Evidence supporting the use of: Brandy
For the health condition: Shock

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Synopsis

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

Brandy has been traditionally used in the past as a remedy to support or treat shock, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In medical history, alcohol-containing spirits such as brandy were administered to patients experiencing shock, with the belief that these substances could stimulate the heart, provide warmth, and deliver quick energy due to their caloric content. Physicians of earlier eras often relied on anecdotal observations and limited physiological understanding, associating the immediate warming sensation and mild stimulant effect of alcohol with clinical benefit. However, modern scientific evidence does not support the use of brandy, or any alcoholic beverage, in the treatment of shock. Contemporary medical consensus holds that alcohol can actually be harmful in shock, as it may cause vasodilation, worsen hypotension, depress cardiac function, and impair the body’s compensatory mechanisms. Current guidelines for shock management emphasize fluid resuscitation, control of the underlying cause, and advanced life support—not the use of alcohol. Thus, while the practice has deep historical roots, there is no scientific validation, and the use of brandy for shock is not recommended in modern medicine.

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Products containing Brandy

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