Does a shot of liquer really help with a cough?

[KidsHappen]

If so what is the mechanism for this working? Also does it matter what kind of liquer and how much should you use? I remember my mom doing this when I was a child but I can't remember if it worked. Hmmm. I wonder why not?:confused:

[GothicGyrl]

Hot Toddy's work the best. And yes, a shot of nice warm Scotch, Rum or Whiskey(cheap whiskey really does it), loosens the phlegm up really good. And it helps relax their muscles enough for them to have a productive cough.

[melissel]

If so what is the mechanism for this working? Also does it matter what kind of liquer and how much should you use? I remember my mom doing this when I was a child but I can't remember if it worked. Hmmm. I wonder why not?:confused:

I don't see how it could help a cough, really, with the exception of numbing your throat a bit, maybe. You'll probably not care so much about the cough afterward though!

One of my favorite episodes of Everybody Loves Raymond touches on this issue. The older brother is reminiscing about warm, comforting times with his mom when she used to give them a drink of a sweet colored liquid that, as an adult, he thought was a placebo, when his father tells him it was actually rum. :D

[Lizzie in Ma]

Seriously though, my parents used to give us a bit of sugared whiskey. I think the plan was to numb the throat to ease the cough, I think it just knocked us on our rears and we were able to sleep. We used to do the same thing for teething, rub some whiskey on the gums.
Any excuse to keep some Jameson's in the house. ;)

[Montana Peach]

I always had good luck with a tablespoon of the cheap green creme de menthe. It seemed to work better than whiskey for me.

[WTMindy]

I had such a bad cough that I could not sleep. I had tried several cough medicines including with codeine and none helped me sleep. In desperation in the middle of the night I poured a shot of tequilla (LOL) and it did more for my cough than anything else....and I went right to sleep!

[BMC]

I have never found it effective, and certainly not worth the side effects. Alcohol may make me sleepy, but I don't sleep well and then I battle sleeplessness and dehydration when I wake up part way through the night.

Since DH is the most frequently sick, the most likely to catch whatever is "going around" or the kids have, AND he is out for twice as long as anyone else with the "same thing", I figure whatever he does isn't what is needed.

[Doran]

In my opinion, it won't hurt. It will warm you, and relax you. Old timers swear by it. I'd go for the hot toddy myself.

Feel better!

Doran

[JWSJ]

Yes, well, maybe a few shots...

[Jenny in Atl]

Go back and research what most cough syrups used to be made of, when they work. Many had either alcohol or codeine as the main ingredient. If fact most of the over the counter meds today for coughs either don't work or they are down right dangerous for most kids and some adults with heart problems or diabetes. I'll stick with a little honey and warm scotch over that stuff any day.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

My dad always gave us bourbon and honey. It was mostly honey, I think. Just enough bourbon to thin the honey to the consistancy of syrup. It was warm, and felt good going down. It tasted good. I still remember the flavor and sensation, though I haven't had it in at least 30 years. The closest thing I come to it these days is good old green Nyquil.

[kalanamak]

I take a shot glass, fill half-way with boiling water and the other half with Cherry Heering. Bottoms up. Clears out everything and "mainlines" a the alcohol to my brain and I get 30 minutes of rest. Ahhhhhh.

[Shannon831]

A shot of whiskey, chased by a tablespoon of honey. I have no idea why it works, but it does. Generations of my family swear by it (and no, we're not all a bunch of lushes). Unless you are sensitive to alcohol (in the negative sense), I would do it.

[Rachel]

chemically speaking alcohol does work to quiet a cough.

What does alcohol do? It slows down reflexes by affecting the nervous system.......so therefore it slows the cough reflex as well.

Medically, it is a valid cough suppressant