Why does a hot toddy raise your temperature?

Question

if you have a cold you can take a hot toddy (whisky+warm water+suger mixed together in a glass) to raise your temperature and sweat the cold out of you, my question is why does a mixture of whisky, warm water and sugar raise your temperature, none of the ingredients on its own will significantly raise your temperature

Answer 1

Ethanol alcohol is a small molecule, it is able to cross the blood-brain barrier where it targets GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors in the brain. These are the same receptors (benzodiazepine) that medications such as Xanax, Ativan and Valium target. In small quantities, ethanol causes a mild euphoria and removes inhibitions - ie. makes you feel better. As far as body temperature, ethanol actually dilates the blood vessels (the reason people look flushed) and helps lower body temperature. When your body temperature drops, this helps your "fever" goes down.

Like other people stated, it feels warm going down, but in reality it will actually drop your body temperature somewhat. Hope this helps you out...

Answer 2

As advised, its probably the whisky. I recommend the old Scottish method involving a hot whisky toddy and a bowler hat. Place the bowler hat at the bottom of the bed and yourself plus the toddy at the top. Take a sip of the toddy and look at the bowler hat. If you can only see one hat, repeat this until you can see two! :-)

Answer 3

No but whisky does have a warming effect on its own. By purely putting it together will make it appear warmer.. It is nice though

Answer 4

well people think that it does... the whiskey gives a burning feeling in the throat which people often attribute as "warming them up" as well as the hot water. of all those ingredients the water is the best, since it cleans out your sinuses. In short, its mostly myth.

Answer 5

When my husband makes them for me, he uses lemon and honey also(with the whiskey and water).

Answer 6

eerrmm................. because its hot and alcholic! duh