Does brandy really do anything, medicinally?

Asked by awomanscorned (11261) January 8th, 2011 from iPhone

I’m reading a book and everyone around the main character is sick so she is “taking her tea with a medicinal dollop of brandy.” when I was young, my great grandpa owned a liquor store and he would bring my dad blackberry brandy if he got sick. (and he would bring me sprite) is there any truth behind this? If there is, I’m going to run out and get some now because people have the flu in our house.