Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe IngredientsOther Symptom ReliefHow to Make a Hot ToddyCan You Leave the Alcohol Out?Who Should Avoid It?Other Remedies
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Ingredients
Other Symptom Relief
How to Make a Hot Toddy
Can You Leave the Alcohol Out?
Who Should Avoid It?
Other Remedies
A hot toddy is a warm drink often used as a home remedy to treat cold and flu symptoms. Its ingredients may improve coughs, runny noses, and sore throats.
The warm drink contains hot water, lemon or lemon juice, and honey. Some recipes also call for alcohol, such as whiskey, rum, or brandy.
While no research proves that a hot toddy improves a cough, there is evidence that the individual ingredients can be helpful for a cold or flu.
The Effectiveness of Each Ingredient
More research is needed to determine whether a hot toddy is beneficial for acoldor theflu.The ingredients, including honey, lemon, and hot water, have each improved cold symptoms like acoughorsore throat.
While some hot toddy recipes call for alcohol, some research suggests that adding alcohol could be counterproductive because it impairs the body’s ability to defend against infections.
Honey
Honeyis a proven treatment for coughs. It may be as effective as certain cough medications.Honey may improve a cough because it coats the throat and soothes irritation. It also has antimicrobial properties that may fight certain bacteria and viruses to prevent illness.
Lemon (or Lemon Juice)
Lemonsand lemon juice are rich invitamin C. Research shows that consuming vitamin C when coming down with a cold may shorten the duration and lower the severity of the symptoms.Regularly consuming vitamin C supplements or foods may reduce your risk of getting a cold.
Hot Water
Drinking hot water may feel soothing when you have a respiratory illness. A mixture of a hot liquid andsteamhas been found to clear the nasal passages and relieve a sore throat. In addition to water, other hot drinks that may improve cold symptoms include tea and broth.
Alcohol
Some hot toddy recipes call for adding alcohol, such as whiskey, rum, or brandy. However, there is no evidence adding alcohol to your warm drink has any health benefits.
A Word From VerywellMany people feel comforted with a hot drink when sick. Research and personal reports show that hot water combined with lemon and honey can be helpful for cough, sore throat, and runny nose.—EMILY DASHIELL, ND, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
A Word From Verywell
Many people feel comforted with a hot drink when sick. Research and personal reports show that hot water combined with lemon and honey can be helpful for cough, sore throat, and runny nose.—EMILY DASHIELL, ND, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Many people feel comforted with a hot drink when sick. Research and personal reports show that hot water combined with lemon and honey can be helpful for cough, sore throat, and runny nose.
—EMILY DASHIELL, ND, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Can a Hot Toddy Relieve Other Symptoms?
Drinking a hot drink like a hot toddy may improve a cough, soothe arunny nose, and relieve a sore throat. Drinking a hot drink with steam may also reducesneezing, chills, and fatigue.
Research shows that a room-temperature drink may improve a cough, runny nose, and sneezing. However, it will not clear the nasal passages or improve a sore throat.
How to Make a Hot Toddy at Home
Yes, you can leave the alcohol out of your hot toddy. While alcohol is a common ingredient in this drink, it may decrease the potential health benefits.Alcohol impairs the body’s ability to functionand fight infection. Alcohol is also dehydrating and removes fluid from the body. When you are sick, it is important to stay hydrated to fight the illness.
Who Should Avoid Drinking a Hot Toddy?
Some people should avoid drinking a hot toddy. Hot toddies contain honey, which is unsafe for infants under 12 months old. Infants are at an increased risk ofbotulismfrom honey. Honey contains harmful bacteria that may lead to serious illness in infants.
A hot toddy may also contain alcohol. People who are not of legal age to consume alcohol are not advised to drink a hot toddy that contains alcohol.
Other Remedies for a Cough
Some home remedies may be helpful for a cough and other cold symptoms. Consider trying the followingtreatments for cough relief:
Summary
Many people seek natural remedies to improve their symptoms at home during cold and flu season. A hot toddy is a warm drink that contains hot water, honey, and lemon. Each ingredient has improved cold and flu symptoms, including coughing, runny nose, and sore throat.
