Hangover Remedies

Tips to Survive a Night of Partying

You have spent a mad evening with friends, had a few more drinks than you had planned, and the morning after you're left with a nasty headache coupled with a frightening intolerance of natural light and loud noise. Unfortunatley for many of us, the results of night of partying is the steep penance of a rough hangover the next morning.

The symptoms of a hangover stem from the body's need to process alcohol and to release related toxins. Common symptoms include headache, exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weakness, anxiety, irritability, fitful sleeping, elevated body temperature, and diarrhea. Not very pleasant!

Lets face it - even after a ton of promisses never to touch a drink again, abstinence is one concept that often eludes us well into our adult lives. The following are helpful suggestions on how to play it smart in your next night out and take precautions before, during, and after drinking.

Before

Get hydrated! Drink lots of water before a night out.
Take your vitamins. Any multivit will do, but some studies have indicated that B6 and B12 may reduce the effects of a hangover.
Eat. A full stomach will lead to slower absorption of alcohol (more time to process toxins) and will also help reduce irritation to the stomach.

During

Moderation is key.
Drink water. One glass of water between each cocktail will help keep the body hydrated and also dilute toxins to reduce stomach irritation.
Stick to the whites. Clear liquors and white wines have fewer congeners (formed during the fermentation process) and therefore are lighter on hangover effects.
Don't mix. Sticking with one flavour will result in fewer toxins for the body to process and, in theory, a lesser effect the morning after.
Get what you pay for. It is proven that cheaper ranges of most alcohols will lead to a harsher hangover experience than more expensive varieties due to higher volumes of congeners.
Watch your smoking. Smokers are inclined to smoke more when drinking and nicotine will increase the effects of a hangover.
Eat. Keep snacking.

After

There is little science to the many suggestions and remedies to counteract the effects of alcohol. Remedies will have unique effects on different individuals, but you can try to counteract your poison from these suggested before-bed/morning-after cures:

Before Bed:

Water Water Water. Regardless of any other remedies you pick, water is always top of the list. The body needs re-hydrating after a night at the bottle.

Pickle juice and Aspirin. Take 1 – 2 shots of dill pickle juice with 2 Aspirin (repeat in the morning). The pickle juice is reputed to contain essential salts and minerals that will need replenishing.

Bifidus powder. One teaspoon in a glass of water is reputed to detoxify the digestive product of alcohol, acetaldehyde that is a major cause of hangovers.

Activated charcoal. Charcoal is reputed to absorb the impurities of alcohol. Burnt toast does not qualify as charcoal!
Over-the-counter remedies. There are a lot of them in pill form that contain vitamins and minerals and are available without a prescription.
Eat again! Your choice should hopefully contain nutrients that will replenish your body, but also induce drowsiness so you can sleep it off.
Think positive. Many believe that hangovers are psychological. The power of the mind can help you feel much better.
Sleep. Sleep may be fitful but you will be resting and oblivious to the negative effects of the hangover.

In the Morning:

Vittles. Replenish your B vitamins with a high-potency B-complex. A dose of Vitamin C will also stimulate the liver and help breakdown alcohol.
Lime aid. Mix 2 teaspoons of fresh lime juice and 1 teaspoon of sugar with 8oz of water. Drink slowly to stabilize blood sugar.

Pickle juice. Repeat the pickle juice shot if you can stomach it. The Russians and Poles have sworn by this remedy for centuries.
Bananas and Honey. Both rich in potassium, bananas and honey make a delicious breakfast smoothie that will replenish essential minerals and vitamins, while the milk will replenish fluids and settle the stomach.
Breakfast. Eggs are packed with cysteine, which reportedly helps relieve symptoms. Stay away from the coffee as it will further dehydrate you while providing a false sense of relief.
Exercise. Painful, but very effective, exercise causes sweating which helps to purge the body of alcohol.
Skull cramp. Stimulate the scalp by pulling your hair firmly in clumps. This will stimulate blood to flow to the scalp and relieve a headache.
Hair of the dog. Not recommended! This will relieve hangover symptoms temporarily while dehydrating the body further.