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Rubbing with vodka for fever: proportions and how to do it
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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To reduce the temperature, a long-known folk method is often used - rubbing the body with vodka. The method is considered quite effective, although there are some dangers in its use.
Indications for the procedure
An increase in temperature is a sign of illness, but also that the body is fighting it. Therefore, if it does not exceed 38.5°C, it is not recommended to bring it down. Rubbing with vodka is only indicated at higher temperatures.
Rubbing with vodka for cough
The method of rubbing with vodka is often used to eliminate cough. But before rubbing, you need to figure out the reason for the cough, as well as determine its characteristics - this requires a consultation with a doctor. To soften the cough and facilitate the coughing process, you can rub the patient's back with vodka. The treatment process should be accompanied by gentle patting movements.
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Rubbing with vodka for colds
When the first symptoms of a cold appear, you can use vodka to rub your entire body. The feet should be treated most thoroughly. After that, you need to put woolen socks on your feet and go to bed. This procedure is often enough to stop a cold at an early stage.
Technique vodka rubdowns at a temperature
The procedure should be carried out as follows: the patient must be undressed and laid on his back. Then dip a soft napkin in the prepared solution and begin to wipe the body with it. Try to do this with light, soft movements without intensive rubbing. Do not wipe the skin areas in the groin, as well as near the heart.
The procedure should start with the arms, and then move up to the armpits and sternum. After that, move down to the stomach, and then the legs. Then the patient should be turned over onto his stomach, and wiped from top to bottom - the back, buttocks, and legs.
Proportions of vodka solution for wiping at temperature
At high temperatures, the solution used for grinding is prepared as follows: the proportions of water and vodka are 1 to 1.
Rubbing with vodka and vinegar
In some cases, a solution of vodka, water and vinegar is used for rubbing at elevated body temperature. In this case, the proportions are 1 to 1 to 1.
Rubbing a child with vodka when they have a high temperature
Doctors generally disagree on whether rubbing with vodka is useful or harmful. Some of them advise using this method at a temperature, but others are categorically against it, as they consider it very dangerous.
Rubbing with vodka when a child has a fever is dangerous because its rapid decrease can cause vascular spasms. As a result, heat transfer will slow down, which will cause the temperature of the internal organs to increase.
Rubdowns using vodka are prohibited for children under 7 years of age, especially infants. This is due to the fact that children's skin is very thin, so vodka easily passes through it into the blood vessels, which can result in alcohol poisoning.
It is also necessary to take into account that children should not be wiped with pure vodka or alcohol solution - this can provoke the development of dermatitis on the child's skin, as well as the appearance of irritation. Therefore, when preparing the solution, you need to dilute vodka with water (it is better to use warm water, because cold water can cause the baby to shiver).
Rubbing with vodka during pregnancy
Is rubbing with vodka allowed during pregnancy? In case of fever, this remedy is allowed to be used, but some nuances related to the woman's position should be taken into account. One of the rules is that when rubbing, it is recommended to avoid the abdominal area. In addition, you need to understand that you cannot abuse this method during pregnancy. It should be used in rare cases, in small doses. It is also recommended to consult a doctor before use.
Contraindications to the procedure
Contraindications to the use of this method are the following cases:
- damage to the integrity of the skin, the presence of ulcers on it. Since vodka has strong irritating properties, rubbing with it in the presence of wounds will be very painful and, moreover, can interfere with their healing;
- areas of the skin where there are many moles, especially those with a convex shape. You should not rub these areas with vodka, because it causes discomfort to the patient, and in addition, damage to moles can cause them to degenerate into a malignant tumor;
- oncological pathologies. A history of tumor formations is a contraindication against any type of warming, because they can provoke a relapse. In such cases, other treatment methods should be used;
- cardiovascular diseases. In case of disorders of this type, it is undesirable to increase the speed and intensity of the circulatory system function. It is necessary to consult with a specialist in this field in advance regarding such procedures;
- children under 7 years of age.
Consequences after the procedure
Rubbing with vodka can cause unpleasant complications - for example, children may develop alcohol intoxication. It is also necessary to take into account that due to the evaporation of the drink, the body's heat transfer increases sharply - this is what leads to a rapid decrease in temperature. An excessively sharp drop is fraught with serious consequences - the development of spasms in blood vessels and the occurrence of convulsions.
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Care after the procedure
Rubbing with vodka at a temperature gives an effect quite quickly, but after this procedure, it is necessary to follow some rules to consolidate its effect. It is not allowed to dress the patient and wrap him in a blanket immediately after rubbing. About 1 minute can be blown with a hair dryer (the air in this case should be warm, but not hot). After this, the patient is allowed to be covered. It will be useful to use cool compresses, which should be placed on the forehead (for this, you can use ordinary water).
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