Hangover Remedies
Common folk medicine has a wide variety of
hangover cures. Indeed there appear to be nearly as many ways of curing hangovers as there are of getting drunk in the first place.
Essentially all of these hangover cures have one major thing in common, which is that they are nowhere near as effective at curing a hangover as alcoholic drinks are at getting you drunk. A good
hangover cure should replace essential nutrients lost by the body while counteracting the influence of residual poisons; very few cures do both at once.
Among the more common proposed cures are:
- drinking a sports drink (not an energy drink) such as Powerade or Gatorade, usually watered-down a bit to rehydrate and replenish lost nutrients in the body
- drinking a large amount of water before going to bed, and during the night, for rehydration (a little water is much better than none)
- eating mineral-rich foods, like pickles or canned fish
- drinking pickle juice, the solution in which cucumbers were pickled, in the morning (a staple hangover remedy in Poland)
- eating anything substantial, especially before going to bed, to "soak up" the alcohol in the stomach (pizza, sandwich)
- drinking some (not too strong) coffee (although caffeine itself may induce dehydration)
Hangover Remedies (continued)
- Orange juice, which is rich in vitamin C
- Cabbage leaves or tomato juice
- Irn Bru, is commonly regarded as a remedy in Scotland, UK.
- Cysteine, which is available as the over-the-counter supplement N-acetylcysteine (NAC), is known to assist in processing acetaldehyde, best taken while already drinking and/or before going to bed. (Egg yolk is also rich in cysteine, and it is notable that many hangover folk remedies or morning-after breakfasts incorporate eggs.
- The later stages of the consumption of alcohol cause more of a negative effect than the first; by consuming more alcohol the body begins processing the newer alcohol bringing a temporary relief from the effects of a hangover (see hair of the dog).
- Taking a vitamin B1 (thiamin) supplement before going to bed.
- The Ulster Fry (popular in Northern Ireland), an Irish Breakfast or a Breakfast Roll, a meal that is an all day breakfast.
- Coca Cola, otherwise known as Black Aspirin (popular in Australia), also The Red Ambulance (Ireland); the caffeine, bubbles and sugar can be easier to hold down than pure water.
- Taking a shower and oscillating between extreme cold and hot temperatures
- Day/night cold and flu tablets.
In 2003, the fad hangover cure was a Russian pill, sold in Russia as Antipokhmelin (Anti-Hangover), and marketed as RU-21 in the USA. It is also known as the KGB pill due to its supposed use by the KGB to allow spies to keep a clear head while drinking.
More recently, a 2004 clinical study suggested that taking prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) fruit extract several hours before drinking can significantly reduce certain hangover symptoms, including nausea. The authors theorize that the extract may work by suppressing the body's natural immune reaction to congeners.
Makers of competing hangover remedies containing activated carbon (charcoal), such as Chaser or Hangover-stopper, claim that it prevents absorption of congeners in the first place (which scientists speculate is possible, though so far untested). [1]. Extracts from the kudzu vine are currently being touted as cures.
In a review of the medical literature on hangover cures by researchers led by Max Pittler of the Peninsular Medical School at Exeter University, they reported in the 24 December 2005 issue of the British Medical Journal the following conclusion: "No compelling evidence exists to suggest that any conventional or complementary intervention is effective for preventing or treating alcohol hangover. The most effective way to avoid the symptoms of alcohol induced hangover is to practice abstinence or moderation."
Portions of this article are licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Hangover".
Disclaimer:
For entertainment purposes only. This is not intended to be professional medical advice or any kind of professional advice. User assumes all liability for accessing and/or using anything on this site. Always check with your doctor or health provider before starting any course of home remedy, alterntive treatment, or anything else found on this website. The content presented here is for entertainment purposes only. By using this site, you agree that SuperHomeRemedies.com or its owner is not responsible for the use or misuse or results of any action taken on behalf of the information presented here. By accessing this site in any manner, you agree that you do so at your own risk and that you assume all responsibility for any consequences. See full disclaimer.