Some hot toddy recipes contain alcohol, but adding alcohol may impair your body’s ability to fight the infection. Additional home remedies for a cough and other cold symptoms include using a humidifier, gargling with salt water, OTC medications, and essential oils.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Almehizia AA, AlEssa RK, Alwusaidi KM, et al.Allergic rhinitis: disease characteristics and coping measures in Saudi Arabia.PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0217182. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217182Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, Shaffer ML, Duda L, Berlin CM Jr.Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(12):1140-1146. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.12.1140Sinha S, Sehgal A, Ray S, Sehgal R.Benefits of manuka honey in the management of infectious diseases: recent advances and prospects.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2023;23(20):1928-1941. doi:10.2174/1389557523666230605120717Hemilä H, Chalker E.Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(1):CD000980. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4Montenegro-Landívar MF, Tapia-Quirós P, Vecino X, et al.Polyphenols and their potential role to fight viral diseases: an overview.Sci Total Environ. 2021;801:149719. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149719Sanu A, Eccles R.The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu.Rhinology. 2008;46(4):271-275.Sarkar D, Jung MK, Wang HJ.Alcohol and the immune system.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):153-155.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Botulism prevention.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Humidifiers and indoor allergies.Panta P, Chatti K, Andhavarapu A.Do saline water gargling and nasal irrigation confer protection against COVID-19?Explore (NY). 2021;17(2):127-129. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2020.09.010Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Almehizia AA, AlEssa RK, Alwusaidi KM, et al.Allergic rhinitis: disease characteristics and coping measures in Saudi Arabia.PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0217182. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217182Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, Shaffer ML, Duda L, Berlin CM Jr.Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(12):1140-1146. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.12.1140Sinha S, Sehgal A, Ray S, Sehgal R.Benefits of manuka honey in the management of infectious diseases: recent advances and prospects.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2023;23(20):1928-1941. doi:10.2174/1389557523666230605120717Hemilä H, Chalker E.Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(1):CD000980. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4Montenegro-Landívar MF, Tapia-Quirós P, Vecino X, et al.Polyphenols and their potential role to fight viral diseases: an overview.Sci Total Environ. 2021;801:149719. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149719Sanu A, Eccles R.The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu.Rhinology. 2008;46(4):271-275.Sarkar D, Jung MK, Wang HJ.Alcohol and the immune system.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):153-155.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Botulism prevention.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Humidifiers and indoor allergies.Panta P, Chatti K, Andhavarapu A.Do saline water gargling and nasal irrigation confer protection against COVID-19?Explore (NY). 2021;17(2):127-129. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2020.09.010Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Almehizia AA, AlEssa RK, Alwusaidi KM, et al.Allergic rhinitis: disease characteristics and coping measures in Saudi Arabia.PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0217182. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217182Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, Shaffer ML, Duda L, Berlin CM Jr.Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(12):1140-1146. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.12.1140Sinha S, Sehgal A, Ray S, Sehgal R.Benefits of manuka honey in the management of infectious diseases: recent advances and prospects.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2023;23(20):1928-1941. doi:10.2174/1389557523666230605120717Hemilä H, Chalker E.Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(1):CD000980. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4Montenegro-Landívar MF, Tapia-Quirós P, Vecino X, et al.Polyphenols and their potential role to fight viral diseases: an overview.Sci Total Environ. 2021;801:149719. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149719Sanu A, Eccles R.The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu.Rhinology. 2008;46(4):271-275.Sarkar D, Jung MK, Wang HJ.Alcohol and the immune system.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):153-155.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Botulism prevention.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Humidifiers and indoor allergies.Panta P, Chatti K, Andhavarapu A.Do saline water gargling and nasal irrigation confer protection against COVID-19?Explore (NY). 2021;17(2):127-129. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2020.09.010Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252
Almehizia AA, AlEssa RK, Alwusaidi KM, et al.Allergic rhinitis: disease characteristics and coping measures in Saudi Arabia.PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0217182. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217182
Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, Shaffer ML, Duda L, Berlin CM Jr.Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007;161(12):1140-1146. doi:10.1001/archpedi.161.12.1140
Sinha S, Sehgal A, Ray S, Sehgal R.Benefits of manuka honey in the management of infectious diseases: recent advances and prospects.Mini Rev Med Chem. 2023;23(20):1928-1941. doi:10.2174/1389557523666230605120717
Hemilä H, Chalker E.Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;2013(1):CD000980. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4
Montenegro-Landívar MF, Tapia-Quirós P, Vecino X, et al.Polyphenols and their potential role to fight viral diseases: an overview.Sci Total Environ. 2021;801:149719. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149719
Sanu A, Eccles R.The effects of a hot drink on nasal airflow and symptoms of common cold and flu.Rhinology. 2008;46(4):271-275.
Sarkar D, Jung MK, Wang HJ.Alcohol and the immune system.Alcohol Res. 2015;37(2):153-155.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Botulism prevention.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.Humidifiers and indoor allergies.
Panta P, Chatti K, Andhavarapu A.Do saline water gargling and nasal irrigation confer protection against COVID-19?Explore (NY). 2021;17(2):127-129. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2020.09.010
Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252
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