9 Cures For a Hangover

SOME CAUSES

When your body takes in alcohol it becomes dehydrated and filled with toxins (perhaps why we describe the condition as being intoxicated). It experiences a host of sensations including sensitivity to loud sounds, light, headache, nausea and thirst. In addition to the physiological symptoms alcohol is thought to induce psychological effects such as anxiety and depression. The spirit Gin has a reputation (deserved or otherwise) for making some people feel low in ‘spirits’ or depressed.

Although the precise causes of the psychological symptoms of what we know as a hangover are not yet known, in broad terms we can safely say that it is probably sparked by toxins introduced rapidly in to the system. This leads to a deficiency in vitamin B12, dehydration and acetaldehyde intoxication (the liver breaking down the alcohol creates acetate and acetaldehyde as waste products), hence the toxic effect of alcohol to the system.

Drinks containing a high content of chemicals resulting from fermentation (red wine) will be the most likely to cause a heavy hangover than, say white wine. Whatever the causes, you are likely to experience a hangover lasting up to several days, depending on your metabolic rate, your physical make-up (endo form or ecto form), your weight, age and whether you are male or female – all depending on the quantity and quality of alcohol consumed in relation to these qualifying conditions.

So, let us look at some tips to help ease that throbbing head and queezy stomach. For some these will work – for others, well…cut down on the booze!

· Try drinking plenty of water before you get stuck into the drink, and again afterwards – this will help to keep you hydrated and will prevent you actually getting a hangover!

· Some vitamin B12 capsules might help – Bovril, Marmite and Promite spread all have varying amounts of the B vitamins as well

· Drink plenty of pure water and fresh fruit juice containing vitamin C – orange juice is an example

· A glass of tomato juice

· Dry toast – it may be a lack of sugar that is causing you to feel wobbly on your legs

· Take a hot and cold shower alternately – it will wake you up if nothing else

· A can of sardines or pilchards (rich in minerals) if your stomach can face up to the thought of it

· Exercise – ‘walking it off’ has long been on the list of hangover-relievers

· Sleep it off – plenty of sleep can be the best cure for a hangover, and you are not roaming the streets looking stupid!

Finally, and NOT on the list is coffee; it is a fallacy that coffee will sober you up. With coffee comes caffeine and it is caffeine that dehydrates. As you are already dehydrated (which is what caused the condition of ‘hangover’ in the first place), it is the last thing you need.

9 Cures For a Hangover by Ian M Bell