Hot Toddy

Oh, those miserable colds. Stuffy head, clogged or runny nose, and just overall crummy feeling. There are many remedies to help one find relief from the common cold. A hot toddy is the newest one in my arsenal.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and have no medical training. This article is just about my personal experience. If you are ill, seek professional care and guidance from your health care provider.

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How about you? Do you and your significant other have a different approach to being sick? Feeling unwell? My guy is all about OTC meds and grabs them at the slightest sign of illness. And he tries to force, rather encourage me to do the same. 

Me. I try never to take meds. Well of course I take the ones prescribed by my physician for a particular ailment. But when a cold hits, a headache and even a migraine, I try to hold out. Frequently what ever ails me passes without taking anything for the symptoms.

The common cold

We all wish there was a cure for the common cold. Trying to soldier through a day at work or take care of the house and kids when you aren’t feeling well is the worse. Rest is really what helps. But how to relieve those symptoms so you can get some decent sleep?

Home remedy

You can do as my guy would do and head to the pharmacy to stock up on a cold relief like NyQuil. But I found something even he prefers. My dentist friend mentioned a hot toddy to me a couple of years ago. And she explained a little of the science behind it. She said, in her opinion, it often works just as well as OTC products.

For ages, people have made a hot toddy as a natural remedy for soothing a cold and I just considered its benefits. A Hot Toddy also tastes much better than cold meds.

How a hot toddy works

• The alcohol dilates the blood vessels, working like a decongestant, making it easier for your mucus membranes to deal with the infection.
• Like using Nyquil to help fall asleep, the ingredients in a hot toddy works in the same way. 
• The whiskey in the hot toddy helps fight off infection and the growth of micro-organisms.
• Combined with the herbal tea, honey and lemon, this steaming drink will make you just groggy enough to get some needed sleep.

Just one hot toddy

Since booze is a main ingredient, ONE is all you need to feel better. Don’t think more is better here. More than one and you just might wake up in the morning feeling worse than ever.

How to make a hot toddy

Grab your favorite mug or cup and add your favorite herbal tea bag. I like to use chamomile but any flavor is good.

Bring a kettle of water to a boil and pour over the tea bag in your mug.

Allow the tea to steep 3 to 5 minutes then remove the bag from the mug.

Drizzle in some honey.

Pour in the whiskey. I like to pick up a few of the tiny bottles of Jack Daniel’s from the liquor store just to have on hand when someone gets sick.

Finally squeeze in the lemon juice and give a quick stir. Curl up in a cozy blanket and sip your hot toddy and begin to feel better.

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Hot Toddy

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz hot water
• 1 herbal tea bag
• 1 oz Bourbon
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1 lemon wedge

DIRECTIONS

Heat a kettle of water to boiling.

Place a tea bag in to your favorite mug and pour in the hot water. Steep for 3-5 minutes.

Remove the tea bag and stir in the honey.

When the honey is dissolved, pour in the bourbon and add a squeeze of lemon juice. Stir and enjoy.

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