The old timey home remedy, known as a hot toddy, is the perfect way to sooth your cold, sore throat, and cough. It’s winter time and that means all the ick is around, and a hot toddy is a hot, sweet, and comforting drink that will ease some of your illness symptoms. A traditional hot toddy is an adult beverage, though we also have a virgin recipe for kids or non-drinkers.
Let me preface this by saying I’m not a doctor and this is in no way medical advice, rather things that I have learned and have done in my life. All medical advice should be from a doctor and be sure to ask your doctor before trying anything, may it be: natural remedies, exercise, supplements, etc.
Old Timey Home Remedy: Hot Toddy Recipe
A hot toddy is an alcoholic beverage that not only tastes good, but can help soothe respiratory illnesses. It’s tea, with citrus, honey, and whiskey. I know, many people are probably rolling their eyes at this home remedy since we’ve seen so many jokes about our grandparents using alcohol for everything.
However, there is some truth to whiskey helping when ill though! I know, it seems weird, but the hot toddy recipe with whiskey is something I, and many friends, have used for years. I think it’s a southern home remedy honestly.
What Is A Hot Toddy?
A hot toddy is a tea drink made with water, lemon, cinnamon, honey, and whiskey, however, I’ve always made mine with black tea.
It was actually a drink that dates back to the 1600’s and from India, but has changed over the years. The one that’s most familiar to us (though brandy was used, not whiskey) was given to patients by an Irish doctor of the name Robert Bentley Todd.
Ingredients Needed To Make A The Home Remedy: Hot Toddy With Whiskey Recipe
- 1 Cup of Water
- 1 Shot of Whiskey
- 1 Tablespoon of Honey
- 1 Cinnamon Stick
- 2-3 Teaspoons of Lemon Juice
- Optional: 1 Black Tea Bag
How To Make A Hot Toddy With Whiskey Recipe
Step 1
Heat up 1 cup of water. I usually heat it until the water comes to a soft boil.
Optional: Add your black tea bag and let it sit for 2 minutes.
Step 2
Add your honey, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, and shot of whiskey and mix.
Step 3
Sip slowly and enjoy!
How To Make A Virgin Hot Toddy?
If you are making this home remedy for a non-drinker or child, just don’t add the whiskey. Alcohol is only for those 21+ in the US.
While it won’t have the same properties as a hot toddy with whiskey, but the hot drink is still soothing.
How Does A Hot Toddy Help Relieve Cold Symptoms?
- The lemon juice will help break up mucus, plus it has a lot of vitamin C and antioxidants.
- The honey will help kill viruses and bacteria and soothe a sore throat.
- Cinnamon will also help kill viruses and bacteria as well.
- And of course the hot water or tea is soothing to a sore throat and will help hydrate.
- Whiskey is great for breaking down the mucus in the throat, soothing a sore throat, and help stop coughing temporarily. It also helps kill some of the germs in the back of the throat. It can also help you relax to sleep.
Arguments Against The Hot Toddy
I’ve only seen a couple places argue against a hot toddy and it’s healing benefits. Most of the argument is that whiskey doesn’t help a cold at all because it doesn’t help break up mucus in the throat, help disinfect, or help with cough.
However, you have other people and websites saying, yes, whiskey is indeed good for cold symptoms.
However, it is up to you in the end. The hot toddy home remedy has been used since the 1800’s and has been handed down to generation to generation and something I’ve personally used. So it’s something the adults in my family will use to relieve cold symptoms.
Are There Side Effects To A Hot Toddy?
There aren’t really side effects per se, however, there are aspects of it that can effect you and you may need to have a virgin hot toddy in certain circumstances.
- Have issues with caffeine? Then omit the black tea.
- If you have had a problem with alcohol, have a virgin hot toddy.
- Are you on any medication? Do not drink alcohol without checking with your doctor or pharmacist.
- If you have liver disease avoid alcohol.
- Do not drive after drinking a hot toddy. Alcohol works different in everyone’s body and people digest the alcohol differently so you can get impaired by one drink especially if you’re not used to alcohol.
- Make sure you drink water after a hot toddy. While this hot beverage has water in it, it also has alcohol and alcohol can be dehydrating.
Old Timey Home Remedies Like This Hot Toddy Recipe Can Help You Feel Better
Hopefully the hot toddy will help relieve some of your cold symptoms. Regardless, I pray God heals anyone reading this and is ill. I love home remedies though, we use so many of them in my house. And I’m excited to share more with you all and hope they work for you as well.