Hangover helpers

So you’ve been celebrating and now you feel … well, awful, in fact. When you drink alcohol to excess, your body is unable to break it down fast enough, so it accumulates in a harmful byproduct called acetaldehyde.

The liver – which has the job of detoxifying your body – is overwhelmed by dealing with this substance, and that is what creates the appalling feeling. The other main reason for a hangover is dehydration, because alcohol robs the body of water, and with this, vitamins and minerals. The only real cure for a hangover is time. But there’s a lot you can do to relieve the symptoms – the headache, nausea and fatigue – so you can deal with ‘the day after’ as painlessly as possible.

What you can do

Have a large glass of grapefruit juice, and eat some honey. The grapefruit is a liver tonic, and the honey helps your body burn off the alcohol still in your system faster.
Drink bouillon. Broth made from bouillon cubes or any homemade soup broth will help replace the salt and potassium your body loses when you drink.
Replenish your water supply. Drinking plenty of water before you go to bed and again when you get up in the morning may help relieve discomfort caused by dehydration.
Take B-complex vitamins, vitamin C and zinc before drinking, and again in the morning to replace what you lose when you overindulge. Research shows your system turns to B vitamins when it is under stress – and overtaxing your body with too much booze, beer, or wine definitely qualifies as stress!
Bark back. Willow bark tablets are a natural alternative if you’d like a herbal pain reliever. It contains a form of salicylate, the active ingredient in aspirin.
Don’t reach for a coffee. Caffeine is a diuretic and will rob your body of even more water and nutrients. Try a sports drink instead, to replace electrolytes and give you energy.
Sip herb tea. Chamomile and peppermint tea are good stomach settlers. Aloe vera juice neutralises excess stomach acid and soothes an irritated gastrointestinal tract.
Go for the carbohydrates. As you start to feel a bit stronger, nibble on a tiny bit of dry toast. Then graduate to light protein, like chicken breast or a soft-boiled egg. Fatty foods are the last thing you need!
Spice up your life. Ginger is one of the most effective natural remedies for nausea and indigestion. Take tablets or capsules, or as a tea.
The herbs milk thistle and dandelion may help; they are traditional liver tonics.
Activated charcoal tablets are great for getting rid of excess wind and a ‘sour’ stomach.
Soothe a throbbing head with an ice pack; or, soak cottonwool pads in cooled chamomile tea and place them on your eyelids.
Breathe deep. For nausea, try putting 4 drops each of lavender and sandalwood essential oils on a hanky, and inhaling the scent.
Press your luck. Try the ancient Chinese art of acupressure for nausea. Apply rapid massaging pressure to the webbing between your thumb and index finger on either hand for several minutes.
Take a swim or a brisk walk in the fresh air.
Let time heal. The best and only foolproof cure for a hangover is, of course, 24 hours. Treat your symptoms as best you can. Get a good night’s sleep and the next day – hopefully – all will be forgotten.