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DESCRIPTION
Alcohol intoxication is the condition of discomfort, impaired judgment, poor coordination, and pain following acute over-consumption of beverage alcohol. Intoxication should not be confused with alcoholism, in which the individual depends on regular alcohol consumption to prevent withdrawal symptoms. Intoxication is often, but not always followed by hangover, which is marked by nausea, headache, dizziness, fatigue, intestinal upset (and perhaps diarrhea), and general malaise. These symptoms are produced by acetaldehyde, a chemical created when the body processes alcohol, that causes headache, nausea, and redness in the face. The body attempts to dilute acetaldehyde in the bloodstream by drawing fluids out of cells, dehydrating them and causing pain. Alcohol also depletes vitamin A, B (particularly B-6) and C.
Apart from the obvious toxic effects, you should realize you're suffering the effects of a mild overdose of a depressant drug and your nerves are reacting accordingly, and you have also flushed a significant quantity of vitamins and nutrients from your system causing a degree of metabolic shock that your body is struggling to compensate against. This is why hangover symptoms often include disorientation and "the jitters".
What Happens When You Consume Alcoholic Beverages?
Dehydration: This is the most well-documented consequence of drinking. In addition to its intoxicating qualities, ethanol also has diuretic qualities, so you end up expelling more liquid than you drink. It acts on the brain's pituitary gland and blocks production of a hormone called vasopressin, which usually directs the kidneys to reabsorb water that would otherwise end up in the bladder. Once this hormonal signal has been switched off, there is nothing to stop the bladder from filling up with all the water from the fluid that you drink. A supply of water is essential to the continuing functioning of the body, and when various organs find that their normal supply of water has been cut off, they steal it from anywhere they can, including the cells of the brain. Although the brain itself cannot feel pain, when it starts to shrink due to water loss, pain-sensitive filaments connecting the outside membranes to the inside of the skull become stretched, giving the symptoms of a headache.
Free Radical Build-up: In simple terms, the liver's job is to destroy poisons which are present in the body, and when you start drinking it sets to work on destroying the ethanol. However, this process generates destructively reactive chemicals called free radicals. These are usually mopped up by an enzyme called glutathione, but during a binge, reserves can run low, leaving the free radicals to run riot through the liver.
Loss of Salts: Frequent visits to the toilet not only result in the loss of water, but also of the important salts dissolved in it. Potassium and sodium ions in particular are essential for the optimal functioning of nerves and muscles. An imbalance outside a limited range can result in nausea, fatigue, and headaches.
Loss of Sugar: Alcohol attacks the body's store of glycogen, an important energy source kept in the liver, breaking it down to glucose which is then flushed out in the urine. Without this store of energy on call next morning, you are left feeling weak and wobbly.
Methanol: Methanol is a simpler cousin of ethanol, and is found as a contaminant in cheap red wines, whisky and fruit brandy. This is 'meths', the fuel alcohol that makes you blind if you drink too much of it. The liver attacks it as the poison it is, but one of the break-down products is formic acid, a particularly nasty chemical which ants use to spray at their attackers.
ALL ALCOHOL BEVERAGES ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
Some drinks give you worse hangovers than others due to the actions of impurities called Congeners. While it's the ethyl alcohol (ethanol) that gets you drunk, amyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, propyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol is also found in most drinks to varying degrees, and the concentration of these Congeners will go a long way to determining the severity of the hangover.
Vodka and gin (clear liquors) are generally lower in congeners than whisky, rum and bourbon, due to the filtering process involved, and hence usually give a less intense hangover. Unfortunately the congeners also give flavor, smell and appearance to alcohol. Pure ethanol is metabolically fairly clean, and confirmed vodka drinkers will often bring this up as justification for their habit, and explanation for their resistance to hangovers. In many ways, they are quite correct. If you consider an alcoholic beverage to be water, ethanol, and a bunch of flavorings, then the identity of some of those flavorings is quite frightening. Red wines contain all sorts of interesting chemicals, leading to the complex flavorings typical of the breed, and although many of these impurities - such as arsenic - are poisonous, they are usually present in such minute quantities as to be relatively harmless. However, if the wine is concentrated by distillation, then as well as increasing the alcohol content, you are also concentrating the poisons. This is the reason that brandy, port and cheap red wine can give you the most monstrous hangovers, as well as gout in later life.
Another contributor to the hangover is the "freshness" of the alcohol since the natural oxidation product of ethanol is also acetaldehyde. Finishing off an already open bottle of red wine, or drinking beer that's been in the trunk of your car for a week, will provide you with a ready made supply of acetaldehyde so you don't have to wait for your liver to make it in order to have a really good hangover.
It is also for this reason that people are often advised not to mix their drinks. Different styles of drink have different impurities, and some of them can react with one another in interesting ways. Don't mix the grape and the grain. Keep wine, port, brandy separate from beer and whisky. There is an English saying: "Beer then wine, I feel fine. Wine then beer, I feel queer."
The quality of the alcohol consumed is as important as the type consumed. Since alcohol is exempt from most labeling requirements, it may contain additives that can trigger allergic reactions resulting in asthma, migraines, and other reactions. Whenever possible, choose quality brands.
ALCOHOL AND GENETICS
Hangover severity is related, at least in part, to genetics. Members of certain ethnic groups, especially people of Japanese and Korean background, feel alcohol's effects to a greater degree because they do not have a gene that breaks down acetaldehyde. Members of other ethnic groups are genetically able to break down acetaldehyde very efficiently and thus feel alcohol's effects less. Unfortunately, being able to process acetaldehyde efficiently makes individuals with this genetic makeup more prone to alcoholism.
BEFORE YOU DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
Eat A Full meal: A full stomach slows down the absorption of alcohol, giving the body more time to process the toxins. Fatty foods and carbohydrates increase this effect. Having food in the stomach also decreases stomach irritation, in turn reducing the likelihood that a drinker will vomit.
