Iâve got a winter cold, so understandably, Iâm pretty frustratedâand given the time of year, you might be, too! Thankfully, there is a traditional home remedy my mother uses to treat winter colds: a hot toddy.
Now I know what youâre thinking: another remedy? Everyone and their mother has a bona fide cold remedy they swear by. And regardless of how much you love your family and friends, the chances of their solutions working are a little slim. And I know, because Iâve been trying them all lately.
But a classic winter hot toddy cocktail might help relieve cold symptoms in a hurry, while providing a little treat after a long day of suffering.
A Hot Toddy for Colds, Flus and Sore Throats
For almost a week Iâve been battling a sore throat, runny nose, all kinds of congestion, and a cough. And the symptoms are coming in waves, so every time thereâs a little bit of daylight, a door seems to slam shut. I know youâve felt the same wayâand no matter what you try or how much sleep you get, it doesnât seem to get much better.
When traditional cold remedies arenât cutting it, sometimes you have to think outside the box. Because thereâs no cure for the common cold, it can take a collaborative effort to treat itâwhich means itâs wise to approach treatment with an open mind. With that said, I learned a potential âhot toddyâ treatment last night Iâm kind of excited to try (and share with you).
Much like a hot tea or soup, the warm liquidâand whiskeyâin a hot toddy can relieve nasal congestion. Alcohol acts as a vasodilator that can make things a little easier for infected mucus membranes, allowing a runny nose to subside. A hot toddy shortly before bed can help you warm up and relax, and relieve the symptoms when youâre tying to fall asleepâoften when they are the most frustrating.
Of course, alcohol can also have a negative impact on sleep, and more than one hot toddy will cause more harm than good. Booze in any form is a diureticâmeaning it draws fluid out of the bodyâso itâs the exact opposite of what you want to do when youâve got a cold. Remember, keeping your bodyâs fluid level high is essential, and one drink wonât cause much of a problem as long as you increase your water intake around it.
Hot Toddy Cold Remedy Recipe
To make a cold-fighting hot toddy, hereâs what to do:
1. Boil some water and pour it into a mug, to heat it up.
2.While the water is standing (for about a minute) cut a twist of lemon and stud it with four to six cloves.
3. Dump the water from your mug and then fill it halfway with fresh, boiling hot water.
4. Add two spoonfuls of brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
5. Add the lemon and clove garnish and stir again.
6. Pour in 1/4 of an ounce of lemon juice and one ounce of whiskey.
7. Give it one final stir and youâre ready to go!
Try a hot toddyâjust remember to have only one a dayâto help keep your cold in check!
Read Next:
- Antibiotics Not Recommended for the Common Cold, Say Doctors
- 10 Homeopathic Remedies to Fight Coughs and Colds
Source for Todayâs Article:
Bratskeir, K., âDrinking a little whiskey might actually help relieve cold symptoms,â Huffington Post web site, February 6, 2015; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/05/hot-toddy-for-a-cold-whiskey_n_6616542.html, last accessed February 8, 2016.