Throughout the years, alcohol has been used on and off as pain relief in a wide range of situations. From rare whisky to large glass of wine, every person has their preferred tipple. However, would you choose whisky over a strong painkiller? Which would be more effective? Today we are looking at whether alcohol should be used as a painkiller and how this has changed over time. Remember, drinking too much will cause you to fall quite ill so we recommend talking to your GP about pain relief before grabbing that rare whisky!
Read on and find out about rare whisky as pain relief throughout time.
Rare Whisky Pain Relief Studies In History
In days of yore, alcohol was definitely more generally used as an effective pain relief. It was even prescribed by many local doctors. The doctors of the past found that rare whisky would help immensely, particularly with patients with long-term or chronic illnesses.
In 1941, three doctors reported to the Association of American Physicians that they had found alcohol to be a truly effective painkiller in their study. This study found that two measures of rare whisky rose their pain threshold by 45% for two hours. They further tested the theory by adding a tablet of aspirin which they found rose the pain threshold by four hours. The point they made was that although alcohol is as addictive as morphine, an alcohol habit is an easier one to kick.
Since the Civil War, people have been rubbing there gums with alcohol to get rid of a toothache and dull pain. This practice is just not recommended by doctors.
Using Whisky As Pain Relief Today
Alcohol is probably the oldest used pain relief in the world. However, it is disregarded today due to the long list of negative side effects it will have on your health. Many people still turn to it for those dull headaches or sore backs, but this will become a cause for concern if the habit stays.
That said, a hot toddy could be the perfect relief for a common cold in the middle of winter. The combination of rare whisky, lemon, and honey does have a numbing and calming effect for those with a sore throat. Just make sure it’s not a regular thing!
The Danger Of Alcohol As Pain Relief
Alcohol is not widely used as official pain relief today for many reasons. The drink can have both addictive and negative influences on your health. For this reason, the government recommend that for both men and women, people do not exceed 14 units of alcohol per week. This could mean either 6 pints of beer or 6 medium glasses of wine. A quick shot of rare whisky to dull a headache before bed won’t do you any harm. Always make sure to always drink responsibly and to know your limits.
Horace is a health and wellness researcher with expertise in holistic medicine and evidence-based treatments. His writing covers everything from nutrition and fitness to emerging healthcare technologies.