Drink A Glass of Water: This insures the body is hydrated before the diuretic effect takes hold.
Take Multi-Vitamins: This better prepares the body for the depletion of vitamins caused by frequent urination.
HERBS & TECHNIQUES THAT CAN HELP TO PREVENT HANGOVER
Most herbal or nutritional supplement treatments should be taken immediately after drinking to prevent or reduce hangover, instead of the next morning, and should be discontinued when the hangover subsides. The exception is Chinese Senega Root, which should be taken before alcohol is consumed. Because of alcohol's effects on driving ability, never drive after drinking, no matter what herbal therapies or techniques are used.
DON'T DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES! As if that's going to happen... However, moderation and common sense is important. As a former bartender, I have seen the smartest, most common sense type of people lose their ability to think and act rationally if they consume too much alcoholic drink. Some people know when to shut themselves "off" while others just keep going until they drop over in a stupor or someone (such as the bartender) shuts them off and sends them home (then we all worry that they got home okay).
Stick to One Type of Alcohol: Don't mix your drinks and watch your drink choice... If you drink beer, stay with beer. Don't switch over to scotch, rum, red wine and then something else. Most drinkers stick with one drink choice. Each new type of alcohol that a drinker puts into his or her system makes the body work that much harder and puts that many more toxins in the body, leading to a more severe hangover. Dark liquors contain more impurities that make for stronger hangovers and headaches.
- Beer: Beer has the lowest percentage of alcohol (4 to 6 percent), but it is also carbonated, which speeds up the absorption and can lead to toxin build-up.
- Wine: Wine has a higher percentage of alcohol (7 to 15 percent) than beer, but it is usually not carbonated. White wine is safer than red or blush because it has fewer congeners. In general, the cheaper the wine, the higher the congener content and the worse the hangover.
- Liquor: Liquor has the highest alcohol content (40 to 95 percent) and therefore increases the likelihood of a hangover. Clear liquors like vodka, rum and gin are better bets than dark or sweet liquors like bourbon, scotch or tequila because they have fewer congeners. Generally, cheaper liquor will result in a worse hangover than more expensive liquor.
Go Slow: The body can process an ounce of alcohol an hour in the average person. Drink a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you have. Remember that sugary drinks mask the taste of alcohol, giving you an unrealistic view of how much you are drinking.
Aloe Vera: Aloe juice keeps alcohol from moving into the blood. It hastens recovery from intoxication. Drink 1/4 to 1/2 cup before consuming alcohol. Do not take aloe vera juice internally if you have diarrhea.
Herbal Remedies: Aloe Vera Juice With Herbal Support, Herbal Aloe Force, Organically Grown, Unprocessed, Whole Raw Aloe Vera, 1 Liter
Herbal Remedies: Aloe Vera Juice, 99.7% Pure, Certified Organic, Nature's Way, 1 Liter
Nature's Way Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Juice offers you the rich benefits of the most potent part of the aloe plant. Whole Leaf Aloe Vera Juice contains an abundance of advantageous components not found in most aloe gel filler products. Directions: Drink 1 - 8 oz. per day of enhance, nutritious Nature's Way Aloe Vera or mix into your favorite juice or smoothie. Nature's Way Aloe Vera can also be applied topically as needed.
Chinese Senega Root: If using tincture form, take 20 drops in 1/4 cup of water before consuming alcohol. Chinese senega root contains compounds that can block alcohol absorption by about 90 percent. Does not necessarily reduce blood alcohol levels as registered by Breathalyzers, but does lower blood alcohol. Do not use Chinese senega root if you have gastric or peptic ulcer.
Almonds: American Indians claim that eating 6 raw almonds before imbibing helps prevent intoxication.
Bifidus Powder: Put a teaspoon of bifidus powder in a glass of water and drink before going to bed. Bifidus is the "friendly" bacteria that detoxifies acetaldehyde, a digestive byproduct of alcohol that is a major cause of hangovers.
Herbal Remedies: Primadophilus Bifidus, Nature's Way, 71 mg, 180 VCaps
Primadophilus Bifidus features a blend of Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus & Lactobacillus acidophilus specifically designed for middle-aged and senior adults. These Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli strains are essential to maintaining healthy intestinal flora. Under normal conditions, trillions of bacteria exist in the intestines. As part of the body's defenses, they help maintain good health by preventing harmful microorganisms from infiltrating the body. Medications taken to combat illness or infection can reduce the number of beneficial bacteria as an unwanted side effect. To maintain the healthy balance, add Primadophilus Bifidus to your daily health regimen. Usual dosage: Take one capsule daily. To retain maximum potency, keep refrigerated. The normal color for Primadophilus products is off-white with brown flecks. The brown flecks are the material the bacteria is plated on. They are characteristic of this product.
Herbal Remedies: Acidophilus & Bifidus, NOW Foods, 8 Billion, 60 Caps
Acidophilus and Bifidus from NOW foods is a high potency (8 Billion), balanced blend, of the two prominent species of resident intestinal bacteria. Regular intake of beneficial probiotics can aid in maintaining healthy intestinal flora. Suggested Dosage or Use: As a dietary supplement, take 1 capsule 1-2 times daily, with water between meals Keep refrigerated to maintain high potency.
Evening Primrose Oil: EPO helps prevent hangovers. Take two teaspoons.
Herbal Remedies: Evening Primrose Oil, Cold Pressed, Nature's Way, 1300 mg, 120 Softgels
Nature's Way EFA Gold Evening is the highest quality Evening Primrose Oil - guaranteed to contain 10% gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Recommendation: Take 1 softgel 2 to 3 times daily.
Eating A Meal A meal high in saturated fat causes the effects of alcohol to peak earlier and last longer than diets high in polyunsaturated fat.
Peanut Butter: Eating peanut butter before drinking is an African remedy.
