Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Mix alcohol and lemon
• Method 2 of 3: Drink tea with alcohol
• Method 3 of 3: Know what the risks are
• Tips
• Warnings

There is no cure for the common cold, but there are things you can do to temporarily relieve some of your symptoms. People often drink a hot toddy, or a drink with whiskey and honey, to treat a cold. Hot tea with a splash of alcohol can also help treat a cold. However, be careful not to drink too much alcohol when you are sick. Too much alcohol can cause dehydration, making you feel even worse.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Mix alcohol and lemon

1. Make hot toddy. Hot toddy is a popular cold remedy. Pour 30 ml of whiskey and 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey into a mug, then add the juice of 3 lemon wedges. Add 250ml of boiling water and stir to mix everything together. Put 8 to 10 cloves in a lemon wedge and put it in the mug.
   • Honey and lemon both have antibacterial properties and are effective against the bacteria-caused respiratory infections that often develop after catching a cold (viral infection). After you catch a cold, you can get secondary bacterial infections.
2. Make tonic with honey, ginger and lemon and add a little whiskey. Peel and finely chop a ginger root measuring 2 to 3 centimeters. Add 250 ml of water, as well as the juice of half a lemon and 1 teaspoon of honey. Bring everything to a boil in a small saucepan, then pour the mixture through a strainer into a mug. Pour in 30 ml of whiskey and stir through the mixture. Drink the tonic hot.
3. Make bourbon cough syrup. If you have a cough or a sore, scratchy throat, give this drink a try to ease your symptoms. Pour 60 ml of bourbon and the juice of half a lemon (about 60 ml) into a mug. Place the mug in the microwave and heat the mixture for 45 seconds. Add 1 tablespoon of honey, stir and heat the mixture for an additional 45 seconds. Drink the cough syrup warm.
   • You can also add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of water to make the mixture less strong.
   • Don't drink more than one serving or you will irritate your throat and nose. This can make the blockage worse.
4. Try gaelic punch. Mix the grated zest of 6 lemons with 12 tablespoons of sugar. Wait one to two hours, then mix again and add 250 ml of boiling water. Stir through the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Strain the mixture and add 750 ml of whiskey. Finally add another 1 liter of water. Sprinkle with nutmeg and add six thin wedges of lemon in which you have inserted four cloves. Drink the drink hot.

Method 2 of 3: Drink tea with alcohol

1. Make tea with hot toddy. You can also drink the traditional hot toddy as a tasty tea. To start, boil 250 ml of water and add ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger, 3 whole cloves, 1 cinnamon stick and two sachets of green or orange tea. Let the tea steep for 5 minutes and then remove the tea bags.
   • Heat the tea in the microwave for 1 minute and add 2 tablespoons of honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
   • Pour 30 to 60 ml of whiskey into the cup. Stir everything with a spoon and drink the tea hot.
2. Make berry tea with rum. This warm flavorful blend of herbal tea and rum can help treat your cold. Infuse a bag of herbal tea with berries in 180 ml of boiling water for two to three minutes. Discard the tea bag and add 45 ml of white rum, ½ tablespoon of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of honey. Stir everything together and garnish the drink with a lemon spiral or a little lemon zest.
3. Try chai tea with whiskey. This is a nice drink that combines traditional chai tea with a little whiskey. To start, mix 16 ground cloves, a teaspoon of ginger, eight ground cardamom pods (without seeds), 20 ground black peppercorns, a pinch of nutmeg and two ground cinnamon sticks. Simmer a liter of whole milk in a saucepan. Stir in the spices. Let the spices and milk simmer for 10 minutes.
   • Strain the mixture after 10 minutes and then return it to the saucepan.
   • Stir 90 ml of whiskey into the mixture.
   • Drink this drink hot.

Method 3 of 3: Know what the risks are

1. Drink responsible. Drinking alcohol is not a substitute for medicines and rest. Drinking too much alcohol can damage your liver in the long term. Cold symptoms such as congestion, sore throat and cough can also make it worse. So only use the above means occasionally.
2. Know that alcohol can weaken the immune system. Drinking too much alcohol can weaken your immune system and make you sick more quickly. If you are already sick, your immune system is weaker than normal. This means that it may take longer to heal if you drink alcohol during your illness.
3. Know that alcohol can dehydrate you. When you are sick, it is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. This helps to reduce sore throats and blockages. Certain liquids, such as alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, can dry you out instead. This makes complaints such as blockages, sore throat and cough worse.
4. See if you can combine your medications with alcohol. Many medications used to treat colds are incompatible with alcohol. They can cause side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, fainting, headache, nausea and vomiting. Read the package insert that came with your medicine before you start drinking alcohol. Also check if there is a yellow sticker on the packaging as a warning that you should not combine the medicine with alcohol. Some cold medicines that you should not combine with alcohol include:
   • Aspirin
   • Paracetamol
   • Ibuprofen (including Advil)
   • Naproxen (including Aleve)
   • Cough syrups (such as medicines with the active ingredient dextromethorphan)
   • Azithromycin (Zithromax)
5. Don't treat your cold with alcohol if you have asthma. Asthma patients can suffer more from their complaints when they have a cold. A study has shown that certain substances added to alcohol can also aggravate this respiratory condition. Try other common non-alcoholic remedies to safely treat your cold.
   • Pure ethanol is an exception and can have a positive effect in the treatment of asthma.

Tips

• Most alcoholic drinks used to treat a cold work because they contain a mixture of herbs, lemon, honey, and spices, and not because they contain alcohol. Do not add alcohol to your drinks to treat your cold just as adequately and to avoid getting stupid.
• Drink lots of water. This way you stay hydrated and the chance that you will get a hangover is smaller.
• Consider using other home remedies as well. For example, try to sleep a lot and make chicken soup.
• Do not use alcohol to fall asleep. Drinking alcohol just before going to sleep can decrease the amount of REM sleep, so that you immediately fall into a deep sleep.

Warnings

• Make sure you read all warnings on the packaging of any medications you are taking before drinking alcohol. Taking certain medications and alcohol at the same time can have serious consequences.
• Do not use alcohol to treat children, people with weakened immune systems, and people who do not drink alcohol.