"I'll never drink again!" is the typical phrase that is often heard by someone who wakes up in the morning with a pounding headache and an upset stomach after an evening of partying. The diuretic effect of alcohol causes the loss of abundant amounts of fluids, promoting dehydration, which is the main cause of the worst ailments of hangover. Unfortunately, there are no miracle remedies to get rid of a hangover, but there are various ways to relieve the symptoms and keep going until you are fully recovered.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Rehydrate
Step 1. Drink lots of water
You need to counteract the dehydration caused by excessive alcohol consumption if you want to get rid of the hangover. The most effective way to rehydrate is to simply drink plenty of water when you wake up. Drinking plenty of fluids that don't strain your digestive system will help you rehydrate without irritating the stomach lining.
Drinking half a liter of water before going to bed will help reduce the level of dehydration before waking up. Keep a glass of water next to your bed to drink at night
Step 2. Drink an isotonic drink
Similar to water, isotonic drinks are a very effective way to recover lost liquids and provide the necessary energy. They contain carbohydrates to provide you with a gradual boost of energy, helping you regain strength throughout the day.
- Choose drinks that contain electrolytes to replenish lost fluids and minerals.
- Don't trust drinks that contain caffeine as they may promote dehydration.
- If you are very dehydrated, choose an oral rehydration solution, suitable for restoring the physiological state of hydration of the body, unlike many sports drinks.
Step 3. Drink some fruit juice
Another effective drink is fresh fruit juice. The vitamins and minerals will give you a boost of energy. Fruit juices generally contain high amounts of fructose, a simple sugar that is metabolized in the liver and forms an energy reserve.
- Fruit juices also contain high amounts of vitamin C, which is often dispersed in the urine when alcoholic beverages are consumed.
- Tomato juice, orange juice, and coconut water are all great choices.
Step 4. Drink ginger tea
It is effective against nausea and vomiting. It is often consumed by pregnant women to combat morning sickness and the same principle applies to a hangover. Otherwise, you could boil 10-12 pieces of fresh ginger root in about four cups of water and add the juice of one orange, half a lemon, and half a cup of honey.
- This decoction will give you immediate relief from hangover ailments by stabilizing your blood glucose levels.
- A calming herbal tea is probably preferable to a ginger soda. Fizzy drinks put pressure on your stomach and may make you nauseous.
Step 5. Sip drinks throughout the day
What matters is not the quantity, but the drink throughout the day. Regularly sipping water, fruit juice and isotonic drinks helps you replenish fluids, vitamins and nutrients.
Step 6. Avoid caffeinated drinks
Drinks such as coffee, unlike water and fruit juices, help to accentuate dehydration rather than decrease it. Caffeine also constricts blood vessels and helps raise blood pressure, making hangover symptoms worse.
Method 2 of 4: Eating to Combat Hangover Symptoms
Step 1. Eat some eggs
They are a perfect food to fight hangover disorders, because they contain an amino acid called cysteine, which your body will be happy to receive after a hangover. Cysteine cleanses the body of toxins accumulated due to excessive alcohol consumption. By ridding the body of toxins, eggs can help you regenerate your body and give you new vigor.
Avoid making eggs with too many oils and fats, as they can make you nauseous
Step 2. Have a cup of cereal
If the thought of eggs disgusts you, try a bowl of cereal. Whole grains are preferable, as they contain higher amounts of vitamins and nutrients.
Step 3. Make a broth to replenish vitamins and minerals
A light vegetable-based broth is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals that you need to bring to your body after a hangover. It is also perfect when you are feeling weak and unable to swallow solid foods. It can be particularly useful for replenishing sodium and potassium.
Step 4. Eat foods rich in potassium
When you drink alcohol, you find yourself constantly going to the bathroom, as alcohol is diuretic. When you urinate a lot, you lose more potassium than normal. Lower potassium levels contribute to fatigue, nausea, and muscle weakness, all symptoms of a hangover. To combat them, consume foods rich in potassium.
- Bananas and kiwis are two cheap and easy-to-get foods that you may already have in your fridge.
- Baked potatoes, leafy greens, mushrooms, and dried apricots are also excellent sources of potassium.
- Energy drinks are often good sources of potassium.
Step 5. Eat light foods like toast and crackers
This may be your best bet if your stomach is in turmoil. The purpose of eating to counteract hangover symptoms is not to "absorb" alcohol, but to increase blood glucose levels and replenish nutrients.
- Alcohol prevents your body from maintaining the right concentration of glucose in the blood and low sugar levels cause fatigue and weakness, increasing the sense of exhaustion.
- Complex carbohydrates (oatmeal, wholemeal bread) are great choices.
Method 3 of 4: Rest and Recover
Step 1. Go back to bed
Put simply, sleep is the best way to deal with hangover symptoms. Alcohol disturbs the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep, the one in which our body rests the most and benefits our mental health, so try to sleep longer if you can.
- Lack of sleep definitely makes hangover symptoms worse.
- The only real cure for a hangover is time.
