Natural remedies for curing alcohol hangover

Alcohol adversely affects the brain, the liver, the kidneys, the heart, the blood vessels, the lining of the stomach, and various hormonal and regulatory systems. Even the word intoxicated indicates alcohol's true nature - a toxic substance. Hangovers are a group of unpleasant signs and symptoms caused by consumption of alcohol to the point of intoxication.

Typically, symptoms of hangovers begin a few hours after the cessation of drinking, around the time when the blood alcohol concentration is falling, and are felt for the next 24 hours.

Alcohol makes you pee more, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration is what causes many of the symptoms of a hangover.

Bananas

When it comes to home hangover remedies, reaching for a humble banana or two is one of the most effective ways to combat a case of the post-Champagne nasties. Excessive alcohol intake can eliminate your body’s supply of potassium. Bananas fill you back up with this essential mineral quickly, safely and cheaply. If you anticipate that the morning after is going to be a rough one, place a couple of bananas on your bedside table.

Drink water

While something so simple might seem ridiculous while you’re hugging your toilet, re-hydrating yourself is key to overcoming any hangover. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water slowly over the course of the morning after you have been drinking. Alcohol causes your body to lose water by stimulating your kidneys to excrete more water than you drink, resulting in dehydration. The more alcohol you drink, the more water passes out of your body.

Coffee

Lots of people—hangover or not—use a cup of Joe to wake up and feel alert at work. But a trip to Starbucks won't give you lasting benefits, and caffeine can both treat and cause headaches and migraines, so this one is a personal preference. If you do down a cup to cure a hangover, be sure to drink water, too, since studies suggest caffeine causes dehydration.

Exercise

A gentle workout could help you feel better, if you can manage it (and that's a big if).

Remember: If you've been drinking heavily, you could be a little dehydrated, you could be metabolically behind on your nutrition, and exercise is going to require hydration and nutrition. Exercise is always the right thing to do, but I don't think [on] the morning you wake up with a hangover, exercise is what you need." What you really need is rest.

Ginger Root

Ginger has long been used to treat nausea and seasickness. And, since having a hangover is much like being seasick, this easy remedy works wonders. If you're really green, the best bet is to drink ginger ale (no preparation required). If you can remain vertical for 10 minutes, brew some ginger tea. Cut 10 to 12 slices of fresh ginger root and combine with 4 cups water. Boil for 10 minutes. Strain and add the juice of one orange, the juice of half a lemon, and 1/2 cup honey. Drink to your relief.

Lemon water

Lemon and honey cures the after effects of hangover

Lemon controls the blood sugar level and alters pH levels as well. It can effectively help in curing the after-effects of a hangover. Take 2 tsp of lemon juice and 1 tsp of honey and add them in a glass of warm water. Stir well and then drink it on empty stomach in the morning. You can also drink it two to three times in a day to get rid of heavy head and dizziness.

Tomato

Tomato juice contains fructose, a type of sugar that helps your body metabolize alcohol faster. This is why dehydration caused due to a hangover can be compensated by taking freshly prepared tomato juice or soup.

Toast and Egg

Eating some slices of plain toast with an egg is a good idea to get over hangover symptoms. The carbohydrates in toast are a good source of recovery nutrients.