Prickly Pear Cactus Extract: The extract was taken five hours before alcohol consumption.
Electrolyte Drinks: Sports drinks, high in electrolytes, will help replenish what the kidneys have excreted during drinking. Pedialyte (a flavored electolyte drink given to feverish children) can be used. Take before bedtime.
Herbal Remedies: Essential Electrolytes Supplement, 100 mg, 100 Caps
Maximize Muscle Response and Function with NutriBiotic Essential Electrolyte Supplement. It is designed to load your system with essential electrolytes for maximum electrical muscle impulse function when taken prior to athletic or strenuous activity. When taken after these activities, NutriBiotic Essential Electrolytes restore lost (through sweating) and utilized (through use) electrolytes resulting in quick recovery without cramping or spasming. It's no myth our bodies lose minerals when we work hard. Easily lost "salts", potassium, magnesium, and chromium do more than maintain proper fluid balance, they're essential for cell function. Including how vigorously muscle and heart cells "fire", and how well our bodies form hormones like insulin. Directions: For maximum electrolytic response, adults take 1 to 3 capsules before, and 1 to 3 capsules after, performing any athletic or strenuous activity. Important: Always maintain adequate fluid intake during any activity.
Herbal Remedies: Electrolyte Stamina Power Pak, Lemon Lime, Trace Minerals, 32 Packs
Herbal Remedies: Electrolyte Stamina Power Pak, Raspberry, Trace Minerals, 32 Packs
Herbal Remedies: Electrolyte Stamina Power Pak, Orange, Trace Minerals, 32 Packs
Electrolytes are needed to maintain proper fluid balance and to optimize your energy levels so you can function at your best. Electrolyte Stamina Power Pak is an easy-to-fix high performance energy drink with no caffeine, artificial stimulants or artificial ingredients. This formula contains 1200 mg of Vitamin C, an essential anti-oxidant for people who are active and on the go. It also contains all major electrolytes (potassium, magnesium, chloride and sodium), plus over 72 verified ionic minerals and trace minerals from ConcenTrace®, which accelerates assimilation and absorption of vitamins and nutrients. These electrolytes conduct electrical impulses in the body and also help maintain your body's acid base balance for more energy and vitality. A deficiency of any one of these electrolytes - or even an imbalance - can cause a wide range of problems, including sluggishness, fatigue, decreased energy and cramping. Suggested Use: Take 2-4 packets daily (depending on activity). Mix contents with 4-6 oz. water.
Gender Differences: Time of the Month (For Women) - Imbibing women who drink right before menstruating when their estrogen level is low are more prone to get drunk and are more nauseated afterward than during the rest of their cycle. Studies have shown that women are harder hit by hangover symptoms, even after accounting for differences in the amount of alcohol consumed, because biologically, women tend to weigh less than men and their bodies contain less water, which increases the risk of intoxication and subsequent hangovers.
Tomato Juice: To help stop the urge for alcohol drink a tangy drink, such as tomato with the juice of one lemon added.
Water: One of the best preventive measures is to drink 2-3 large glasses of water before you go to bed. Drinking alcohol is very dehydrating and hydrating your system helps counteract the effects of the alcohol. Another suggestion is to have a glass of water with each beer or drink you consume. It will help keep you hydrated and will dilute down your alcohol so it won't hit your bloodstream in a more concentrated dose.
Alcohol Mixers: The alcohol in carbonated drinks is absorbed more quickly than in non-carbonated drinks. The best mixer for an alcoholic drink is pure water. Juices contain sugar which help to contribute to the hangover problems.
Reduce Sugar: Reduce the amount of sugar you consume with your alcohol. The forced metabolism of sugar AND alcohol by your body will accelerate the depletion of B vitamins and make the hangover worse.
Food Consumption: The 2 am food fest. Pizza or pasta is usually best since cheese and carbohydrates are a good source of amino acids. Eat a snack before you go to bed. Actually food is a good idea all round - before, during and immediately after drinking. Food doesn't absorb alcohol, but it does increase metabolism, activates alcohol absorption, and increases the speed with which the body processes alcohol.
Olive Oil: A Mediterranean folk remedy involves swallowing a spoonful of olive oil to "grease the intestinal lining" to slow down alcohol absorption. Of course, you may smell like a salad.
Aspirin prevention: Take two aspirin with a full glass of water. The prostaglandin inhibitors in the aspirin can decrease hangover severity.
HERBS & TECHNIQUES THAT CAN HELP TO TREAT HANGOVER
Most hangover "remedies" simply attend to one or more of the symptoms and don't really provide a cure as such. The hangover won't stop until the alcohol is out of your system, but here's a few things that will ease the suffering a bit:
Aspirin & Water: Take two aspirin with a full glass of water. This has been shown to minimize headaches as well as decrease inflammation from leftover prostaglandin.
Ginseng: Panax ginseng tea (loose), prepared by steeping 1 teaspoon (2 grams) in 1 cup water. Take 1 cup of tea every 2 hours until symptoms subside. Ginseng enhances breakdown of alcohol in the body.
Scutellaria: Take scutellaria (in capsule form) 100 mg 3 times daily. In animal studies, it prevents short-term memory loss due to alcohol intoxication. Do not use scutellaria if you have diarrhea.
Herbal Remedies: Blue Scullcap (Scutellaria Lateriflora), Standardized, Nature's Way, 100 mg, 60 VCaps
Blue Scullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) has been listed by Dr William Cook in The Physiomedical Dispensatory (1869) as being useful in the treatment of depression and anxiety and it is used in Great Britain to treat Grand Mal seizures. Other uses for scullcap include nighttime formulas (i.e. insomnia, nightmares and other forms of fitful sleep) for which its relaxing effects usually last 3-4 hours, nervous exhaustion, hysteria, pre-menstrual depression and menstrual cramps. This is also indicated in the Materia Medica. Recommendation: Take 2 capsules one to two times daily.
