Is alcohol a medicine?

Answer 1

Rubbing alcohol is for medical use and is made of a mixture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubbing_alcohol And is not for human consumption (it will kill you).

Alcohol the beverage is made of fermenting sugars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol

Answer 2

What people said above is mostly true. Alcohol is, however, still used in surprising number of medications, including children's cough syrup and mouthwash!

It has antiseptic properties (kills germs), brochodilating, (opens passages in the lungs and can even be used (WAS used for a long time) to anesthetize patients during surgery. The various meds they use now to "put someone under and keep them under" are so chemically similar to alcohol, that you need a trained Dr. (anesthesiolgist) to administer and monitor them.

Does THAT tell you anything about how powerful alcohol is?

Aside from it's hugely addictive properties, it is, after all, a POISON, which should be used with great care. The amount that might give one guy a "Nice buzz" could kill another.

As for alcohol being a "Medicine"...that is a very good question. If we were in some situation where other meds were not available, alcohol WOULD make a good antiseptic, bronchodilator and way to knock out patients before surgery! (Keep that in mind if you're ever in a post-apocalyptic scenario).

Until then, please use alcohol sparingly, esp. if you have a family history of addiction to it!

The link below give an interesting history of alcohol's various uses, recreational, medical and even as solvents! (think perfume...)

Answer 3

No, alcohol is NOT a medicine. People used to use alcohol for all kinds of maladies (and it wasn't very smart in most cases), but for those few cases where alcohol can help there are over-the-counter and prescription drugs that take care of the problem much more effectively and without the side effects of alcohol. It's a central nervous system depressant, so it's used mostly as a way to relax/unwind or just to get drunk.

Answer 4

Rubbing alcohol is an antiseptic for scratches, cuts, and so on.
It is not for internal consumption as it is a poison.

Grain alcohol is a natural part of whiskey , beer, and so on, It is only poisonous in large doses or excessively used over a long period of time.

As a pain reliever, booze (and NyQuil) sucks. It relieves pain only when close to toxic doses, inteferes with almost all other meds you may be taking & seriously affects judgment.

It is not a medicine. There are effective meds, both over the counter & prescription, for topical use or or by mouth, w/o the side effects of alcohol.

Answer 5

Alcohol is considered a depressant, can be an addictive and not a medicine.

Answer 6

No it is not. It is actually a depressant if anything. I used to drink, very heavily I may add, and it just worsens everything in your life, not counting a hangover to boot!!!!
Doctors in the US say two drinks a day is good for the body. I don't know if I agree with that or not.
In Ireland, pregnant woman are told to drink Guinness for the huge amount of Iron in it. but in moderation. 2 drinks a day at most.
I suppose to relax sometimes a couple glasses of wine would be good, but no more than that, you can get addicted.
Good luck

Answer 7

It can be used as a medicine in the absence of others

1) Pain Killer
2) Anti coagulant

But as someone else said, there are lots of things that work better and are readily available

Answer 8

It sure is a good morphine isn't it?! But you can use it if say someone has been shot or hurt, as a alcohol only if desperate.
It acts like an antiseptic.
cheers

Answer 9

It's a drug-I believe you are talking about the drinking type of alcohol?

Answer 10

Recently I was complaining about my arthritis and my friend told me that her grandmother eats 10 vodka soaked raisins a day for her own arthritis. I laughed and said, "You're granny is a drunk." It's not a medicine.