Alcohol and its Effects on Health
It is general knowledge that alcohol has curative properties; but, If it used wrongly then it can be proved disastrous. Alcohol is used in a number of applications in medical science and has proved to be an indispensable ingredient. Alcohol as a substance is available in different forms and is utilized both for oral consumption and external application.
Alcohol is the product of nature and has been available forever. Before the progress of medical science, alcohol was used for various medical purposes – as a tincture, for coughs and cold, etc. With the advent of time, alcohol obtained a negative connotation as people started consuming it and became addicted to it. Alcohol addiction brought in its wake a host of domestic problems.
Alcohol has healing properties and is effective for coughs and colds. Brandy or rum with hot water is considered a remedial drink for soothing irritable throats. Many opine that 30ml of whisky a day is good for the heart but more than that is often detrimental. Alcohol is used for external wounds as it is a good astringent. It works as a disinfectant and a drying agent and is often applied to injuries. Many medicinal lotions and creams have an alcohol base in their formulation.
Though therapeutic in nature, unchecked consumption of alcohol can be extremely detrimental to a person’s health. After several drinks, alcohol provides a blissful feeling to the person consuming it. Over time, a person starts becoming dependent on alcohol and looses self-confidence in the absence of alcoholic drinks. The person becomes aggressive and abusive towards spouse and family; and retards his own life span as medical problems like cirrhosis of the liver can arise. Mental instability is also an outcome of excessive alcohol intake.
Excess of anything is bad, and this is certainly the case for alcohol. When taken in small measures, alcohol is therapeutic; in large doses, it is retarding.
