Hangover Remedies: Natural Hangover Cures

That last beer or martini seemed like such a good idea! Who'd have believed we'd regret it so bitterly this morning? If you're searching for hangover remedies, we can offer you some hangover cures – and prevention tricks that might ease your day and prevent future misery – because a hangover IS misery – especially because we know we did it to ourselves!

Hangover Cure #1: Drink More! (ugh!)

No, we're not talking about 'hair of the dog' – especially if you have to go to work or address the UN on world peace. One of the problems with alcohol is that it dehyrates us dramatically, and when our water storage tanks are low, hangover symptoms are the result. Those unfortunate folks who are stranded in the desert without water often exhibit hangover-like symptoms, and that's why.

So drink water – but don't scarf down two gallons in five minutes. When we drink too much water too fast, we can lose our electroylytes. Our muscles and neurons – the cells that run the nervous system and brain, among others – are powered by electrolytes. Obviously, depleting them will simply make us feel worse, not better. The so-called 'experts' disagree on how fast we can drink water, but two-four cups per hour is reasonable.

Lots of hungover folks prefer sports drinks for their high electrolyte content. We're not too fond of those drinks ourselves, since they're loaded with sugar and additives, however that is certainly an individual choice.

If you agree with us, drink the water and add a couple of bananas. They are loaded with potassium which is lost through the kidneys when drinking alcohol. Or you might prefer a smoothie with a couple of bananas and some milk. Apples, berries or other sweet fruits are acceptable if you don't have any bananas [or the thought of driving to a store makes you think about throwing up!] Use stevia or honey, though, instead of loading your drink up with sugar. Honey, for instance, is loaded with electrolytes, and the less refined it is, the higher the power.

Hangover Cure #2: About That Headache …

Aspirin and all its cousins can irritate – and even damage – the lining of the stomach. And irritating the lining of an already queasy stomach obviously isn't the best course of action. Fortunately, there is an alternative called Feverfew which is found in health food stores everywhere.

Our herbal guides state that raw persimmon and raw cabbage are also good for headaches, but I'm not sure how useful that advice is. I don't even know what a persimmon looks like! However, you might have a persimmon tree in your backyard and this is perfect advice for you.

Hangover Cure #3: To Finish Off The Hangover

Exercise is a cure-all for hangovers. Unfortunately, for most folks just the thought of exercising when hungover is a total turnoff. However, as soon as you're able, go for a walk and it just might get the last vestiges of hangover out of your system.

How To Prevent Hangover (Besides The Obvious!)

1. Since you already know that a primary cause of hangover is dehydration, you will not be surprised to hear that drinking water can help to prevent hangover is well. The ideal [except not drinking too much] is to have a glass of water between each alcoholic beverage. However, let's get real here acknowledge that that's not likely to happen so the second-best alternative is drinking a couple of glasses of water before you fall into bed.

2. Have a remedy on hand called Bifidus powder. Bifidus is a powder made of friendly bacteria. These little guys destroy acetaldehyde, which is a byproduct of alcohol and one of the major causes of the agony that we face the next morning. If you put one or 2 teaspoons of Bifidus in a glass of water and drink it the night before, the odds are good that you will wake up the next morning hangover free.

3. Fats and oils will also help to stop alcohol in its tracks. Depending on the culture there are various recommendations of what fats to eat but most agree that nuts are loaded with the correct fats. Almonds and peanut butter are considered especially good. Evening Primrose oil is another good choice.

Focusing on hangover prevention is clearly a wiser course then seeking hangover remedies or hangover cures. But either way, there are many natural alternatives to unhealthy, man-made medicines — or agonizing suffering.