I must admit that I could be considered a whisky connoisseur. My bar is adorned with Maker’s Mark, Jameson,
Woodfords Reserve, The Balvenie, Booker’s, Blanton’s, and Johnnie Walker to
name just a few. To get to the point, my
wife asked me today what type of alcohol I would want to take with me in case
of a zombie invasion and if it had any medicinal purposes. Now, I am not an educated man in the way of the
healing powers of alcohol, unless it involves coupling Pink Floyd and whisky to
help a character’s voice sing in my skull.
Her question did make me wonder what would I take and how would it help
my plight of survival?
Jägermeister has been known to have ingredients of healing, or so
they claim with its 56 herbs, spices, and berry concoction which make this dark
brown syrupy spirit so intoxicating and irresistible to some. A list of ingredients that are openly known
in Jägermeister are – cinnamon bark, star anise, cloves, ginger root, saffron,
coriander, bitter orange skin, chamomile flowers, licorice root, lavender, rose
hips, poppy seeds, juniper berries, ginseng, red sandalwood, and
blueberries. So, in the case of Jägermeister,
it isn’t really the alcohol that holds a medicinal value, it is the ingredients
that help with ailments. Below is a list of the ingredients and their effects
on the body -
Cinnamon bark has been shown to reduce gas, prevent
diarrhea, and stimulate appetite.
Star Anise has been shown to improve liver health as well as acts as
an anti-viral.
Cloves have been shown to reduce fevers, act as an anti-inflammatory and
prevent intestinal cancer.
Ginger Root reduces nausea, inflammation and has
been shown to cure mild indigestion.
Saffron has been shown to prevent cancer, vascular and visual
disorders, as well as reduce symptoms of depression and ADD.
Coriander prevents gas, is an antispasmodic and stomachic, or herb
that improves stomach muscle health.
Bitter Orange Skin is suggested (studies are limited) to
be an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, relaxant, antifungal and antibacterial.
Chamomile Flowers reduce gas, cramping and overall
indigestion while aiding in relaxation.
Licorice Root may suppress coughs and cure digestive
ailments including peptic ulcers, however, studies have had mixed results.
Lavender is used to treat insomnia, stress and anxiety. It's also an
anti-inflammatory and antifungal.
Rose Hips promote healthy tissue in the stomach lining as well as
prevent diarrhea.
Poppy Seed has long been known to improve digestion and reduce cough.
Juniper Berries are a diuretic, but also have been
shown to help treat bronchitis.
Ginseng increases immune system strength, has been proven to reduce
the duration of colds, and helps prevent cancer.
Red Sandalwood is suggested to reduce anxiety and
increase alertness.
Blueberries are extremely high in antioxidants and
fiber, which aids in healthy digestion.
