Do tonics work?

When we were children, My mother would ply us with Minadex tonic after an illness. She swore by it, and you can still buy it! It's a tonic with multi vitamins and minerals. There's no harm in trying.

With or without gin?

Vitamins in any form work if the recipient is deficient.
I was a long time non believer but have now been proven wrong by receiving iv infusions of vitamins.

Floradix was recommended to me. Did it work? Not sure to be honest. I did feel more energised but that could just have been the passing of time. .

Extra vitamins etc won't help unliess her diet is deficient, but a supplement probably wouldn't do any harm. "Tonics".sometimes used to contain iron, which would only help if she was anaemic. They also used to contain alcohol, which might make her feel better temporarily, but is not medically recommended.

Basically, any sort of supplement will only help if it's treating a known or likely deficiency, and in most cases a change of diet is a better remedy. It can take ages to get over a virus, especially as we get older.

Sanatogen tonic wine worked very well for my granny !

merlot,

I remember being given Minadex too - it did seem to help so no harm in trying that or one of the others.

My respiratory nurse recommended Metatone as a tonic. I have been quite poorly and was doing a bit of reading on the internet and discovered that I shouldn't take it as I am on Azithromycin. I had to tell her in case she told someone else to take it. She was mortified as she had meant well.

I dont think there is much evidence for proprietary tonics although if you think something makes you feel better it probably does. If you want to perk up the body then no alcohol for a few days, a good mixed but light diet, plenty of sleep and fresh air would be my prescription.

I don't believe there is anything in a tonic that could make much difference. I think it is probably the placebo effect like Bach remedies.
I agree with Teetime.

My Gran and Mum swore by Codliver oil and Malt. It was very dark brown thick and "gloopy". I always knew when winter was round the corner as that flipping jar appeared!!!

Placebos often work, even when the recipient knows it is a placebo.

Oops My paternal granny swore by Sanatogen Tonic Wine - I know which one I preferred.

I was given Scott's Emulsion as a child. It was white ,gloopy and fishy. Yuk. Made me retch.

Scott's Emulsion was vile and Minadex was lovely.
There was one around when I was younger made by monks at ? Buckfast Abbey?
I think that was also alcoholic.

When I was little, my parents gave me Virol to build me up. I think they overdid it, and could now do with some anti-Virol! I did love the taste, butI suspect it contributed to tooth decay.