Soy Lecithin: Lecithin promotes liver cell regeneration and protects the liver from toxic damage. Take 1,500-3,000 mg daily. Note: Soy lecithin may cause mild diarrhea when first used.
Herbal Remedies: Lecithin Concentrate, Nature's Way, 400 mg, 100 Softgels
Nature's Way Lecithin Supplement is 100% natural from soy oil and it contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives.
Herbal Remedies: Lecithin Vegetarian Granules, NOW Foods, 97% Phosphatides, Pure & Fresh, 1 lb.
Lecithin is a naturally occurring compound found in all cells in nature, plant and animal. It plays a major role in almost all biological processes - including nerve transmission, breathing and energy production.
Herbal Remedies: Lecithin Supplement, Nature's Way, 1200 mg, 100 Softgels
Nature's Way Lecithin Supplement, with naturally occurring phosphatides, is 100% natural from soy oil.
Activated Charcoal: Take one tablet of activated charcoal per drink while you are drinking. The charcoal absorbs the impurities in the alcohol which are the cause of the hangover. The charcoal also absorbs important nutrients, so if you are a heavy drinker, don't use this remedy daily as you will end up with nutritional deficiencies.
Herbal Remedies: Activated Charcoal Supplement, Nature's Way, 260 mg, 100 Caps
Nature's Way Activated Charcoal supplement captures unwanted material of gas and carries it away safely through the digestive system.
Apples: Apples eaten on an empty stomach the day after drinking is an effective remedy.
Bananas: One of the quickest ways to cure a hangover is to make a banana milkshake sweetened with honey. The banana helps calm the stomach, and with the honey, builds up the depleted blood sugar levels. The milk soothes the stomach and rehydrates your system. Bananas are also rich in the important electrolytes, magnesium and potassium, which are severely depleted during heavy drinking. You might try a peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich.
Drink A Sports Drink: Sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade to replenish the electrolytes lost in your body. (See Electrolyte Drinks above.)
B-vitamins/Multi-Vitamins: Take the vitamins before you go to bed and let them work their magic while you sleep. If you forget, take them immediately upon arising. B-Vitamins are important in aiding the carbohydrate (alcohol) metabolizing process and in dilating blood vessels. B-vitamins will help restore your energy level. You will need to take a high-potency B-complex supplement for this remedy to work (50-75 mg of B-complex twice a day, hopefully once before bed after indulging).
Herbal Remedies: Ultimate B Complex Formula, Nature's Secret, 60 Tabs
Superbly formulated, Ultimate B, vitamin B Complex Formula, is a synergistic blend of herbs, superfoods, and enzymes made of 33% food ingredients for easy absorption.
Herbal Remedies: Vitamin B - 100 Complex With Coenzyme B-2, Nature's Way, 631 mg, 100 Caps
A complete Vitamin B complex of 8 essential vitamins. B Vitamins are precursors of coenzymes involved in the conversion of cellular energy, manufacture of hormones and proteins, and repair and maintenance of nerve structures.
Herbal Remedies: Alive! Whole Food Energizer, Multi-Vitamin & Mineral With Naturally Occurring Iron (No Iron Added), Nature's Way, 180 Tabs
No other supplement contains more life-giving nutrients than Nature's Way Alive! This supplements is better absorbed into your blood stream because its tablets disintegrate up to 5X faster than other leading brands.
Herbal Remedies: Multi-Vitamin & Multi-Mineral For Diabetics, Iron Free, All Natural, Nature's Way, Vegetarian, Completia Diabetic Vitamin Formula, 90 Tabs
Nature's Way Completia Diabetic Vitamin Supplement supports the nutritional needs of individuals with diabetes and the related blood support needed.
Chicken soup: Grandma's old stand-by, chicken soup, seems to work as well for hangover problems as it does for colds. Bouillon broth in a soup replaces water, electrolytes, and also some nutrients. It may help settle your stomach. If you can handle a soup with meat and veggies, the extra nutrition can give you a boost.
Eat mineral rich food: Foods like pickles or canned fish. In Poland, drinking pickle juice is a common remedy.
Feverfew: Use feverfew, an herb, in place of aspirin. Aspirin is very hard on the stomach, while feverfew is not.
Ginger: Take 500 mg of ginger capsules every few hours, or make a ginger tea using the fresh root. This will help soothe your stomach.
Herbal Remedies: Crystallized Ginger Slices, 12 oz.
NOW's crystallized Ginger Slices are prepared from fresh, natural ginger roots/rhizomes and excellent for use in baking as well as candy making. They are handy to pop in your mouth when your stomach is acting up. They have a nice spicy-sweet-hot flavor and are easy to carry with you for use at anytime.
Herbal Remedies: Ginger Root, Nature's Way, 550 mg, 180 Caps.
Ginger root is especially useful for bowel disorders including indigestion, morning sickness, motion sickness and nausea.
Herbal Remedies: Ginger Root Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Ginger root has also been recommended as a treatment for atherosclerosis, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, high cholesterol, burns, ulcers, depression, impotence, and liver toxicity.
Herbal Remedies: Ginger Root (Zingiber Officinale) Powder, 4 oz. Bulk
Ginger is used medically to help expel gas from the intestines and treat nausea from morning sickness, upset stomach, seasickness, and motion sickness. It is also used to help reduce fevers and lessen the symptoms of colds. Ginger's ability to prevent vomiting has been verified by clinical trial, and it has been shown to stimulate the intestines and promote production of saliva, digestive juices, and bile. It also tends to boost the pumping action of the heart.
Honey: Take 2-6 teaspoonfuls of honey every twenty minutes upon awaking, depending on the severity of the hangover. Continue with the honey until you start to feel better, then take four teaspoonsful with your first meal. The potassium in the honey helps counteract the effects of the alcohol and will decrease the cravings for it. Alcoholic drinks are acidic in reaction and satisfy your natural desire for an acid, the same as coffee and tea do. If you have an alcohol problem, check your body chemistry and make appropriate changes in diet and supplementation. In addition, honey contains fructose, a type of sugar that helps your body metabolize alcohol more quickly.
