Hangover Is Thing of the past Using These Natural Methods to Cure Them.
Parties are often accompanied by morning hangover. We do understand that it is hard to keep a check on the amount of alcohol you drink (no judgments). However, you shall reap what you sow and so you experience an intense headache, weakness, feeling of nausea and stomach ache all making you feel like a zombie in the morning. Medically and colloquially this condition is referred to as a hangover.
Hangover is defined as a collated amalgamation of symptoms that develop after drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Alcohol consumption and the chances of developing a hangover are directly proportional.
Hangover actually starts to develop as the blood alcohol levels start to decrease.(1) After you’ve had your last drink, the blood alcohol level starts to decrease and continues to get worse as it reaches zero.
Typically hangovers last for about 12 hours, however, the time is variable, and it depends on the amount of alcohol you have consumed. It could last about 48 hours in severe cases.
Table of Contents
How to Cure Hangover with Naturopathic Remedies
- Foods
- Natural Treatments
- Herbal Remedies
- Essential oils
- Supplements
CURE-1: Foods for Hangover
After a heavy night of debauchery, it is normal to wake up with a splitting headache and completely dehydrated. However, a nutritious and healthy breakfast loaded with minerals can help you control your symptoms and even cure your hangover.
1. Eggs for hangover
Eating eggs post your drinking session could be beneficial, it can help you control your symptoms and drastically reduce your drunken fervor.
Why does it work?
Eating eggs the next morning will help your body release the after-effects of alcohol in your bloodstream. Eggs contain L-cysteine an amino acid(2) that is responsible for breaking down the alcoholic components and release these toxins out of the body. Additionally, they are also a great source of protein and will help you regain all your energy.
How to use?
Ideally, the best way to consume eggs for a hangover would be to drink it raw. However, it is not a feasible option. So it is recommended that you have boiled eggs or make some scrambled eggs.
Note: Ensure not to use too much oil/butter for the preparation as it could interfere with alcohol in the stomach.
How much to use?
The day post your drinking, have at least 3-4 eggs for breakfast, and you could also have it throughout the day as a snack/meal for best results.
2. Banana for Hangover
Banana is one of the best hangover foods that can help you get rid of the morning blues almost instantly. If you are certain that you’ll be going out, keep a few handy in your fruit basket for the next morning.
Why does it work?
Drinking too much alcohol flushes out most of the essential minerals from your body including potassium and magnesium. It is due to this that you feel weak and dizzy and also ends up with muscle cramps and fatigue.
Bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium, and they replenish your body with an adequate amount of the mineral and other electrolytes. Additionally, you could also eat a banana.
How to use?
Eat 3-4 bananas in the morning once you wake up, it is suggested that you consider this your breakfast with followed by coffee. Alternatively, you could blend 3-4 bananas with milk to make a healthy shake and top it off with honey and savor it.
How much to use?
Bananas are considerably good for your overall health, but excessive consumption could be harmful as it could cause a massive influx of minerals and ions and in the dehydrated state, and your body may not be able to process it. It is recommended that you have 3-4 bananas the next morning in the form of a smoothie or consume them directly.
Also Read: Amazing Benefits And Uses Of Banana Peel
3. Ginger for Hangover (Zingiber officinale)
This wonderful root is not only in a culinary staple, but it is also a medicinal plant that bears lot of benefits for several diseases. One study conducted(3) by Takahashi concluded that ginger with brown sugar and the tangerine extract was able to cure hangovers effectively.
Why does it work?
Ginger is naturally an anti-emetic and helps decrease the feeling of nausea in the body and additionally, it acts on the digestive tract and helps in stabilizing the sugar levels in the bloodstream as well, making you feel a little better.
How to use?
- Firstly clean and chop off an inch of ginger.
- Add this piece into boiling water and let it simmer for 15 minutes
- Strain the solution and pour it into a cup and add some honey into it for taste and consume this solution.
How much to use?
You could have this drink three times a day to keep the hangover at bay; you could also have this immediately after eating your meals in the day as well to aid in digestion.
Other Foods That Could Help You Cure a Hangover
- Smoothies
- Eggs
- Salmon
- Foods that are high in carbs like sandwiches, pasta, etc.
- Coffee
- Foods high in water content like watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumbers, etc.
