Party hearty this holiday season? Tame that monster hangover with these natural remedies.
An Internet search for “best hangover cures” yields roughly 1.27 million results, according to Vinepair.com. Apparently, a lot of people get hangovers and just want them gone.
But don’t let that huge number fool you. According to Heather Graham Williams, nutrition program director at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, there really is no scientifically verifiable “cure” for a hangover. Once you’ve consumed alcohol in excess, your body just has to metabolize it, ridding itself of all the debilitating byproducts it created in the process.
Experts agree, the primary cause of many hangover symptoms is dehydration. Yes, it does seem strange that drinking too much results in dehydration, but it’s true. Alcohol is a major diuretic (hence all those trips to the bathroom that interrupt your partying!).
As your system is being depleted of fluids, you’re also flushing out vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and so on. These sudden imbalances create much of the physical discomfort you experience.
But the good news, Williams says, is that you can take steps to relieve the discomfort and give your body some of the vital tools it needs to regain its healthy balance. And even better, there are some pretty effective natural remedies to help this process along.
Taming the monster
Hydration is key to minimizing a hangover. Drink plenty of water — before, during, and after a night of imbibing. Start out well hydrated, then alternate water with spirits at a one-to-one ratio during the evening, which helps moderate both fluid loss and alcohol consumption. End the evening with a huge glass of water before turning in. The day after, drink as much water as you can stand.
Other recommended liquids will not only rehydrate you, but also help to replace vital elements and restore normal balance. Natural beverages such as coconut water and fruit juices provide vitamins B and C, electrolytes, and antioxidants. Fortified drinks such as Gatorade and Pedialyte give a super-charged dose of the same.
Anna Mae Vetter, bartender at Beer NV in Reno, mixes coconut water, Emergen-C, and a sports drink for her day-after remedy. Her alternate antidote is equal parts tomato juice and pickle brine. Interestingly, pickle brine, which is high in sodium, potassium, and electrolytes, seems to be a pretty popular hangover tonic.
Treating specific symptoms can provide needed relief. Coffee, with its boost of caffeine, is particularly effective for taming a headache. Ginger has a well-deserved reputation for relieving nausea. Steep some ginger root in boiling water to make a soothing, hydrating ginger tea.
If you prefer your antidotes in pill form, supplements for B and C vitamins, red ginseng, borage oil, and prickly pear extract have excellent anti-inflammatory properties and can help relieve many symptoms.
It may sound counterintuitive, but food can help as well. Eating a good, well-balanced breakfast after a night of drinking can stabilize your blood sugar and enzyme levels. If you can’t stomach a full meal, eat a banana, which calms the stomach while replacing depleted magnesium and potassium.
Lastly, though you may be tempted to try this oft-repeated remedy, the “hair of the dog that bit you” (aka drinking more alcohol to dull a hangover) is not recommended.
“It takes the edge off for a while,” Williams says, “but no matter what, you’re going to have to deal with that dog later.”
Reno writer Barbara Twitchell has some cautionary wisdom to share, based on her own pathetic experience. Never get hammered on red wine. Worst hangover ever! Lesson learned.
