# Do you, or anyone you know, have a "cure-all?" **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2005, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285 "2005-12-19T11:56:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/21 "2005-12-20T16:12:09Z")
In my family (predictably since we’re Irish) it’s alcohol. Hot whiskey, rum or brandy for coughs, colds, flus and sinus problems. Vodka as a disinfectant. Whiskey and milk for an upset stomach. Brandy and ginger for nausea. A glass of wine for anxiety. Whiskey in hot, sweet tea for shock. Honey, white wine and malt vinegar for sore throats. You name the condition, my family have worked alcohol into a cure, it’s amazing none of us are alcoholics. ---
**Author:** ![Askia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Askia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askia)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/22 "2005-12-20T16:21:45Z")
> [@Stillwell Angel](#): > > She said it _did_ work wonders on them, with one small problem. She is a stomach sleeper. The Vick’s oozed downward to her um, _delicate_ parts :eek: So it’s a medicine _and_ a lubricant? Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/23 "2005-12-20T16:28:51Z")
> [@Askia](#): > > So it’s a medicine _and_ a lubricant? Hmm. and a dessert topping _and_ a floor wax! ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/24 "2005-12-20T17:37:04Z")
> [@Portia](#): > > and a dessert topping _and_ a floor wax! Aaaaaand, if you call right now, we’ll send you this bamboo steamer, absolutely free! ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/25 "2005-12-20T17:48:35Z")
I know three people who drink a tbs. of cider vinegar daily for a whole crowd of ailments, and they swear it works. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/26 "2005-12-20T18:41:39Z")
A friend’s aunt will drink a glass of water w/ ten drops of bleach in it when she feels a cold coming on. ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/27 "2005-12-20T18:47:38Z")
My gandma would give me 7-Up for any sort of bad feeling. Headache, stomachache, sore throat, you name it. I used to “feel sick” just so I could get pop instead of water or juice. 🙂 I remember my dad being a Vicks fanatic once upon a time, also… ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/28 "2005-12-20T18:49:11Z")
D’oh! I mean grandma. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/29 "2005-12-20T19:37:47Z")
My dad loves to sleep with Vicks smeared on his chest when he’s congested. I always found the smell disgusting, but he swears by the stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2005, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285/30 "2005-12-20T20:22:11Z")
Duct Tape. For everything from major auto repair to minor surgery. Tri-Flow. If it moves, it will make it move better. Ignore those pesky warnings on the side of the can! Beer. Nothing it can’t improve. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-or-anyone-you-know-have-a-cure-all/336285.md?page=1)