A coworker suggested that drinking whiskey will make a cold go away. Is there any truth to this?

Answer 1

Well I'm not sure if scientifically it's true but liquor does have a strange effect like that. If I ever have a cold and drink it seems to open up my nasal passages and I can breath better. I've had a lot of people tell me it does the same to them. But be careful cuz the last thing you want is a hangover and a cold! LoL

Answer 2

No not true... but you won't care that you have a cold! Seriously though, any intake of alcohol lowers the body's resistance against germs and infection. It will probably make the cold worse or make it take longer to get over it. There is an old saying, "An untreated cold will last for 7 days, a treated cold will be gone in a week"

Answer 3

while i don't necessarily thing this actually cures a cold, i do know of several hot toddy recipes specifically for colds that call for whiskey.

i think the reasoning is the "warming" sensation that you get when you drink whiskey may have some effect on the congestion in the sinuses or chest. or, if you drink enough whiskey, you don't really care if you have a cold or not...

personally, i can't stand the stuff.

Answer 4

Think of it like Nyquil. Except that you buy it from a liquor store. The truth is, that the alcohol makes your blood thinner and thus you become warmer. Essentually it helps to break the fever and causes your synuses to drain. Getting drunk of whiskey to break a cold isn't a good idea, but a few shots should do the trick.

Answer 5

I would have to say there is some truth to this but the drink is called a hot toddy and it does have whiskey in it along with lemon, tea, honey and various other things. It jus depends on the recipe that you have. You should try it though it is supposed to work wonders.

Answer 6

The common cold is a virus, with a few exceptions, nothing cures a virus. A virus must run its course. Whiskey may ease your symptoms temporarily, but in the long run it lessens your bodies natural immunoresponse. Instead drink plenty of fluids(water or pure fruit juices), rest and take vitaminC supplements 500mg. twice a day.

Answer 7

My grandpa used to say it would help a cold. He would just do a shot of Crown Royal instead of making a hot toddy (whisky, hot tea, lemon & honey). I don't know if the cold goes away any faster or not, but the symptoms are much less irritating, and you will sleep better!
Good Luck!

Answer 8

The base ingredient in most cold medicines is alcohol, isn't it? Maybe there is some truth to it. My mom used to make hot toddy's for colds when I was growing up. It always seemed to work. But it might have worked only because it was nasty and your body was scared that if you kept being sick she would make you drink another one... who knows.

Answer 9

In a bizarre sort of way, maybe. I know if I did that, my sinuses would drain and I'd get some really long sound sleep! And good rest definitely helps a cold. However, it'll wash out antibiotics faster from all the peeing.

Answer 10

I remember my grandpa saying stuff like that and he always had his shot of 151 rum mixed with honey & lime juice rigth at the first symptom he fel. Did it work ? I'm really not sure but he said it did and he I can't remember a lot of times seeing him sick, although some how I think that it had to domore with his life style and eating habits than having that shot.