Why do they put alcohol in cough medicine and the like? Does it do something no other substance can resonably do that makes it worth using alcohol, which many people would rather not injest (like kids)?
thanks
ANSWER PERSON RESPONDS: There seem to be homeopathic cough syrups, such as made by Boericke & Tafel (B&T), that don’t contain alcohol. I’m guessing that as a central nervous system depressent, alcohol helps kill feeling and reduce coughing, but AP is no medical researcher so can’t tell you what works and what doesn’t work for your cough. It may be because cold medicines have a goal of helping you sleep. It may be because the main ingredients are more soluble in alcohol than in just water or in an oil-based substance.