Step 2. Take a relaxing walk
Without overexerting yourself or risking further dehydration, getting out of the house and going for a walk can help you feel better after you've had a hangover. Excess toxins from alcohol consumption will be expelled thanks to the supply of greater quantities of oxygen to the body.
- A quick walk will help speed up your metabolism and expel alcohol.
- If you are really struggling, don't force yourself, but try to rest and get yourself back on track.
Step 3. Try not to overthink it
If you have a hangover, you may be tempted to sink into despair and refuse to get out of bed or sofa all day. If you react and try to move on without thinking about it, you may find that your symptoms have eased. Indifference can be an effective way to convince your mind that everything is fine.
Step 4. Get a "special" hangover massage
You can try to relieve some of the symptoms by massaging some special points on your head and hands.
- Massaging the point in the center of the nape, under the foramen magnum, helps normalize blood pressure;
- Apply strong pressure to the point between the eyebrows, above the nose bridge;
- Gently massage your temples;
- Squeeze your earlobes by holding them between your thumb and forefinger;
- Press the point directly under the nose, in the center of the upper lip, with the index finger;
- Massage the point in the chin hole with energetic movements;
- Massage a point in the central area of the palm on both hands;
- Massage the pads of the little finger: first on the left hand, then on the other.
Method 4 of 4: Cure the Hangover
Step 1. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever
A readily available over-the-counter pain reliever is a great remedy for pounding headaches and muscle aches. Check the dosage on the package and take them with a glass of water when you wake up.
- You can take an acetylsalicylic acid pain reliever or a drug belonging to the family of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen), but these may further irritate the lining of the stomach and make you nauseous.
- If your stomach is sensitive or you don't know which pain reliever to take, contact your doctor.
- Avoid paracetamol! It is processed in the liver, just like alcohol. In the indications of tylenol, for example, it is specified that the intake of alcoholic beverages in conjunction with paracetamol can increase the possibility of liver damage. Trade names include tachipirina, neocibalgina, tachidol. In some countries, paracetamol is also known as acetominophen, but it is the same drug.
Step 2. Take an antacid pill for the stomach
A common hangover symptom is gastric hyperacidity. If you feel nauseous, take an over-the-counter product that neutralizes stomach acid and can ease the symptoms of indigestion. As in the case of painkillers, there is a risk that these medicines can irritate the stomach, so read the directions carefully and do not exceed the recommended doses.
- There are many brands of antacids available on the market.
- The most common active ingredients include aluminum hydroxide, magnesium carbonate or calcium carbonate and magnesium trisilicate. These substances are found in brands such as Riopan, Gaviscon and Maalox.
Step 3. Take a multivitamin supplement
When you consume alcoholic beverages, you lose a lot of nutrients, such as vitamin B12 and folate, which need to be replenished. If you feel really nauseous, you may not be able to swallow a multivitamin tablet.
- As with other pills, a soluble or effervescent tablet allows for faster absorption.
- Soluble tablets are simply those that dissolve in a glass of water before taking.
- Effervescent tablets dissolve in water, but contain carbon dioxide, so they bubbly and can make you nauseous.
Step 4. Be wary of "miracle remedies"
There are commercially available so-called 'hangover pills' which some pass off as foolproof remedies for hangover symptoms. You could try, but be aware that some scientific studies have shown that their effectiveness is somewhat limited. Nothing really cures a hangover, aside from time and hydration.
Advice
- Remember not to drive after drinking.
- Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and take a good nap.
- Try taking a cold shower. It may cool you down, giving you head and stomach relief.
- To avoid hangover symptoms, drink a couple of glasses of water both before going to bed and between alcoholic drinks.
- Eat something when you feel hangover, as an empty stomach will make you even more nauseous.
- Do not drink carbonated drinks, as they accelerate the absorption of alcohol.
- A chicken broth will help you feel better.
- The best way to get rid of a hangover is to not get it first.
- Drink responsibly and learn to recognize your limits. The National Alcohol Observatory - Cneps argues that men should not exceed two glasses per day (two units) of alcohol, while women should not consume more than one glass (12 grams). One alcohol unit is contained in a can of beer (330 ml), in a small glass (125 ml) of wine or in a bar dose (40 ml) of spirits.
- Choose light spirits (vodka, gin), rather than dark ones (brandy, whiskey). The former contain lower amounts of congeners, which contribute more to a hangover. In general, drinks containing more chemicals cause the worst hangover. Red wine is one of them, but the reaction is subjective.
- Studies have shown that hangover symptoms vary according to the type of alcohol consumed (in descending order from most harmful to least harmful): brandy, red wine, rum, whiskey, white wine, gin, vodka and pure ethanol.
Warnings
- Exercise doesn't make the hangover go away. It may actually make it worse, causing you to dehydrate further. If you decide to work out, drink more water.
- The system of drinking another drink to get the hang of it and drinking more alcohol upon waking up only delays the symptoms of the hangover and makes them worse.
- If you can't remember what happened when you drank, if you drink regularly, or if drinking negatively affects your work or relationships, you may have an alcoholism problem. Talk to someone for help.
- Even without special treatments, a hangover shouldn't last more than 24 hours. If you are still sick after this time, contact your doctor.