Herbal Remedies: Manuka Honey, Bio Active 10+, 500 g
Comvita Bio Active 10+ Manuka Honey is used internally for an up-set stomach, stomach ulcer, (peptic ulcer) duodenal ulcer, due to it's natural ability to destroy staph, strep as well as h. pylori (helicobacter pylori), the bacteria believed to cause stomach ulcers. Some people may also find relief for heartburn (acid reflux) symptoms. Externally, Comvita Bio Active 10+ Manuka Honey is used by Doctors in New Zealand as a wound dressing for infectious wounds, diabetic leg and foot ulcerations, decubitus sores (bed sores), ulcers and 1st, 2nd and 3rd degree burns.
Kudzu Extract (or Kuzu): Studies have shown that its isoflavones, diadzin and puerarin, can help relieve hangovers quickly! Kudzu is a traditional (TCM) remedy used in Asian countries for the treatment of alcoholism.
Herbal Remedies: Kudzu (Pueraria Lobata) Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Kudzu has reportedly been used over 1,000 years by Asian herbalists for alcoholism and to curb alcohol craving. Interestingly, a Harvard study conducted with lab animals confirmed that compounds found in Kudzu, reduced their alcohol consumption by 50%. Kudzu also supports nerve tissue and is a thickening agent. Suggested Dosage or Use: Take 6-12 drops, 1-3 times per day, in juice, water, tea or under the tongue and discontinue when symptoms have subsided.
Lemon: Add the juice of one lemon to a cup of black coffee and drink it unsweetened and without milk.
Lime: As soon as you wake up on the "morning after" add two teaspoons of fresh lime juice and a teaspoon of sugar to 8 ounces of water. Drink it slowly. This concoction will help stabilize your blood sugar, which will be low after imbibing.
Peppermint: The herb peppermint, either in tea form or chewing the leaves, will relax the intestines. Peppermint is a carminative, which is a substance that removes accumulated gas from the stomach and intestines. Make a tea by pouring one cup of boiling water over 1-2 teaspoons of the dried herb; cover; steep for fifteen minutes; strain. Drink 1-2 cups as soon as you can.
Persimmon: Eat a raw persimmon for a headache.
Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia ficus indica): Prickly pear extract has been found to relieve hangover nausea and dry mouth according to researchers at Tulane University and the University of California, San Francisco. Prickly pear is known to reduce inflammation, and hangover symptoms are due to an increase in inflammation. Researchers found that C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation, was 40% higher in the group that took a placebo. The extract was taken five hours before alcohol consumption.
Raw cabbage: Eat raw cabbage to dissipate a headache.
Sauerkraut Juice: Drink sauerkraut juice with some tomato juice if you don't like it straight. These drinks replace lost nutrients. (See Mineral Rich Foods above.)
Scalp Stimulation: Pull your hair in clumps so that your full scalp is stimulated. This remedy brings blood to the scalp and relieves the headache.
Silymarin: Silymarin, better known as Milk Thistle, protects liver cells from alcohol by preventing toxins from entering them and helps to remove existing toxins. Take two 70 mg capsules with a meal or before or while drinking.
Herbal Remedies: Thisilyn Milk Thistle Extract, Nature's Way, 175 mg, 100 VCaps
Nature's Way Thisilyn, Milk Thistle Extract, is especially recommended for those who drink, smoke, or are exposed to environmental pollutants. Thisilyn, the unique standardized milk thistle extract, is the world's standard for quality. Clinical studies using Standardized Milk thistle extract show that it supports and promotes normal liver function. The active bioflavonoid complex, silymarin, is a powerful antioxidant that exerts a protective effect against substances harmful to the liver. Thisilyn, the unique standardized milk thistle extract, is the world's standard for quality. The milk thistle used to manufacture Thisilyn is carefully extracted and test for purity, ensuring all the plant's desirable benefits remain bioavailable. The silymarin in Thisilyn's proprietary extract dissolves quicker and easier in the digestive tract than other brands yielding 2X more of the active ingredients. Recommendation: Take one capsule three times daily with liquid before mealtimes. Thisilyn can safely be used on a long term basis.
Herbal Remedies: Silymarin, NOW Foods, Vegetarian, 150 mg, 60 VCaps
Silymarin (Silybum marianum), also known as Milk Thistle, is an herb that is well-documented in early traditional herbal medicine. Studies abroad and in the U.S. have indicated that constituents in Silymarin may help to support healthy liver function. Turmeric has been added to complement the effects of Milk Thistle Extract. Suggested Use: As an herbal dietary supplement, take 2 Vcaps 1 to 3 times daily. Caution: Due to Turmeric content, not to be used by pregnant or lactating women or by persons with gall bladder problems, stomach ulcers or other stomach disorders unless recommended by a health care provider.
Thyme: Make a tea by lightly crushing five fresh or dried leaves; place in a cup and fill with water cooled to just below boiling; cover and leave to infuse for five minutes; remove leaves and drink.
Tomato Juice: In addition to being a prevention remedy, tomato juice contains fructose, a type of sugar that helps your body metabolize alcohol more quickly. This is probably why the morning-after Bloody Mary seems to work. Try a Bloody Mary instead of a shot of whiskey left in the bottle the previous night. While your blood is dealing with the new alcohol it is ignoring the old and in the mean time tomato juice and celery are full of vitamins. If you drank the last of the vodka make a Virgin Mary. A Virgin Mary drink consists of: 3 ounces Tomato Juice
1/2 ounces Lemon Juice
1 dash of Worcestershire Sauce
Dash of Celery Salt
Dash of Ground Pepper
Dash of Hot Pepper ( Cayenne) or Tabasco Sauce
Celery Stalk for Garnish
Pickle for Garnish (optional)
Hair of the Dog: A bit of alcohol in the morning. For some particularly nasty hangovers, this can be useful, although the bad news is that the effect is only temporary. The liver attacks poisons in a certain order, with ethanol first. Once all the ethanol has been broken down, it starts on the methanol, which releases formic acid into your system and makes you feel bad. Hitting the liver with another dose of ethanol causes it to stop processing methanol and start on the new threat, but the methanol will have to be processed sometime so you are only postponing the hangover until later.
