Colds are one of the most common illnesses worldwide, with adults averaging 2-4 colds per year and children averaging 6-10 colds per year. The symptoms of a cold include runny nose, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, fever, and general malaise. While there is no cure for the common cold, many people try various home remedies to find relief from their symptoms. One such home remedy is drinking rum to “sweat out” the cold. But does consuming rum actually help get rid of a cold faster? Let’s take a closer look at the evidence.
What causes colds?
Colds are caused by viruses, most commonly rhinoviruses. There are more than 200 types of rhinoviruses that can cause colds. When a rhinovirus enters the body, usually through the nose or eyes, it infects the cells lining the nasal passages and throat. This causes inflammation, resulting in the typical cold symptoms. The infected cells also release more rhinoviruses that spread and infect other cells. A person with a cold is contagious starting a day before symptoms appear and for up to 5 days after becoming sick. Rhinoviruses are easily spread through airborne droplets from coughing, sneezing or touching contaminated surfaces. There is no medical treatment that can cure a rhinovirus infection – symptoms just have to run their course, which is usually 7-10 days.
What is rum?
Rum is a distilled alcoholic spirit made from sugarcane byproducts such as molasses or sugarcane juice. The molasses or juice is fermented with yeast, then distilled to concentrate the alcohol and flavor. Rum typically contains between 40-95% alcohol by volume. The flavor can vary widely depending on factors in production, like the raw ingredients, distillation method, aging process and added flavors. Light rums are mild in flavor, while dark rums are richer, often with hints of caramel or spice. Rum does not have any medicinal properties – it is simply an alcoholic beverage.
Does drinking rum relieve cold symptoms?
There is no scientific evidence that drinking rum can cure or shorten the duration of a cold. However, some people believe that drinking rum can help “sweat out” a cold. The thinking is that if you consume alcoholic drinks like rum, it will dilate blood vessels, increasing body temperature and inducing sweating. This is thought to help expel the cold virus from your body faster. However, doctors say this is nothing more than a myth – sweating cannot physically eliminate rhinoviruses or speed up recovery time. Drinking alcohol can temporarily make you feel better by soothing sore throats or inducing sleep, but it does not affect the cold itself. In fact, experts warn against drinking alcohol when sick because it can worsen congestion and dehydrate the body.
Dangers of drinking rum while sick
Here are some of the dangers associated with consuming rum and other alcoholic drinks while sick with a cold:
- Dehydration – Drinking alcohol while sick can lead to dehydration and impede the body’s ability to fight off the virus.
- Impaired immune system – Alcohol suppresses the immune system, interfering with your body’s ability to resist the cold virus.
- Disrupted sleep cycles – While alcohol can induce sleep initially, it actually disrupts normal sleep cycles, resulting in lower quality rest.
- Increased congestion – Alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, leading to increased nasal congestion and chest congestion from productive coughs.
- Interaction with medications – Alcohol interacts negatively with many common cold medications, like acetaminophen, antihistamines and decongestants.
- Impaired judgment – Drinking when sick can result in poor judgment, causing you to disregard rest and recovery.
Medical professionals caution that the risks of drinking alcohol typically outweigh any perceived benefits when you have a cold.
Healthier ways to treat a cold
Instead of turning to rum or other alcoholic beverages, focus on these healthier strategies to ease cold symptoms and recover:
- Get plenty of rest – Resting allows your body to devote energy to fighting off the virus.
- Stay hydrated – Drink lots of water and fluids like broths to thin mucus and prevent dehydration.
- Use humidifiers – Humidifiers add moisture to the air, helping reduce congestion and sore throats.
- Take over-the-counter medications – Medications can relieve specific symptoms like pain, coughs, congestion and fever.
- Soothe your throat – Drink warm liquids, eat soothing foods like soup, and suck on lozenges to ease a sore throat.
- Reduce fever – Use cooling measures like ice packs, fans and fever-reducing medications if fever becomes uncomfortable.
- Avoid irritants – Steer clear of cigarette smoke and other respiratory irritants that can exacerbate symptoms.
Focusing on rest and proper care for your body is the best way to recover quickly when you have a cold. Remember to see your doctor if symptoms last longer than 10 days or worsen instead of improving.
The bottom line
Despite being a popular folk remedy, drinking rum or other alcoholic beverages does not cure or shorten the duration of the common cold. Alcohol can temporarily suppress certain symptoms like coughs or sore throat, but it does not address the root cause – the rhinovirus infection. In fact, alcohol can be harmful when you have a cold by causing dehydration, disrupting sleep and interacting with medications. There is no scientific evidence that alcohol “sweats out” a cold virus. Your best bet is to let the cold run its course while utilizing rest, hydration and over-the-counter symptom relievers as needed. Avoid self-medicating with rum or other alcoholic drinks, which can end up doing more harm than good. Focus on taking good care of your body, and your cold should resolve itself within 7-10 days.
References
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- Johnson, S. (2019). Effect of alcohol on immunity and bacterial infection. Wiley interdisciplinary reviews. Systems biology and medicine, 11(5), e1445. https://doi.org/10.1002/wsbm.1445
- Tiemensma, J., & Kapil, V. (2020). Alcohol and Immune Response. Nutrients, 12(11), 3525. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12113525
- Johnston, C. S., & Gaas, C. A. (2006). Vinegar: medicinal uses and antiglycemic effect. MedGenMed : Medscape general medicine, 8(2), 61.
- Shapiro, G. G., Virant, F. S., Furukawa, C. T., Pierson, W. E., & Bierman, C. W. (1976). Immunologic defects in patients with refractory staphylococcal infections. Annals of allergy, 37(2), 125–131.