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The Best Years in Life
Naturally Prevent, Relieve and Eliminate Unpleasant Hangovers
by Tony Isaacs
Most of us who drink alcoholic beverages have over-indulged on occasion and most often paid for our excesses by being cursed with a nasty hangover. It might be argued that the bleary-eyed, queasy, head-aching morning after is a just reward for not exercising better judgment and restraint. However, even though we know better, hangovers do happen to some of us. Using a bit of common sense and natural remedies can help prevent future hangovers and take the bite out of ones that do happen.
Hangover symptoms include headache,
nausea, sensitivity to light and
noise, lethargy, dysphoria, diarrhea
and thirst, typically after the
intoxicating effects of the alcohol
begin to wear off. Symptoms may
persist for several days after
alcohol was last consumed.
Hypoglycemia, dehydration,
acetaldehyde intoxication, glutamine
rebound, and vitamin B12 deficiency
are all theorized causes of hangover
symptoms.
Here are some commonsense guidelines
and natural remedies to use to
prevent hangovers:
Obviously the best way to prevent a
hangover is to avoid heavy alcohol
consumption. Try to alternate with a
glass of water between drinks and
avoid sugary, flavored drinks that
can mask the amount of alcohol
consumed. Drink a tangy drink o help
stop the urge for alcohol, such as
tomato with lemon juice, and a dash
of cayenne pepper added.
One tip that may help avoid hangover
or at least lesson the symptoms it
to avoid drinking on an empty
stomach. Another tip is to rehydrate
by drinking 2-3 large glasses of
water before you go to bed. Drinking
alcohol is very dehydrating and
re-hydrating helps counteract the
effects of alcohol.
Sports drinks are usually high in
electrolytes and can help replenish
what the kidneys have excreted
during drinking. Take before
bedtime. Note however, that most
commercial sports drinks may contain
unhealthy items such as high
fructose corn syrup, refined sugar,
artificial colors and flavors and
more. For a recipe for a healthy and
delicious natural sports drink and
other tips about dehydration, see:
Avoiding and Treating Dehydration
During the Dog Days of Summer
One remedy for lessening the morning
after pain is: Drink a large glass
of water before you go to bed, take
a B-complex supplement that supplies
at least 50 mg of niacin, and take a
liquid bitters preparation (look for
products that contain dandelion,
gentian, mugwort, or Angostura
bitters) in water with a little
honey (raw organic is best).
Another suggestion is to use
wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is a natural
detoxifier. The chlorophyll in
wheatgrass helps clear toxins, heals
the intestines and maintain a
healthy pH balance. In addition, it
delivers powerful antioxidants and
enzymes to support the body. Drink a
glass at the end of the night and
then again the morning after to
further detox and energize.
Acetaldehyde is a digestive
byproduct of alcohol that is a major
cause of hangovers. Bifidus is a
"friendly" bacteria that detoxifies
acetaldehyde. Put a teaspoon of
bifidus powder in a glass of water
and drink before going to bed.
The herb milk thistle (silymarin)
has a long history of protecting the
liver. Take 70 to 120 mg once before
drinking.
Take one tablet of activated
charcoal per drink while you are
drinking. The charcoal absorbs the
impurities in the alcohol which are
the cause of the hangover.
Other suggestions:
* American Indians claim that eating
6 raw almonds before imbibing helps
prevent intoxication.
* Evening primrose oil helps prevent
hangovers. Take two teaspoons before
going to bed.
* Prickly pear cactus extract is
also reported to be effective as
both a preventive and remedy.
As mentioned above, the best way to avoid getting a hangover is to not make the mistake of drinking too much to begin with. However, if you do end up with a hangover, here are ways to safely and naturally relieve and eliminate it:
One of the first things to do for
hangover recovery is eliminate built
up toxins. Hot baths are great,
especially with added Epsom salts to
help you relax, relieve aches and
restore lost magnesium. A sauna is
likewise great and so is exercise or
a brisk walk.
A remedy which usually gets rid of
hangovers quickly is a banana and
honey milkshake. Bananas calm the
stomach, and with the honey, build
up depleted blood sugar levels.
Bananas are also rich in the
magnesium and potassium, important
electrolytes which are depleted by
alcohol.
Honey by itself is a popular remedy.
Take 2-6 teaspoons of honey every
twenty minutes upon waking,
depending on the hangover's
severity. Continue until you start
to feel better, then take four
teaspoons with your first meal. Use
only raw certified organic honey if
possible.
The bark of willow trees contains
the natural form of the same
pain-relieving ingredient found in
aspirin in much smaller so it may be
less stressful on your stomach.
You'll also find similar
pain-relieving compounds in
wintergreen. To make a tea, use the
bark of willow or the leaves and
flowering tops of wintergreen. Steep
1/4 to 1/2 tsp of powdered bark or
wintergreen leaves and flowers in 1
cup of hot water for 10 - 15 minutes
and drink 1 to 3 cups of tea per
day.
Dandelion root helps gently relieve
constipation and stomachaches and
stimulates the liver for better
alcohol metabolism. Plus, dandelion
is a good source of antioxidants
that help repair damage from excess
alcohol. Steep 1 to 2 tsp of dried
root in 1 cup of hot water for 10 to
15 minutes. Drink a cup in the
morning and another in the evening.
Hot peppers contain the
pain-relieving compound capsaicin.
Try dried, ground peppers or
powdered cayenne in a glass of
tomato juice the morning after. But
keep this Bloody Mary a virgin -
fighting a hangover with another
drink delays recovery and may
increase the severity of the
following hangover. You can also
take a pinch or so in food.
As noted in the previous part of
this article, milk thistle (silymarin)
protects the liver. It also helps
remove toxins. Frequent drinkers and
recovering alcoholics should take
milk thistle daily. Typical dosage
is 70-120 mg three times daily.
Grandma's old stand-by, chicken
soup, seems to work as well for
hangover problems as it does for
colds.
Other suggestions:
*Drink a glass or two of fresh lime
or lemon juice and honey in water as
soon as you wake up.
*Drink peppermint tea or chewing the
leaves to relax the intestines and
help eliminate accumulated gas.
*Take gingko. In Japan, ginkgo seeds
are served at cocktail parties to
prevent drunkenness and hangovers.
*Eat apples on an empty stomach the
day after drinking.
*Use the herb feverfew in place of
aspirin.
*Take ginger capsules or ginger tea
every few hours to help soothe the
stomach.
*Consider kudzu extract. Studies
have shown that its isoflavones help
relieve hangovers quickly.
*Eat asparagus. A study has found
that the amino acids and minerals in
asparagus ease hangovers and protect
liver cells.
*Consume plenty of watermelon.
*Eat raw persimmon or raw cabbage
for headache relief.
*Pull your hair in clumps or massage
your scalp to increase circulation
and relieve a headache.
*Drink thyme tea.
Note: One thing not to do either the night or morning after a hangover is to take aspirin, acetaminophen or ibuprofen. All of them can have dangerous side effects, including excessive blood thinning, stomach bleeding, and liver damage.
Sources included:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangover
http://www.ivillage.com/asparagus-may-ease-hangover/4-a-111801
http://www.health911.com/hangovers
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/natural-hangover-cures.html
http://www.tbyil.com/Hangover.htm
See also:
Use vanilla and other natural remedies to relieve and prevent headaches