Hangovers
by Gillie Whitewolf
Hangovers....
well you've only got yourself to blame for this
one... but luckily there are a nuumber of remedies
to get you back on your feet - and a number of preventatives
to put in to action before your next night out!
The
morning after the night before....
Not exactly a herbal remedy, but eggs have a
long history as a hangover cure, and contain a chemical
now known to neutralise the effects of alcohol -
so that [organic, free-range] fried egg sarnie the
morning after could do you the world of good. Vegans
fear not, there are many herbal remedies to take
the place of the egg :
Lavender flowers makes an ideal cuppa for calming the throbbing
pain of a hangover, it also soothes the digestive
system and assists the liver.
Thyme tea will ease both
the headache and the queasy stomach associated with
hangovers. Ginger tea will soothe the stomach, and Peppermint tea with
a little organic honey will eash the headache, begin
the rehydration process, soothe the stomach and
relieve nausea.
Fizzy drinks are another good option, both for soothing
a throbbing head and for alkalising an acidic stomach.
Umeboshi Plums are also alkalising - try soaking
one in hot water for 5 minutes before eating the
plum and sipping the water [a Macrobiotic remedy].
A decoction of Dandelion Root is higly regarded
for it detox actions, working principally on the
liver and gallbladder to help remove waste products.
It also stimulates the kidneys to remove toxins
in the urine.
Milk Thistle [Cardus marianus] is renowned for protecting
the liver from damage resulting from alcoholic and
other types of poisoning. The seeds contain silymarin
- capsules of these seeds can be taken to remedy
a hangover and the damage over-indulging can do
to your liver.
The
following Garlic cure
was apparently employed after Bacchanalian orgies
in Ancient Rome : Peel all the cloves from a large
head of Garlic and place them in a pan with half
a pint of red wine. Bring to the boil and simmer
for about 20 minutes. Strain and share with fellow
hangover patients. The alcohol is boiled off whilst
the tannins, and the curative properties of the
Garlic, remain.
Once
you're up to eating replace natural minerals by
eating a vegatable broth - choose vegetables which
are high in potassium, such as Celery, Beetroot,
Carrots and Courgettes. Eating live yoghurt will
replace intestinal flora lost during the alcohol
attack and soothe a sore stomach.
The
night before the morning after the night
before....
What's better than a hangover cure? a hangover preventative! Barbara
Griggs states that Oil of Evening Primrose is
"extremely effective at forestalling hangovers"
- try taking 4 capsules of Evening Primrose Oil
before you go out drinking, and more at the end
of the evening.
The
Romans regarded eating almonds as the ideal method of countering the effect of
alcohol, and Gerard concurs that 5 or 6 being
taken fasting do keepe a man from being drunk
[1597].
And one of the best preventatives? drinking water
- alcohol dehydrates you, this is one of the main
reasons you wake up with a throbbing head and sandpaper
mouth. Pace yourself through the evening, drink
water before you go out, while you're out and, most
importantly, at least a pint of water before
you go to sleep. And just to make sure I've got
that 'sounding like your mom' thing down to a T
- "don't go drinking on an empty stomach!"
You're about to attack your stomach lining - give
it some form of defense.
OK, lecture over! Now go enjoy your night out - and the morning after.
The
herbal remedies mentioned in this article are not
intended to replace professional advice. Any medication
you are on should also be taken into consideration
- always check with your healthcare professional
if you are on prescription drugs before taking herbal
remedies. |