- Coconut water
- Plain water
- Sports drinks
- Chicken Noodle soup
- Leafy greens
Foods To Avoid During a Hangover:
- Greasy Food
- Orange Juice
- Excessive Caffeine
- Alcoholic Beverage
CURE 2: Natural Treatments
There are several ways that you could treat a hangover; some of those remedies include every simple step that you could use in no time and require things that are readily available at home.
1. Hot To Cold Showering
This may seem like an eccentric practice. However, it is known to be very helpful for people who are suffering from a severe hangover. All you would need is to gather the energy to walk to your bathroom. This practice is also referred to as hydrotherapy.
Why does it work?
The constant shuffling between cold and hot water helps in increased circulation, elimination of pain and toxins and as well as keeps you alert and energized. The hot water revitalizes your skin, whereas the cold water cools it down and helps in increased circulation, helping you keep your hangover symptoms at bay.
How to do it?
Ideally, it would work best with a showerhead. If you have a showerhead, keep switching between hot and cold water, take 30 minutes of a cold shower and alternatively 30 minutes of hot water.
How much to use?
Ideally, this practice has to be done every day in the morning and night, whenever you have a debilitating hangover for at least an hour daily.
2. Coconut water for Hangover
Nothing is more satisfying than drinking a refreshing and rejuvenating glass of coconut water when you have a hangover. This is considered to be one of the most buzzing methods to get rid of a hangover.
Why does it work?
Alcohol, when in your bloodstream causes oxidative stress and causes you to urinate more as it is a diuretic. Coconut water brims to the lid with antioxidants that reacts with the toxic free radicals and helps in reducing the oxidative stress of the body and also hydrates it.
How to use?
Ideally, it is suggested that you use ‘tender coconut water,’ in addition to containing potassium, they carry the same amount of magnesium as seen in bananas.
It is suggested that you consume roughly 2 glasses of it, every 4-5 hours during your hangover crisis.
How much to use?
Although there aren’t any side effects from drinking coconut water, it is recommended that you cap your daily intake to almost a liter a day. One downfall of following this regimen would be a constant need to visit the washroom. However, that is a small price to pay.
3. Hydration Therapy
Alcohol in the bloodstream causes the antidiuretic hormone from being released into the body, which causes less retention of water in the body. Drinking water, the next day is one of the best ways to getting rid of that pounding headache and hangover.
Why does it work?
Alcohol in the body causes the body to release less/negligible amounts of antidiuretic hormone which thereby causes the body to release all the water in the body, thus making you feel severely dehydrated. It is also hypothesized that lack of water in the bloodstream could cause headaches, as the brain is just 70% water.
How to use?
There isn’t any particular way to consume water; it is just recommended that you sip from a large glass every 2-3 minutes, it helps you keep xerostomia (dry mouth syndrome) and dehydration at bay.
How much to use?
Although this depends on how much hangover you have and how dehydrated you are, it is variable and differs from each person. However, it is advised that you start your water ritual by drinking 500 ml, sipping on it every 2-3 minutes.
CURE-3: Herbal Remedies
There are several herbal remedies such as teas, tinctures, and extracts used since ages to treat this age-old disease. They have been very effective on people suffering from a hangover, however, there isn’t much scientific evidence to prove the efficacy of the remedies, but it is to be noted that globally these remedies are used by millions to treat their hangover.
1. Green tea for Hangover
An amazing oriental hangover tea that can quickly ease down the symptoms is Green tea. It is brimming with health-promoting components such as catechins that aid in helping cure a hangover and nausea
Why Does it Work?
Green tea is loaded with catechins that have potent medical properties. These active components protect your liver from any damage caused by the consumption of alcohol.
Those who regularly drink must include it in their diet for a healthy liver.
Green tea additionally also works in promoting your immune system and aids in proper digestion.
How to use?
- Boil a cup of water for 3-4 minutes
- Let it simmer for five minutes on the stove
- Add a teaspoon of green tea in the cup
- Next, add in the boiling water, let it brew for a minute or two until you see the color change.
Consume it after it rests it cools down considerably.
Precautions
Do not add green tea to boiling water, instead add lukewarm water to the tea, as the heat might destroy the catechins present in tea and reduce the potency of the herbs.
Also Read: Health Benefits of Green Tea: Healthy Infusion
2. Milk thistle for Hangover (Silybum marianum)
This perennial herb is a native plant that is originally found in Asia and southern Europe. It boasts of a lot of medicinal properties and has been used for centuries to treat several diseases. It also promotes a healthy digestion process.
Why does it work?
