The Essential Guide to Hangover Cures

I’ve done a lot of research on this subject, sometimes painful, and I’ve found that most hangover cures are about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike.
 
Unfortunately most of the time you will completely forget all advice and believe you are immune to hangovers, but for what it’s worth…
 

Here are 3 things you may not know already:

1. Moderate amounts of alcohol (eg. 2 glasses of wine….no, not pint glasses) can be beneficial. For clarification of the word ‘moderate’ please click here.
2. Red wine can be good for you. Why? Because it contains a substance called ‘resveratrol’ - a powerful antioxidant found in grapes. Eating red grapes is of course a far more effective way of consuming it (but where’s the fun in that?)
3. Most wine (especially young whites) contains a preservative in the form of sulphur dioxide, and many people, myself included, have an intolerance to it, sometimes resulting in nasal congestion, sinus inflammation, headaches and nausea (as if the alcohol wasn’t enough!)

Over the years I’ve tried all sorts of ways to avoid a hangover - glass of milk, Berocca, olive oil, ½ litre of water, all before the party started - none of which worked.
 

I’ve tried all sorts of cures including:

• Coke; ‘flat’ Coke; spicy tomato juice; warm water
• A ‘hair of the dog’ (a so-called ‘friend’ told me this)
• Nux Vomica (a homeopathic remedy)
• A big greasy breakfast
• Coffee
• Cayenne pepper
• Diving into the sea
• Pure oxygen (in a can)
• RU21 (hangover cure developed by the KGB!)

To be honest, none of them have ever cured my hangover. At least, not a ‘proper’ hangover. 

Here is what works best for me:
 
Firstly, prepare the following detoxifying milkshake:

• 1 glass of milk and some ice
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 tbspn honey
• 1 raw egg (I know, not very appealing but it contains a detoxifying amino acid)
• Add milk thistle, a good quality multivit, and extra Vit B, Vit C and zinc supplements
• Drink it slowly

Then,

1. Rub tiger balm into back of neck and temples (be careful not to rub your eyes afterwards – it stings like hell, and you are in enough pain already)
2. Go for a nice long walk and remember to breathe deeply to increase circulation and metabolism
3. When you get back, have a sports drink that contains electrolytes

Obviously avoid caffeine, alcohol (both diuretics), processed foods and toxins (tobacco, drugs etc.)

Credit: Matt Barnes