Evidence supporting the use of: Alcohol
For the health condition: Cough (dry)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 1

Alcohol has been traditionally used in cough remedies, particularly in homemade or over-the-counter cough syrups. Historically, alcohol was believed to have soothing, sedative, and mild anesthetic effects, which could help ease the irritation of a dry cough and promote sleep. Before modern regulations and the development of more effective cough-specific agents, alcohol was a common ingredient in patent medicines and syrups for this reason. However, scientific validation for the efficacy of alcohol in treating dry cough is minimal. Most modern medical guidelines do not recommend alcohol for cough suppression due to its potential for abuse, side effects, and the availability of safer, more effective alternatives such as dextromethorphan or codeine (in prescription settings). If any benefit exists, it is likely related to the sedative and numbing properties of alcohol rather than a direct antitussive (cough-suppressing) effect. Current cough syrups generally contain little or no alcohol, reflecting a shift away from its use based on lack of strong evidence and safety concerns. In summary, while tradition underlies alcohol's historical use for dry cough, scientific support is weak, and its use is now largely discouraged.

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