Milk thistle has strong antioxidant properties which make it a preferred option to cure a hangover. It protects your liver from harmful toxins and fights off the effects of alcohol. Consuming milk thistle gives you instant relief from digestive distress.
How to/much to use?
- You can take milk thistle supplements that are readily available in the market
- The recommended dosage is up to 150 mg
Precautions
The consumption of milk thistle should not exceed the recommended dosage.
3. Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Also referred to as the Eleuthero, is a small herb that is found in the Northeastern part of Asia. It is a traditional medicine that has years of history that backs its medicinal properties. In recent times, a study(4) conducted reported to have found that administering Siberian ginseng reduces the hangover symptoms and its severity.
Why does it work?
Although there is no clear understanding of how this herb works to cure a hangover, it has been hypothesized that as it has a lot of antioxidants, it reacts with the toxic free radicals in the body and helps to provide instant relief from the symptoms of a hangover.
How to use?
You could directly consume the pills that are available in the market. However, it is recommended that you check with your doctor/physician before doing so as this pill can interfere with other drugs such as diabetic medication, blood thinners, etc.
How much to use?
The recommended dosage of this drug is 500 mg and at no cost should you exceed this. Also taking one pill in a day is ideally recommended.
CURE 4: Essential oils for Hangover
Essential oils have myriad benefits; from headaches to nausea to the dizzy feeling of a hangover, it can instantly provide relief. Essential oils are one of the easiest to use remedies and are also very effective.
1. Lavender Oil
Lavender oil has been used since ages as a primary essential oil to treat a lot of diseases. It is also used as an essential oil in aromatherapy to treat body aches, depression, anxiety, and several other disorders.
Why does it work?
The pleasing aroma of Lavender Essential oil is known to have a calming effect. It relaxes your stressed body. Further, it has pain relieving properties that reduce the severity of headaches that usually accompany a hangover.
The application of the oil increases blood circulation and thereby eases the problem. The oil contains a compound known as cineole which has potent anti-inflammatory properties that minimize the chances of inflammation which can cause a hangover.
Precaution
It is necessary to dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil for topical application. Using undiluted oil may cause a severe allergic reaction due to its potent nature.
How to use?
Add in a few drops of Lavender Essential oil in a carrier oil such as coconut oil, castor oil.
Massage the blend on your forehead and temples. You could also apply it behind the ear or back of the neck which are the trigger points of a headache.
Alternatively, you can add lavender essential oil to your diffuser and inhale its soothing aroma
You could also add a few drops of the oil to your bathwater and have a rejuvenating bath.
How much to use?
It is recommended that you use this essential oil moderately as it is a very potent oil and may cause an allergic reaction when used in excess. You could stick to using 3-4 ml of the oil for the whole day.
2. Ginger Essential Oil
Yes, it does exist, and it acts the same as ginger does. In simpler terms, it could be termed as consolidated tincture of ginger’s medicinal properties. A recent study(5) conducted even regards this essential oil as an effective remedy for curing nausea and dizziness caused by a hangover.
Why does it work?
Ginger consists of shaogols, these are the active ingredients that are present in the oil, and they act as an anti-inflammatory agent and an analgesic that helps in reducing the pain and helps in lowering the blood pressure in the body. It also helps in lowering the blood alcohol level by pushing the liver’s functions.
How to use?
Add in a few drops of ginger essential oil and massage it on your forehead and temples. You could also apply it behind the ear or back of the neck which are the trigger points of a headache.
Alternatively, you can add the oil to your diffuser and inhale its soothing aroma.
You could also add a few drops of the oil to your bathwater and have a rejuvenating bath.
How much to use?
Although there is no such restriction for this oil, it is recommended that you stick to the dosage that is provided on the container. Additionally, you could also consult your doctor/physician for the dosage.
3. Lemon Oil
When you drink a lot of alcohol, it gets harder for the body to absorb water. Thereby leaving you severely dehydrated, which can worsen hangover symptoms.
While drinking water is the best way to recover from dehydration, the right essential oil can exponentially increase the process.
Lemon oil supports and aids in hydration. If you’re able to rehydrate quickly, a lot of your hangover symptoms will fade away.
Why does it work?
Lemon Essential oil is known for its diuretic properties; in simpler terms, it helps in the retention of water in the body. That is all the water is reabsorbed in the kidneys and urination is reduced-thereby increasing your body’s hydration. It is also proven to stop nausea and vomiting. According to a study(6) conducted in pregnant women, it could prevent vomiting and nausea.
