemon has loads of citric acid and vitamin C to help loosen phlegm and boost the immune system. Lemon also has astringent qualities, which will reduce swelling in the throat and is an excellent anti-oxidant.

• 5

  Drink the hot brandy just before bed to help you relax. You'll sleep more easily and the ingredients will help you to breathe more freely, cough less and ease the pain and irritation from the cold.