Bourbon is a whiskey made in America. For whiskey to be bourbon, it must be made of at least 51 percent corn. Although bourbon must be made according to specific regulations, it no longer needs to be made in the location of its origin, Bourbon County, Kentucky. Parents have been giving their children small amounts of bourbon for years to stop coughs and pacify them. Nowadays, in the age of alcoholism and abuse, it is controversial to give your child bourbon for a cough. Is bourbon the best cough suppressant?
Instructions
History
1. Bourbon was supposedly invented by a Baptist minister, Elijah Craig, around 1789, when he founded a distillery. It is not proven that Craig was the inventor of Bourbon, and his distillery was not located in Bourbon County. Pediatricians in the 19th and 20th century frequently recommended small amounts of whiskey (usually bourbon because of its pure distillation) for coughs. Starting in the late 1800s, however, it became controversial to give children or adults whiskey or bourbon for coughs because it promoted alcoholism.
Significance
2. Most recently, over-the-counter cough medicines have been proven to be ineffective against coughs. According to Dr. Richard Irwin in an article distributed by the Associated Press, "over-the-counter cough syrups generally contain drugs in too low a dose to be effective, or contain combination of drugs that have never been proven to treat coughs." Whiskey, brandy and bourbon have been thought by laymen to slow down the brain function and warm the chest, and numb the throat, discouraging the body from needing to cough. Most doctors advise against taking bourbon or other alcohol for coughs or colds because it can be severely dehydrating, and it is not medically proven that alcoholic beverages help coughs.
Function
3. Hot bourbon in the form of a Hot Toddy is arguably the most effective alcoholic cough suppressant. To make a Hot Toddy, heat a saucepan with a small amount of bourbon, a few teaspoons of honey, and a lemon wedge. Heat until the honey dissolves and the whiskey is warm. Drink slowly and follow with a glass of herbal tea or water to rehydrate. After drinking a Hot Toddy or other whiskey drinks, your chest will feel warm and you may feel tired. Make sure to hydrate yourself and eat a snack, as whiskey can lower blood sugar and dehydrate your body, especially if you have a fever. If you are feeling nauseous or unable to eat, do not drink whiskey when you are sick.
Effects
4. Because drinking alcohol is a controversial subject among doctors, there is no real proof that bourbon is the best alcohol for suppressing a cough. There is also no proof regarding the effectiveness of any alcohol on a cough or cold. According to the Buffalo Medical and Surgical Journal, written in 1878, bourbon and whiskey were the premiere alcoholic beverages being prescribed at the time by doctors for coughs and colds. Although bourbon and whiskey may be the traditional alcohol used to treat coughs, the medical proof in 1878 (approximately the time when doctors prescribing alcohol became controversial) was not sophisticated enough to suggest a scientific reason as to why alcohol was successful in treating coughs.
Warning
5. Do not give your child bourbon, whiskey, brandy or any other alcoholic substances. If you or your child is feeling sick, go to the doctor. If you have a history of alcohol abuse, do not medicate with alcohol. Doctors do not recommend using alcohol as medication.
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