this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2023
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[–] bjorney@bjorney.lol 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It was very useful for preserving primitive beer

The alcohol content in primitive beer was far too low to act as a preservative. The only reason it was useful back then is because it didn't cause dysentery - which was purely because it was boiled and had nothing to do with the alcohol

medicinal effects when combined with other medications for cold and flu relief.

Alcohol is an immunosuppressant

[–] remotelove@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago

Good correction, thanks. I must have been thinking of hops that was added later to preserve the beer. Boiling is a much simpler answer.

Alcohol is an immunosuppressant, yes. To clarify my point, It's proper function is as a solvent in, say, cough syrup, to ensure correct mixture. It can change the rate at which medicines are broken down by the body to some degree while also acting as an extremely mild sedative as well.