cough medicine booze

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Due to the possible swine flu outbreak (and basic downfall of the economy), I decided that we needed to buy some alcohol for homemade cough medicine. We don't drink and never have, so we know nothing about alcohol. So, here we are at WM in the middle of the night (so the church folks don't see us) trying to pick out booze. We have two problems. First and foremost, we are cheap. My husband can't believe it is over twenty dollars a bottle or more. And secondly, we weren't sure what to buy because neither one of our households have ever allowed alcohol in them even when we were children. We have never bought it before.

Vodka was only seven dollars a bottle, so hubby thought that was a good idea even though he was sure his grandma said they use to make hot totties from homemade brandy. Whiskey, which sounded really strong to me, was almost thirty dollars a bottle, so hubby said no to that. Finally we settled on an eighteen dollar bottle of bourbon.

So now, I have looked up recipes for hot totties on the web, but they all say rum. My question is-- will bourbon substitute for rum in those things. And I know they make livestock drenches from vodka, so maybe the cheaper stuff would have worked after all? If you can't substitute bourbon for rum, then will the rum flavoring work, or do we have to make an embarrassing middle of the night run to WM again?

All the prep boards say to keep alcohol on hand for medical reasons and bartering. Should I take the eighteen dollar stuff back to buy the seven dollar stuff? I hate to have to go back at all.

[Mom5farmboys]

My grandpa used to make his own cough medicine. He would get a fifth of whiskey each year for Christmas and used it solely for making his cough syrup.
The recipe is as follows:

Cough Syrup
1/2 cup whiskey
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/4 tsp ginger

Mix together and store in quart jar in refrigerator.


I think the alcohol is mainly to make you sleep. I'm not much of a drinker but I would think it shouldn't matter what kind you use, whether its vodka, rum, or whiskey. I have used this recipe and it did make me sleepy.

[Naughty_Pines]

The best thing I have ever tried is a large shot of Brandy in a glass of 7-up. It 'burns' the cold out of you.

[Grizzy]

I prefer Courvoisier Cognac, altho Hennessey is also very good. Like Naughty_Pines said, it burns and is an amazing help. I've introduced this to the good folks in my neck of the woods and the older ones take it by the spoonful when they're sick (medications allowing). I've seen them even keeping it by their bedside in times of sickness. I'll have to try it in 7up and see how this method goes for a bear.

Cognac is also lovely to sip on cold winter nights, just because :) ... Regarding cost, it's affordable.

Be Strong
~Grizzy~

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Not too sound stupid, but if I go back to look for cognac, what color would it be? Some of those bottles were clear, some were green and most were a pretty burgundy or caramel color.

I think that if I ever get brave enough to go booze browsing again, I will go far out of town to an actual liquor store. That way there would be someone there who knows something about the stuff to help me find it, and we wouldn't have to worry about seeing anyone we know. There really wasn't a customer service person standing in the liquor dept at WalMart at two in the morning to explain it to us.

I really didn't want the kids to know we were buying it. It might upset them even though most are adults. One of our sons is a minister, so if it got back to him (or worse yet his wife), we would be on every prayer list in the county for deliverance from alcohol.

[Grizzy]

OK Momma... Breathe! :D

I'm think'n yur over 21 and a hunnerd pounds, so that makes you an adult capable of making your own decisions, including how to medicate your family. No one is talking about social drinking or over indulging here. This is about a question you brought up on how to use alchohol when sickness comes calling :) . You just worry about how your Creator sees you and don't worry about the church or the Jones...

Here is a Bourbon Whisky recipe.. take a look..
(recommended when nursing a cold or sore throat)

Tea Hot Toddie

In a large mug put in 1 to 2 (or more) ounces of your favorite bourbon, brandy (that's what Cognac is), rum, or whiskey, add honey and lemon juice to taste. If you have fresh ginger or a lemon, add some slices. Can add a couple cloves or cinnamon sticks.

Put in a tea bag or two of your favorite herbal tea like echinacea tea, ginger, mint or sleepytime, or chamomile tea. Add hot water and stir. Remove tea bag when steeped to your tastes.

So you see.. You Can use that bottle you bought.

Now as to the Cognac... Once when I was really sick, years ago, I remembered the old chilly castles of old and how I always would see the Brandy Snifters and how that drink would warm folks up. So, I went to the Liquor store and Cognac was recommended to me. And it worked! I just sipped it and did not add it to any other ingredients. I guess you'll think this sounds crazy but I was really sick so, even before my morning coffee, I would take a tablespoon of it and my goodness how it helped!
It will definately help with coughing, it warms your body, it seems to cut the phlem.

You will have to go to a Liquor store for cognac (if you still want this) and at the one in my town, it is behind the counter in bottles that cost around $7.00 for the smaller size. Remember the name I gave to you (Courvoisier Cognac). It is pronounced Co-vas-E-A.

And Momma, don't let other people try to slap unearned guilt on yas... It's just not a good fit! I hope we've been of some help to you. I'm certainly no expert on whisky or remedies but I do know this works for me. Sigh.. While I'm at it... Be very aware that some medications should not be mixed with alchohol. (making out my bill for yas) :sarcastic:


Be Strong
~Grizzy~

[momma_to_seven_chi]

Thank you for the recipe. We will just keep what we have.

It's not really guilt. It's what would happen to our kid's job and income if people thought his parents were drunks. Plus his wife is very holier than thou at times because of the way she was raised. She really would have us on every prayer list she could find. We have always found that the most fervent church people were also the ones who see sin everywhere.

Thanks so very much for your help.

