Vodka Remedies

By now you should be convinced that vodka belongs in the kitchen cupboard as well as in the liquor cabinet.  Maybe there’s also room for a bottle in your medicine kit?

In ancient times, Russian villagers – famous for their superstitious nature – would attempt to bribe measles and other infirmities by placing a bottle of vodka and food offerings at their front door along with a plea for the illness to pass.  Later, vodka was combined with herbs and other ingredients to disinfect, cleanse or treat a variety of ailments. 

Today, plain and flavored vodkas are still considered to be very much a cure-all by modern Russians.  From time to time I'll post some of the recipes that have been shared with me by babushkas over the years.  I can’t say with any certainty that any of them will cure what ails you.  But, like chicken soup, they also can’t do you very much harm.  Stay tuned.