Question: I know there is no cure for a hangover, aside from the obvious one, but are there any natural alternatives which would help to alleviate some of the symptoms?
16 September, 2008 – 17:27
Answer: A pounding headache, your mouth feels like sawdust and you can’t remember how you got home last night.
Hung over? Most of us, it would seem, tend to suffer at least a few hangovers from time to time, especially during the festive period.
Fortunately, however, there are alternative and effective ways of relieving a hangover.
In fact, ever since the intoxicating qualities of alcohol were discovered, natural remedies have been used to help counter that hung over feeling:
Firstly, drink plenty of fluids as alcohol affects the hormones that control water regulation, leaving us dehydrated. Drinking water before going to bed helps to re-hydrate the body.
Similarly, orange juice and fruits rich in vitamin C are a good source of sugar and will lift blood glucose levels and replace sugar stores in the liver that have been depleted. A lack of sugar can lead to feeling light-headed and weak.
If your stomach is left a little worse for wear, help to rebalance gastric juices by incorporating Ginger into your diet. It may also protect against the damaging effect of alcohol as it is thought to ease the transport of substances through the digestive tract, lessening irritation to the intestinal walls.
For the detox Milk Thistle and Devil’s Milk are renowned for inhibiting toxins from entering the blood and are thought to promote the regeneration of damaged liver cells.
Artichoke contains cynarin, which has been scientifically proven to stimulate the production of bile, a substance that breaks down and eliminates fatty foods and alcohol from the body.
Alternatively, you could try ‘Hepavit’, a special combination of Milk Thistle, Devil’s Milk and Artichoke, formulated to relieve hangovers and maintain a healthy functioning of the liver.