Another spicy morning after drink option is called "Hair of the Dog," in which gin and hot sauce are sure to bite your hangover back. Hair of the Dog is easier to mix, an attribute you'll appreciate when your head is splitting and stomach is churning.6 ounces Bulldog Gin
1/2 ounce fresh Lemon Juice
2-3 dashes Tabasco Sauce
Slice of Chili Pepper
Vitamin C: Vitamin C stimulates the liver to break down the alcohol. Drink vitamin C-rich juice, such as orange or tomato juice, or take 2-10 gm (2,000-10,000 mg) per day in divided doses. Start at 1,000 mg an hour and built up to bowel tolerance. An excess of vitamin C can cause diarrhea, and since you probably have stomach distress already too much C may cause a problem.
Berocca: Puts the vitamin B back into your body, as well as the big glass of water it's mixed with for hydration. It's probably best to do this before you go out. Berocca is sold in Australia specifically as a vitamin supplement, but widely recognized as a hangover cure, these small tubes contain all the chemicals that are lost and destroyed in a drinking session, in the correct proportions. In its native land, Berocca is often handed out free to delegates every morning at week-long conferences. Many Australians would not consider going on a binge without a supply of Berocca to hand. Berocca is now available in the UK. I have also seen it available on EBAY. It is marketed as a pick-me-up for business meetings, but drinkers know better! These are the ingredients of Berocca:
Listed Ingredient Translation Thiamine Nitrate Vitamin B-1 Riboflavine Sodium Phosphate Equivalent to vitamin B-2 Nicotinamide Calcium Pantothenate Equivalent to vitamin B-5 Pyridoxine Hydrochloride Vitamin B-6 Cyanocobalamin Vitamin B-12 Biotin Vitamin H Ascorbic Acid Vitamin C Calcium Carbonate A source of calcium Sucrose Sugar Sodium Chloride Salt
Coke: Fizz for the nausea, liquid for the dehydration, and a caffeine and sugar hit to make you feel a bit more perky. An alternative to cola, ginger ale is an option, plus it doesn't contain caffeine that is dehydrating. Ginger ale is what my mother used when I was a child with an upset stomach.
Coffee: Same as Coke but without the bubbles to ease the nausea. Try it with honey instead of sugar since the fructose is absorbed quicker tan the sucrose in normal sugar and is better for you. Avoid too much coffee. Caffeine can be dehydrating since it is a natural diuretic like alcohol.
Eat Something on Burnt Toast: Carbon in the charred part of the toast filters the impurities. In fact, people who come into hospital emergency rooms with alcohol poisoning get a potent carbon slurry pumped into their stomachs for the same reason. The burnt toast is a much more moderate version of the same remedy. Something in your stomach is good, and salty is even better. The same reasons also make peanut butter a good choice, but the oily nature might make some sensitive stomachs feel a bit yucky. If you do try this one, skip the butter and just have dry toast.
Some people swear by a Mexican sausage called chorizo with your burnt toast. Of course this may be more of a pre-drinking helper since it is fatty and sits in your stomach for several hours and helps to "grease the lining of the intestines".
Cold Pizza: Who knows, but it seems to work.
Chocolate Milk: The store bought kind of chocolate milk seems to work best, due to ease of attainment, quietness (no loud banging of the teaspoon trying to mix the homemade stuff), and ease of use (the opening is the perfect fit when you have the jitters and no messy clean up). The suggested minimum dosage is the pint size, though the quart size can be used for extreme episodes. Other than the rehydration factor, the chocolate milk offers the tummy a soothing coating for the nausea. It also repletes some of the vitamins your body are now woefully lacking. The sugars (lactose & sucrose) and salt seem to be the perfect balance of the carb/salt fix. Many women can attest to the beneficial, relatively inexpensive, and legal effects of chocolate against depression, whether physiological or psychological. Last, the flavor seems to do wonders for that ghastly "what died and crawled in your mouth during the night" taste you have the next morning. Alcohol related "bad breath" often occurs due to dehydration and alcohol impurities left in the mouth.
MoonDragon's Health & Wellness: Halitosis (Bad Breath)
Eggs: Many traditional hangover cures, such as Prairie Oysters, omelets and the English Fried Breakfast, involve eggs. Others swear by the efficacy of a downed raw egg in the morning. The reason that these are thought to work at all is probably that eggs also contain cysteine, and so help to mop up free radicals. Eating a breakfast that includes eggs (for the cysteine), a banana (for the potassium), and fruit juice (for the fructose) can get the body on the road to recovery. Keep in mind that caffeinated drinks (coffee, non-herbal teas, and soda) will further dehydrate a drinker. Keep in mind, eating raw eggs is not recommended due to the risk of food poisoning by bacteria found on the egg shell and sometimes in the raw egg itself (cooking destroys the bacteria). If you eat raw eggs, get the eggs from a reliable, disease-free source.
N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC): An amino acid supplement sold in health food stores, this is extremely good at mopping up the free radicals that have built up in the liver. NAC works because it is rich in cysteine, another amino acid that is used by the body in the manufacture of free radical-eliminating glutathione. For those in the know, this is a very effective hangover remedy, and is especially good if you need a clear head in the morning.
HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES
Nux Vomica will help relieve gas, bloating and a sour stomach. Take the 6c or 30c potency in 4 drops or pellets every hour. Helpful for nausea and vomiting.
