Looking for home remedies for hangovers that go beyond the common wisdom of hydrating with water? Here are some home remedies that might help ease some of your symptoms:
Thyme has been purported to provide hangover relief. Make some thyme tea by boiling five or six thyme leaves over a burner for five minutes. Remove the leaves and sip the tea.
Thyme tea is good for hangovers.
If you are looking for something more organic to soothe your pounding head other than aspirin try willow bark. Willow bark is a natural aspirin substitute that can be taken as a capsule, powder or extract to help with pain relief.
Some party people still enjoy playing bartender the morning after. If you feel like whipping up a wholesome morning cocktail to ease your pain, try serving up one teaspoon sugar and two teaspoons fresh lime juice in a glass of water. It won’t give you back your buzz, but when drank slowly, this mix has been known to provide relief in some.
Ginger root has also been known to help people recover. Get some in your system by drinking ginger ale or making some ginger tea. To make ginger tea, simply boil a few slices of fresh ginger in four cups of water for ten minutes. Afterward, strain the liquid and add the juice of one lemon and one orange to it. The orange juice is high in vitamin C, which helps hangovers as well. Honey is also a great addition to this tea because the high fructose content of honey helps break down any remaining alcohol in your body.
Ginger tea also works for hangovers.
A couple of activities to partake in for your hangover are a warm bath to calm your mind and if you are up for it and have a willing partner… SEX! During sexual intercourse, endorphins are released that will give you a little hangover break and a chance to work off some of last night’s liquor. If sex is not an option, any exercise you can do will also help push out toxins and get your circulation going.
Some other home remedies for hangovers that people swear by are:
Click on the above links to learn more about these four purported cures.
Whether you’re eating off your hangover or working it off, these home remedies are an au naturale way of trying to find some relief.
Greasy Food
Need another reason to eat cheeseburgers? You’re in luck because greasy foods can be helpful in attempting to prevent and treat hangovers. Burgers, fries, pizza, and hot dogs may not normally be considered “good for you”, but when eaten before or after heavy drinking these foods might actually provide some benefit.
If you know that your night is going to involve drinking try having a greasy meal beforehand. The theory goes that the grease in the food coats your stomach and intestines. This slows down the alcohol absorption in your system.
If you’d like to avoid foods with high cholesterol you can opt for some olive oil instead. Swallowing a large spoonful of olive oil will coat the stomach with good fat as opposed to what is found in hash browns or chicken nuggets.
Making your first meal after drinking a greasy one might also provide you with some hangover assistance. Round two of the grease further helps with slowing the absorption of alcohol in the system. However, make sure to stay away from spicy oily foods like the morning favorite Spanish chorizo and eggs, because spicy food can irritate the stomach and have the opposite desired effect.
Avoidance
Most of us don’t give thought to avoiding hangovers until we are waking up to a throbbing headache, feeling shaky, and housing a mouth drier than the Sahara. It is only then that the two extra shots that went down at last call don’t seem worth it. Some of us will find ourselves awake happily drunk only to realize we are about to embark on a journey through hangover hell as the day creeps on. Well, if you get ready to party with a hangover escape plan, you just may be able to avoid some of your anguish.
For the average person having more than three drinks in a night exponentially increases your odds of a hangover. The likelihood of a hangover is also increased when you consume these drinks quickly. Thus the classic night of drinking games can be a huge hangover culprit. Trying to stay hangover free? Space out your drinks and try to incorporate a nonalcoholic drink after each drink you have.
Hydration: Rehydrating with water is an important part of avoiding hangovers, if not the most important. Liquor is a diuretic, causing you to urinate more often than usual. Alcohol is also very drying within the body causing you to release more fluids than you take in. Remember to drink water throughout the night.
Moderation: If you can find a way to limit yourself to one drink an hour you may be home free. It is important to keep in mind that a 40 oz. of malt liquor does not equate to a drink. A twelve-ounce can of beer, five ounces of wine, or a cocktail made with 1.5 ounces of liquor equals one drink. Attempt to drink slowly and opt to sip your drink instead of chugging it. Make yourself weaker drinks and when it comes to shots, try to pass. Also avoid drinking out of a straw, which allows you to suck down drinks faster.
There are great moves to make before calling it a night after a night of libation. Try to drink two or three glasses of water and if your stomach is cool with it, have a small meal or snack before going to bed. Having food in your stomach will help give you the energy needed to metabolize the alcohol. Taking ibuprofen before hitting the hay may also help, but be careful as it may upset the stomach and is tough on the body. Avoid the drug acetaminophen (also known as Tylenol) when drinking, as mixing this drug with booze is dangerous for your liver. You may also feel better the next morning if you keep yourself up until you feel somewhat sober and then hit the sheets.
Some believe that coffee helps hangover woes, and caffeine does give you a boost of energy, but be careful of caffeine’s diuretic effect. Some believe that exercise is a cure, there is no proof to suggest this is true but it is a distraction from the pain if you can stomach the exercise. Relief comes when the alcohol you drank has been fully metabolized in the body and your internal organs have recovered from the damage that was caused.
