Ask a medical professional, and they will tell you that the best cure for a hangover is to avoid getting intoxicated altogether, limiting yourself to the recommended two drinks per day. However, sticking to these parameters is easier said than done when the good times are flowing. Therefore, if you ever find yourself on the struggle bus the next morning, use the following 5 tips as effective ways of curing a brutal hangover!
1. Pound The Fluids
The reality of a hangover is that it is not necessarily a condition in and of itself, but rather a collection of conditions that have their own nasty symptoms. One of these is dehydration, with the symptoms of dry mouth, lightheadedness, dizziness, and headache being some of the most brutal for those suffering from a hangover.
“There are several reasons why a person may be severely dehydrated following excessive drinking. For one, alcohol blocks the release of vasopressin, a hormone that regulates urination, making drinkers have to go to the restroom every 10 minutes. In addition, nausea and diarrhea can be symptoms of severe hangovers, leading to more acute dehydration. Whatever the case, people will experience sufficient mineral and electrolyte deficiency when dehydrated, making intravenous therapy one of the most effective ways of replenishing your body’s mineral needs at the cellular level.” ~ Vanessa Cabrera of Las Vegas Mobile IV Therapy.
Although the best advice is to chug 16 ounces of water after every drink you consume to prevent dehydration, the fact remains that most people lose track of doing this when caught up in the moment, making hydration replacement via intravenous therapy the best way to quickly replace the minerals your body sheds during intoxication.
2. Take A Bath
People often dance, gyrate, and attempt physical activities they otherwise may not have dared when sober, making muscle soreness and other types of aches and pains some of the more insidious hangover symptoms out there. To help reduce some of this muscular stress, it is a great idea to warm up a bath, light some candles, and dim the lights for a session of relaxation. In addition, because of the aforementioned dehydrating effects of alcohol, your skin may feel rather dry and itchy the morning after. Another option after taking a bath can be using patches for hangovers which can be applied to the skin. They provide fast and effective pain relief while also hydrating your skin.
Therefore, cleansing your body with moisturizing goat soap milk and applying all natural shea butter after your bath are a couple of ways to help your body feel refreshed following a night of heavy drinking.
3. Consume Some Carbs
You have likely heard something to the effect of McDonald’s being the perfect hangover food because of the grease. While greasy foods do quench feelings of nausea in some people, there is no real scientific evidence that greasy foods expedite a hangover recovery.
What holds more weight scientifically is that low blood sugar levels following a night of poor nutrition makes it difficult for your body to complete a Krebs cycle. In layperson’s terms, the Krebs cycle is the process through which your cells metabolize nutrients to produce ATP, the compound necessary for providing energy for bodily functions. To boost your blood sugar levels and promote a healthy Krebs cycle, consuming carbohydrate-rich foods such as toast, oatmeal, and fresh fruit is the best way to ensure your body is getting the nutrition it needs to return to normal function.
4. Rest Up
Next to dehydration, sleep deprivation is right there as the most acute underlying hangover condition. Lack of energy, irritability, and inability to think clearly are some of the most prominent sleep deprivation symptoms that contribute to a hangover.
Therefore, unless your schedule requires you to be somewhere, it is best to postpone your Sunday funday in favor of getting caught up on the sleep you missed out on during your evening of alcohol-fueled shenanigans. While alcohol inhibits rapid eye movement–the deepest and most restorative type of sleep–simply getting the hours in bed will pay dividends while the alcohol cycles out of your system.
5. Exercise
The concept of sweating out a hangover is entirely a myth. Once the alcohol is in your system, time is the only way to get it out. You simply have to wait until your liver and kidneys can filter the alcohol from your bloodstream and eliminate it via waste.
However, exercise can have a powerful psychological effect for those experiencing a hangover. Some of the worst aspects of a hangover are the feelings of shame, embarrassment, and letdown. By getting up and doing some moderate exercise, you trigger the release of feel-good endorphins from your brain and put yourself back on track for a return to your normal routine.
The Most Common Sense Ways To Cure A Nasty Hangover
Although they are nobody’s favorite thing in the world, hangovers are your body’s natural response to a night of excess alcohol consumption. While it may be better to avoid them altogether, the 5 ideas listed above are great ways to help you most effectively recover from a brutal hangover, should the need ever arise.