OTHER HELPFUL TIPS
Sleep. Rest is your best friend. It will give your body time to recover. Close the blinds, unplug the phone, apply a cold washcloth to the forehead and get more sleep. It is best to stay in bed so call in to work if you have to. Tell them you have the stomach flu. You will sound so horrible on the phone that they believe you (unless they saw you at the bar, then it's not a good idea. Don't try this too often or you will be looking for a new job).
Take a shower switching between cold and hot water. A hot shower with powerful spray and getting the full force of the water on the back of your neck helps to relieve a headache. This may need some juxtaposition of plastic chairs and shower settings, so it might be an idea to practice first while sober, but it is worthwhile because headaches are often caused by constricted blood vessels and tense neck muscles. A massage under a hot shower relaxes the tension. A hot bath will sweat the toxins out that are causing the problems. You may feel a little woozy at first, but stay with it and you will feel better afterward. Be careful not to fall in the shower. If you are feeling woozy, you may consider taking a water-proof chair in the shower with you to sit on.
Avoid caffeine if possible. A weak cup of coffee may be okay but a lot of caffeine will continue to dehydrate you, the opposite of what you want.
Exercise will help get rid of your hangover by helping the body rid itself of toxins. The increased circulation gets blood and oxygen to your oxygen-starved brain. The theory is that the increased oxygen flow improves the metabolic rate, and thus increases the speed at which the poisons are broken down. A favorite remedy used by emergency medical technicians and paramedics, as well as scuba divers, for a "morning after" hangover is to take a good breath or two off their "pure oxygen" tank. They report it clears the head right up and removes the "cobwebs" so they can function.
A good, brisk walk will also increase circulation with the results mentioned above.
Another "morning after" remedy is to take a probiotic supplement, such as acidophilus, to help restore the flora balance in your stomach.
Herbal Remedies: Ultimate Probiotic Supplement, 4 Billion, 45 Tabs
Each high tech tablet of Ultimate Probiotic 4-Billion forms a patented gel barrier around the capsule as soon as it comes in contact with the fluids in your stomach. This one millimeter thick protective gel barrier ensures that the delicate probiotic organisms inside are safely delivered into the low acid environment of your upper intestines. The result? Better digestion, enhanced energy and immune support. Directions: As a dietary supplement, take one tablet daily.
Herbal Remedies: Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Kosher Liquid, All Natural, Vegetarian, Lactose-Free, Apple Strawberry Flavor, 16 fl. oz.
Beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum, are called probiotics, available in a liquid Lactobacillus Acidophilus from Dynamic Health. Probiotic bacteria favorably alter the intestinal microflora balance, inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria, promote good digestion, boost immune function, and increase overall resistance to infection. Directions: Adults, Take 2 tablespoons between or after meals. Intake can be increased as personal needs require.
Herbal Remedies: Gr8-Dophilus Probiotic, NOW Foods, 60 VCaps
NOW Foods Gr8-Dophilus Probiotic is a combination of 8 different species of beneficial bacteria designed to support gastrointestinal health and immune system function. FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) is also included in this product to assist healthy growth of acidophilus and bifidus organisms. Get maximum benefit from these enteric coated capsules because NOW Gr-8 Dophilus delivers its microflora directly to the intestine bypassing the harsh acidic conditions of the stomach. NOW Foods Gr8-Dophilus is stable at room temperature, requiring no refrigeration. Suggested Dosage or Use: As a dietary supplement, take 1 Vcaps 1 to 3 times daily, preferably with or before meals.
You may be more susceptible to alcohol if you have candida, which creates alcohol, too.
While painkillers will provide immediate relief, they can cause problems for the kidneys and liver with long-term use. Aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Ibuprin, Motrin IB, Nuprin) are hard on your stomach (may promote gastrointestinal bleeding), while acetaminophen (Excedrin, Panadol, Tylenol) is hard on your kidneys and liver, too, which will be working overtime processing the alcohol. Excessive use of acetaminophen can lead to kidney failure and irreversible liver damage. Ibuprofen can lead to kidney damage when taken in large doses over prolonged periods. White willow bark (Salix spp.) will give you similar results as aspirin, but is much gentler on the stomach. Capsules or tincture can be found in health food stores. White willow bark can be prepared and used as a hot herbal tea.
Herbal Remedies: Natural Aspirin Alternative, White Willow Bark Extract, 390 mg, 60 Tabs
Used to treat bursitis, tendonitis, headaches, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, toothache, and menstrual cramps. White Willow is being used by more people as a safer, natural alternative to aspirin.
Herbal Remedies: White Willow Bark, 100% Natural, 400 mg, 100 Caps
White Willow bark (Salix alba) was the basis for the synthesis of aspirin. It contains salicin and related compounds. It has been used for more than 2,000 years to relieve aches and pains of all sorts.
Herbal Remedies: White Willow Bark, Standardized Extract, 450 mg, 60 Caps
Nature's Way Standardized White Willow Bark is a maximum potency (15%) extract from the inner bark of the tree.
Herbal Remedies: White Willow Bark Tincture, 100% Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Aspirin is a synthetic derivative of white willow bark. White Willow Bark is an analgesic, anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, diaphoretic, and fever reducer.
Herbal Remedies: Headache / Tension / Pain Tincture, Organic, 2 fl. oz.
Headaches Tension and Pain Tincture helps to alleviate headaches associated with nervous tension.
Wine, especially red wine, has certain compounds in it that trigger headaches or migraines in some people. Researchers believe it is the nitrites used as preservatives that cause the headaches. Even a glass or two can cause serious problems to those who are affected by it.
A lack of water is a primary cause of headaches. Alcohol consumption causes dehydration. In addition to aiding expansion of blood vessels, water will help cleanse the colon and kidneys of any accumulated toxins, thereby helping them to function better. Another organ, the liver (and gallbladder), should be cleansed as well, as, over time, it gets an accumulation of toxins and cholesterol. Once your organs are functioning at their best, many times headaches and other ailment cease.
