That one last drink may have seemed like a great idea last night, but now you have to face the computer screen to search for home remedies for hangovers, you may be regretting it just a little bit!
The good news is you do not have to look any further. Here’s all the information you need!
Stop Your Hangover In Its Tracks
The answer is to drink - but not alcohol! Water! And lots of it!
Alcohol actually uses up your body’s water stores, causing dehydration. It’s what causes some hangover symptoms, so drinking water is a good start. The other is the mix that is used.
Be careful because it is possible to drink too much water too fast. Large quantities of water can strip electrolytes from the body so it is better to try to replace these as well, or keep to around a half liter of water per hour.
Drink lost of water and eat lightly. For at least half the day. When the football game starts you should be just fine.
You can use sports drinks but if you prefer not to have the refined sugar and additives that are in sports drinks, have plain water and eat bananas for potassium and fructose. Or make a banana smoothie by putting a couple of bananas in the blender with a little water or milk. Water preferred, it will sit on your stomach better.
If you do not have bananas and cannot face going to the store right now, use apples or other sweet fruit (not citrus) or even plain honey dissolved in water. Honey contains electrolytes too. The less refined your honey is, the better.
Feverfew is a well known herbal remedy for headaches and can be taken in place of aspirin or other chemical painkillers. Again the reason you have a headache is because you’re dehydrated. Raw persimmon and raw cabbage are also said to help with headaches. Aspirin can damage the lining of the stomach so it is not the best solution for a sensitive morning-after digestive system.
Exercise will help your circulatory system to detoxify. Take a brisk half hour walk as soon as you are able.
Next Time Around
Here are a few things that you can do before you go drinking to prevent the same thing happening next time around.
Drink water to prevent dehydration. The best rule is to have one glass of water between each alcoholic drink, but failing that, drink a couple of large glasses of water before you go to sleep.
Foods high in unsaturated fats can reduce the effects of alcohol. American Indian lore says that 6 raw almonds eaten before drinking will stop you getting drunk. African tradition recommends peanut butter. Evening primrose oil is another option, especially for women who can benefit from taking it anyway.
Take any of these before you start drinking to avoid having to search for home remedies for hangovers after your next night out!
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A great herb for hangovers is Kudzu - this was used in an ancient chinese formula known as ‘drunkenness dispeller’. Kudzu also curbs the desire to drink excessively, making it a great hangover preventative. The Chinese formula (ge gen tang) is available through Planetary herbals in the US (under the name Kudzu Recovery) and through Earthforce in the UK (under the name Kudzu Complex).
Some years ago I oversaw a social study on these formula. We found that the participants in the trial were able to reduce alcohol consumption by an average of 68%.
For information on this herb and the aforementioned trial see my book ‘100 Herbs of Power’ (Strategic Publications, New York).
Keep also in mind that the quality of the alcohol you are drinking is really a very important. Remember, alcohol is not required to adhere to the same label requirements and some may contain additives that can triger migraines or even asthma. Whenever possible, always try to choose a quality brand of alcohol.
Also, try taking some B-complex vitamin or a supplement with B-complex plus extra thiamin (100 milligrams) to help counter your bodies b-vitamin depletion which is caused by alcohol.
And you may already know this like mentioned above in this post, always eat something before you plan on having a drink or two, it will help your body slow down the alcohol absorbtion.