[bookwormom]

you did say you wanted to make cough remedy right? you do not need alcohol for that.
the best remedy for cough that I know is colts foot (tussilago farfara). you pick the flowers in spring and dry them, use the flowers for tea. It does not taste bad and really gives you relief all night.
to make syrup you gather the leaves of the plant, which appear weeks later. Pack them tightly into a jar, layering the leaves with sugar. Make sure there are no airbubbles and the jar is really tight and full. seal tightly. wrap in plastic. then bury in the garden and leave it till fall. when you take it out there will be the most wonderful cough syrup. strain it and boil it once, then put into small bottles. It is really tasty. I once made cough lozenges, but they got eaten up so fast, even though nobody had a cough.
You can make a cough tea containing thyme and long leaf plantain. the plantain loosens phlegm. A quick cough medicine involves half an onion and a spoon of sugar. I am not 100% sure how to do it though, you can also chop the onion and sprinkle sugar on it and let it draw juice, then take a spoonful of that. It works very well, too. All the above are safe for children. Lots of cough remedies that work. Alcohol is fine for adults.
It is still a good idea to stock up on alcohol to make other remedies. I buy cheap vodka for swedish herbs and comfrey liniment. You do not need to worry that anyone will get drunk on those, they taste very bitter and the comfrey you only use on the outside.

I hope this helps a bit. I raised my kids with natural remedies and it worked fine.

[Pokeberry Mary]

I got pretty sick last spring and everyone at work here the carolinas told me to get some brown liquor and drink a good shot--or two.

I'm guessing they meant bourbon--but I'm not really sure as I don't usually drink that sort of thing.

They insisted it could 'knock it out of you' meaning my lingering cough and bad laryngitis.

I didn't try but I think I'll stock something like that for this season.

We all had something in very early spring that I almost think might have actually been the swine flu--not sure. The kids--my 20 something crew--were the sickest. I was next in line cuz I never get over things that get to my chest without ending up with antibiotics and steroids.

If nothing else at least the brown liquor would probably knock you out-even if it doesn't totally knock your illness out.:man_in_love:

[Prairie]

I think the alcohol in cough medicines is just to help you feel better. I know that if I have one or two of my grandma's hot toddies, I feel much, much better. For tinctures that require active essential oils that are alcohol soluable to be extracted, I've used alcohol. I use 151 rum, since it is the strongest alcohol one can buy here. (Funny, Everclear is illegal here, but codeine is over the counter.) About the price, remember, this is a medicine, and keeps forever. If you get Everclear, besides medicinal uses, you can also use it for cleaning, disinfecting, de-icing, gas line defrosting, summer or winter window/windsheild washing, and even as a fuel if need be.

Remember, if you take alcohol internally, it is a drug. If you have never had alcohol before even one ounce will affect you. Do not mix with other drugs. It will intensify OTC pharmaceutical medications, and can cancel out anti-biotics. Do not drive! It can be poisonous (not that I think you will guzzly it. :lol: ) It can cause day-after effects, even after a couple of ounces, if you haven't had it before.

My recommendation: If you think that a shot of alcohol will help, take it right before bed in a toddie. Also, try wild oil of oregano. It will mask the booze smell, and knock the cold out a lot faster than alcohol.

[Teg]

If you are looking at whiskey for medicinal and your not a drinker I'd recommend something like "Southern Comfort" it's pretty mild as far as whiskeys go and it mixes well, I always thought it was a bit too "sweet" when I was drinking more often, but for medicinal use it should work well.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

If you are looking at whiskey for medicinal and your not a drinker I'd recommend something like "Southern Comfort" it's pretty mild as far as whiskeys go and it mixes well, I always thought it was a bit too "sweet" when I was drinking more often, but for medicinal use it should work well.

I think that is what we bought? I would have to dig it out of the cellar to see.

I go to an alternative herbalist. Most of their tinctures are about 50% alcohol, but you only take a few drops of it. I have one for hypertension that has a glass dropper that is half alcohol of some sort. You take twelve drops twice a day. It has a lot of burdock and hawthorne in it for cardiovascular health. They say alcohol is actually very therapeutic for some things.

[momma_to_seven_chi]

BookwormMom--
you mentioned colts foot (tussilago farfara). I will look for that at the herbalist or the health food store. I go there for anise seed quite often, so I will ask about that too. Thanks.

[Teg]

They say alcohol is actually very therapeutic for some things.

True, a small glass of wine each day is supposed to be good for the cardiovascular system, help with kidney stones, and a number of other healthy benefits, the trouble a lot of folks have is stopping at the one small glass. ;)

[tufhelp]

If you want bang for the buck, a pure grain alcohol like Everclear is a good choice. At about 190 proof, cut it in half with water and you have a close vodka substitute. Be careful using it full strength though... it will make you whoop and holler just like white lightening.

You can get some of those red and white striped peppermint hard candies, smash them up a bit and dissolve in some cut Everclear and you've got yourself some fine tasting cough medicine.... :shout:

[Prairie]

Just to add a caution: alcohol is flamable, the higher the strength, the more flamable it is. Not only that, the flame is fairly invisible.

I don't know if you can get it in the US, but one of the best natural cough remedies around here is something called Buckley's Mixture. "It tastes awful but it works."

[Pokeberry Mary]

I got a bottle of buckley's last year at Rite Aid I think. You are right--it tastes awful.
I didn't think it worked well though--but then I ended up with steroids so maybe my cough--which is an asthma thing that acts up whenever my lungs are irritated by a cold or infection-- I guess most cough meds don't work on it.

again however--it was 'gawdawful stuff'. :eek:

[Kilroy]

Alcohol is also used as a really cheap preservative for the tinctures and OTC liquid cold meds.

Have you checked out Back To Eden by Jethro Kloss? If you can still find it, it is chock full of great natural remedies.