Important note: people who party with a lot of booze and do not get hangovers should be concerned as this could be a sign of alcoholism and treatment may be needed.
More Home Remedies for Hangovers
This probably goes without saying, but the best thing to do to try to get rid of a hangover is sleep. When you’re in a resting state, your body can focus on ridding itself of alcohol’s toxins instead of other activities. You’ll probably feel like doing this anyway, as your body may be weak. Consider taking a sick day over forcing yourself into work, unless you enjoy naps on your keyboard.
Beyond resting, there are many hangover tips out there regarding what to eat and drink. Focus on rehydrating your body with plenty of water and fresh fruit/vegetable juices. As mentioned above, the Vitamin C found in orange juice can be helpful. However, be aware that acidity and an upset stomach do not mix well. Drinks like Gatorade and Coconut water are an excellent way to restock the electrolytes lost after heavy drinking. Use dehydrating substances like caffeine in moderation (if at all) and try to stick to high mineral foods like canned fish or pickles (if you can stomach it).
Some look to drinking again in the morning as a hangover remedy. The tomato juice and celery in a Bloody Mary will provide some vitamins and having new alcohol in the system distracts the mind from the damage done. However, it is a morning-after fallacy that the “hair of the dog” is a home remedy for hangovers. On the contrary, not recommended at all since you are just prolonging the inevitable.
You can try taking a shower and alternating from cold water to hot, which has been known to help. Alka Seltzer is another thing people go to for hangover relief.
Meds may seem like a good option for killing the pain, but in reality, many of their side effects are amplified when alcohol is in your system and are best avoided. For example, alcohol and aspirin are both blood thinners, so mixing the two is not a wise choice. Acetaminophen, aka Tylenol, can cause liver damage when mixed with liquor. Ibuprofen can be taken if necessary, but even with this drug, you have the chance of stomach bleeding so it is best to steer clear of all synthetic pain killers if possible.
Hydration is a key starting point in improving your hangover. Be sure to drink plenty of water to replace what was lost the night before. Replenishing lost electrolytes will also help you out. Drinks like Gatorade and coconut water are filled with electrolytes and are a great way to kick recovery and rehydration up a notch.
There are a number of over the counter drugs you can take for pain relief. Painkillers like ibuprofen will help ease your aches as long as you don’t overuse them. Going overboard on pain killers can be taxing on your stomach and liver. Periodic use of Tylenol or Excedrin should be done with extreme caution — be sure to follow all instructions — as the acetaminophen found in these drugs can be tough on the liver and kidneys when used in excess. Casual use of over the counter medication, accompanied by plenty of water, is great for a quick fix.
Stomach aides like Alka-Seltzer and Tums will help mellow the extra acid you’ve got going on in your stomach. This extra stomach acid is one of the causes of nausea. These products are also a source of bicarbonates, which are some of the electrolytes you lose when dehydrated from alcohol. As both these medicines are a good way to get bicarbonates and settle the stomach, these hangover aides can provide some relief.
If all else fails, there are a couple of fringe remedies you could try. An old Irish remedy entails being buried up to your neck in river sand. Or you could try drinking pickle juice like the Polish do for their hangovers… on second thought, maybe just stick with hydration and rest.
Additional Hangover Tips
- Eat before you drink. Nothing fuels a hangover more than drinking on an empty stomach. Having a substantial snack or light meal prior to drinking will start you off on the right foot in hangover prevention.
- Keep a proper mindset. Going into the night with the intent to get drunk practically guarantees a hangover. Begin the night with the intention to drink responsibly and you’re less likely to go crazy with the drinks.
- Substitute nonalcoholic drinks in between alcoholic ones. Alternating between water and alcoholic drinks will help you stay hydrated and will lower your chances of consuming too much liquor.
- Rehydrate. After a night of drinking, you’re left dehydrated, which makes for some painful hangover symptoms. Replenish fluids with plenty of water, fresh juices, and electrolyte packed drinks like Gatorade or Coconut Water.
- Rest up. Your body will need a break to prompt a swift recovery. Being that alcohol disrupts sleep patterns, it is also likely that you’ll be in need of some extra rest. Stay in bed until you start to feel better.
- Seek over the counter relief. Drugs like Ibuprofen are a quick pain fix when used as instructed. Be sure not to overuse these pain relievers as excessive use can be damaging to the stomach, liver, and kidneys. Also, try a little Alka-Seltzer. This drug store cure will help lower stomach acid and relieve nausea.
- You can eat a greasy meal if you are feeling queasy. The fatty acids in greasy foods will coat your stomach and could provide relief. Watch out for spicy foods however as these could have the opposite effect.
- Work it out. If you have the energy to get moving, a little exercise has been known to keep hangovers at bay. Physical activity may also distract you from your hangover symptoms until you start to feel better.
If you have any of your own tips for hangovers not included in this list, please leave them in the comments section below.