In Ireland, it was said that the cure for a hangover is to bury the ailing person up to the neck in moist river sand. Although many of us would probably enjoy doing this to an obnoxiously drunk friend or acquaintance, just for general purposes, it may frowned upon by most people. Here in the U.S., this is probably not a viable option for most of us and it requires a shovel and lots of digging. After a night out on the town, this is probably the last thing you would want to do and one may be tempted to bury the whole drunk individual.
Kidney Dialysis: Since you cannot depend on your kidneys to filter your blood properly after a binge, you could get a machine to do it for you. Admittedly most people don't have access to a dialysis machine, but if you can stand getting hooked up by nurses armed with needles while still drunk, you can be sober in four or five hours without any ill effects.
Acupressure - Pinching your Hand: There is a nerve junction between the thumb and forefinger on your left hand which is reputed to be an acupressure point which can release tension in the head and neck. If you pinch it quite hard for 30 seconds every five minutes, normal tension headaches can be relieved. It's certainly worth trying if you can't keep down any painkillers.
A LITTLE HANGOVER HUMOR
HANGOVER RATINGS GUIDE
One-Star Hangover: No pain. No real feeling of illness. Your sleep last night was a mere disco nap which is giving you a whole lot of misplaced energy. Be glad that you are able to function relatively well. However, you are still parched. You can drink 10 sodas and still feel this way. Even vegetarians are craving a steak bomb and a side of gravy fries from any truck stop USA.
1. The clock to strike 6 pm
2. The entire appetizer list from TGI Fridays
3. A time machine so you could go back and NOT have gone out the night before.
"When the guy at the door said, 'Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms,' I just assumed it was more supplies."
Barcillo
"After a night of too much alcohol and spirits, thou must kneel, embrace thy throne, and sacrifice to the Porcelain God."
John 1:47am
"I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me."
Winston Churchill
"R-E-M-O-R-S-E!
Those dry Martinis did the work for me;
Last night at twelve I felt immense,
Today I feel like thirty cents.
My eyes are bleared, my coppers hot,
I'll try to eat, but I cannot.
It is no time for mirth and laughter,
The cold, gray dawn of the morning after."
George Ade, The Sultan of Sulu
"The secret to a long life is to stay busy, get plenty of exercise and don't drink too much. Then again, don't drink too little."
Hermann Smith-Johannson, 103-year-old cross-country skier
"Drunkenness does not create vice; it merely brings it into view."
Seneca, Native American
"I envy people who drink. At least they have something to blame everything on."
Oscar Levant, musician, entertainer
"The sway of alcohol over mankind is unquestionably due to its power to stimulate the mystical faculties of human nature, usually crushed to earth by the cold facts and dry criticisms of the sober hour."
William James, The Varieties of Religious Experience
"The secret of drunkeness is, that it insulates us in thought, whilst it unites us in feeling."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"If you were to ask me if I'd ever had the bad luck to miss my daily cocktail, I'd have to say that I doubt it; where certain things are concerned, I plan ahead."
Luis Bunuel, film director
"I went on a diet, swore off drinking and heavy eating, and in fourteen days I lost two weeks."
Joe E. Lewis, entertainer
"I read about the evils of drinking so I gave up reading."
Henny Youngman
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
Ernest Hemingway
"I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy."
Tom Waits, musician
"What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch?"
W.C. Fields
"A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine, except that on a day without sunshine you can still get drunk."
Lee Entrekin, flutist
"Drunk is feeling sophisticated when you can't say it."
Anonymous
"The fact that a believer is happier than a skeptic is no more to the point than the fact than a drunken man is happier than a sober one."
George Bernard Shaw
"I prefer to think that God is not dead, just drunk."
John Huston, film director
"Always go to the solitary drinker for the truth!"
Anita Loos, screenwriter, author
"In Western Australia they don't even know how to make that vital piece of sailing-boat equipment, the gin and tonic."
P.J. O'Rourke, Holidays in Hell
"Candy Is dandy But liquor is quicker."
Ogden Nash, American poet
Disclaimer: Please note that MoonDragon takes no responsibility for any ill effects caused by the remedies suggested here: you try them at your own risk. Nobody should mix their medicines or their alcohols for that matter. Similarly nobody should drink a case or two of beer, down a fifth of whiskey and then go out to eat a steak dinner with tabasco sauce. Use your common sense when it comes to drinking and hangovers. Do not over indulge. Moderation in all things. The best way to prevent a hangover is not to drink alcohol.
NOTIFY YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER IF...
You or a family member has symptoms of severe alcohol intoxication. Severe alcohol intoxication can result in blackouts, fainting, coma and death.
If you are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, do not drink alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can cause serious problems with the pregnancy and can result in birth defects and fetal alcohol syndrome.
ALCOHOL CAN BE DEADLY
There are two warning signs you should take very seriously because they indicate you or someone you're with is going past his or her limit:
- Multiple vomiting. This is simply your body's natural way of quickly getting rid of the toxins in alcohol -- not a bad thing by itself. But it can rapidly lead to potentially life-threatening dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Lay off the liquor and start drinking lots of water.
- Passing out. If someone drinking heavily passes out, and doesn't respond when you try to wake them, take that person to a local emergency room. People in that condition are in danger of choking on their own vomit or going into shock.
It is common for people to see a friend with these symptoms and say, 'Oh, George is just a lightweight, he'll be fine', but passing out is a serious medical emergency, and it's always better to err on the side of safety.
LEAVE YOUR CAR KEYS AT HOME
Remember that if you've had too much to drink, no amount of burnt toast or chorizo is going to make you a safe driver. Assign a "designated driver" -- one person in your group who abstains from alcohol and drives everyone else home safely. Or make arrangements to have a cab take you home from your night out.
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