Home Remedies For Hangovers

The best way to avoid a hangover is to avoid too much alcohol! However, that is little consolation if you are suffering the agonies of a banging head, parched throat and the constant threat of being sick. If you know you have drunk too much, you can prevent a hangover by drinking at least a litre (about two pints) of water before going to bed. This will help to flush out some of the toxins. Colas and fizzy drinks can also help your throbbing head because they alkalise the acid in the stomach.

Home remedies for Hangovers

For some reason, eggs have always been a big feature of hangover cures across all cultures. And, in fact, eggs do contain a certain chemical now known to neutralise the effects of alcohol, so it seems that the old eggnog remedy or fried eggs the morning after may work well after all!

For an upset stomach or nausea, try grating some fresh ginger root into a mug of boiling water and sipping it slowly.

Drinking ginger tea will also soothe your stomach, and it tastes delicious, too.

Umeboshi plums, available at Asian markets and health food stores, have long been reputed to cure hangovers. They may make some people want to vomit, but those people who have managed to keep them down swear by them.

One of the best herbal fixits for a hangover is peppermint tea. Adding organic honey will also ease your headache and begin the process of rehydration.

Replenish your lost vitamin C with a glass of fresh orange juice and add a teaspoon of lime juice or a dash of cumin powder to really get you back in gear. Drinking a cup of thyme tea will ease your headache and queasy stomach more effectively and safely than many over-the-counter pain relievers.

Try the hair of the dog! Peel a whole head of garlic and put in a pan with 300ml (1/2 pint) of red wine. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain and drink slowly. It s the tannins, not the alcohol, that help to cure your banging head!

Once you can face food again, a vegetable broth which is high in potassium and natural minerals will help to replace fluid mineral loss. Make it from celery, courgettes, beetroot or carrots. Try to avoid sulphur-containing vegetables such as broccoli, onions and cabbage. Replace intestinal flora with good bacteria from live yogurt.

Try a soothing bath with essential oils of eucalyptus, peppermint and sandalwood. A cup of peppermint tea will also help if you are feeling queasy. Soak a towel in icy cold water and wrap it around your forehead. The coldness should help to shrink away your headache.