In every culture with access to alcohol, there are myths abound on how to cure a hangover. In Ireland it is said that you should bury your friend up to his neck in wet sand to help his ‘morning after’ symptoms. A Haitian myth declares that you should create a voodoo doll out of the hangover causing bottles cork and stick thirteen pins in it.

While they sound interesting, we won’t spend any time trying to debunk these ancient myths, but we will tell you what common modern day remedies work and which ones are just making that head ache worse.

Black Coffee
Coffee has caffeine in it which is a natural stimulant, so while it may help fight fatigue and stimulate focus, it is also a diuretic just like alcohol. This dehydrates your system even more, which coincidentally is the main reason you feel so drained after a good night out. So stay away from coffee until you’ve drank at least two glasses of water before you start looking for the next rush.

More alcohol
This is the biggest mistake anyone can make because you are only delaying the obvious. One of the reasons why a hangover is so bad is because the liver is still processing the toxins that are left over from the night before. Drinking more alcohol can make symptoms seem less at first because it dulls the senses but will only make the situation worse once the liver starts to break down the alcohol, because it now has additional toxins to deal with. So consider this supposed cure officially debunked.

Fruit Juice/ Energy Drinks
These two drinks are actually one of the best gifts (and cures) you can give to your body after the abuse you’ve put it through. Fruit juice contains fructose which will help to increase the body’s energy. It also contains natural vitamins such as Vitamins B and C which will help boost your system without having to additionally break down any vitamin pills.

Energy drinks will replenish your body’s lost electrolytes which you lost during all those visits to the bathroom, which will then also make you feel a whole lot better.

Eggs
Ever wondered why you crave a greasy breakfast? This is because not only will food in your stomach put nutrients back that you might have lost, but because eggs contain large amounts of cysteine. This substance is a miracle worker because it breaks down the hangover causing toxin acetaldehyde in the livers easily depleted glutathione. Therefore eggs can potentially help mop up the left over toxins.

Burnt toast
While it is true that activated carbon acts like a filter in the body, the carbon in charred bread hasn’t been activated so it will do absolutely nothing for you. So instead of reaching for that vile piece of toast, eat normal toasted bread to give yourself energy and settle your stomach.

Water
Water is probably the best thing you could offer your body during and after a raucous night. It will replenish the body’s water supply and help combat dehydration. It will also help dilute the leftover by-products in the stomach.

By adding salt and sugar to a glass of water, you will also put sodium and glycogen on an express one-way train straight to your blood system.

No matter what you do when it comes to a hangover, time is always the real cure. While other remedies might speed up the body’s progress and make you feel more comfortable in the process, the body still has a lot of work to do in mopping up all those additional toxins. So give your system the break that it needs, and don’t forget to vow to yourself that you will never drink again.

Share this post