How to use?
- Add in a few drops of Lemon Essential oil and massage it on your forehead and temples. You could also apply it behind the ear or back of the neck which are the trigger points of a headache.
- Alternatively, you can add the oil to your diffuser and inhale its soothing aroma
- You could also add a few drops of the oil to your bathwater and have a rejuvenating bath.
How much to use?
Although there is no such restriction for this oil, it is recommended that you stick to the dosage that is provided on the container Additionally, you could also consult your doctor/physician for the dosage.
CURE 5: Supplements for Hangover
According to experts at Stanford University(7), alcohol is a diuretic and causes the body to be severely dehydrated. This results in the shrinking of your dura matter in the brain causing pounding headaches. Not only that, it depletes all the minerals and vitamins in your body causing you to feel fatigued and weak. It especially depletes Vitamin B complex, magnesium.
1. Vitamin B6
Drinking too much alcohol could affect your body in many ways and one of them is the depletion of your body’s reserve of vitamin B. Especially, B6 and B12. However, using the supplements could help you get rid of that debilitating headaches.
Why does it work?
Supplementing your body with B6 would cause your body to revitalize itself. Especially the liver, it helps in inducing the detoxification process that occurs in the liver(8), and helps in excreting the alcoholic byproducts quicker.
How to use?
This is probably the easiest thing to do, all you have to do is acquire the supplements from your nearest pharmacy,, and you are good to go.
How much to use?
This is variable. However, the daily recommended intake of the vitamin B6 for males around 14-50 is 1.7 mg(9). However, it is strongly suggested that you consult with your physician/nutritionist before you follow this regimen.
2. Magnesium
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol in a single night could overload your liver as it is the detoxification center of your body, adding in magnesium to the body helps in increased functionality of the liver.
Why does it work?
Magnesium is known to support and increase the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase; the enzyme breaks down alcohol and helps in eliminating it from the body.
How to use?
This is probably the easiest thing to do, all you have to do is acquire the supplements from your nearest pharmacy and you are good to go.
How much to use?
This is variable. However, the daily recommended dosage of magnesium(10) has an upper limit of 350mg. However, it is strongly suggested that you consult your physician/nutritionist before you follow this regimen.
3. Prickly Pear
This is nature’s most marvelous cactus that has a lot of medicinal benefits, and it grows mostly in Australia.
Why does it work?
Extract of prickly pear eases the symptoms of alcohol hangover by reducing inflammation provoked by impurities in alcohol and byproducts of alcohol metabolism,
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial(11), 64 young, adult subjects in good health were randomized to receive 1,600 IU of prickly pear (Opuntia ficus indica) (OFI) extract or indistinguishable placebo five hours before alcohol consumption. Later, subjects consumed a maximum of 1.75 g of alcohol per kilogram of body weight over a four hours. Researchers assessed the subjects for severity of nine symptoms of a hangover and overall well-being on a numerical scale (0-6 points), and blood and urine samples were collected the following morning.
How to use?
You could directly use the stems and pad of the cactus and remove the pricks. Boil it in simmering water and very carefully extract the juice of the cactus and drink it. Alternatively, you could also use the prickly pear tincture.
How much to use?
There is a clear demarcation(12) that you can consume 300 grams of steamed prickly pear cactus pad and 500 grams of broiled stems of prickly pear cactus as a single dose.
People are likely to be hungover after a night of irresponsible drinking. If you are one of them who cannot control your alcohol intake, then here are some tips that can help you in preventing a hangover.
- Do not smoke while you are drinking. Smoking manifolds the symptoms of a hangover and makes it almost unbearable the next morning.
- Instead of drinking continuously you could try to drink water or non-alcoholic beverages in between to lessen the effect of alcohol.
- Eat while you are drinking. Opt for foods rich in protein and complex carbohydrates to keep your blood sugar level stable
- Drink a glass of water before going to bed to reduce the severity of a morning headache.
- The best thing would be to have a prickly pear supplement at least four hours before you start drinking. It is an excellent option to avoid hangovers.
The best way to prevent a hangover is to abstain from consuming it altogether. However, it may not be a plausible option, but you could practice cautious drinking.
Too much of alcohol is indeed bad for your health. Further, the hangovers you suffer from in the morning can be terrible, the results of which can be severe especially if you need to be functional the next day.
The remedies mentioned above to cure a hangover can help you out in such situations by providing you quick relief from the symptoms.
