Health Conditions from A to Z

 

Hangover

Hangover is not a health condition, but feelings of discomfort that follow excess drinking of alcohol the night before. The most common symptoms of hangover are headache, fatigue, "brain fog", grogginess, and sometimes nausea. In some cases, hangover can lead to vomiting as the body attempts to expel the residual alcohol that remains in the person's system.

What To Consider

Excess alcohol consumption is a health hazard. If you find yourself experiencing hangover on a regular basis, you could be suffering from alcohol addiction, in which case you should seek immediate medical attention and counseling.

Self-Care Tips

Diet
Eat a piece of dry whole grain bread before drinking or before going to bed. This will help absorb alcohol and minimize after-effects. Upon awakening the next morning, drink a glass of orange juice or tomato juice. To counteract the dehydration that results from excess alcohol consumption, drink several glasses of pure, filtered water before going to bed and upon rising, preferably adding the juice of a fresh-squeezed lemon if available.

Nutritional Supplementation
The following supplements are advised: vitamin B complex, vitamin C, and lipotropic factors that contain cysteine and folic acid to aid in liver detoxification.

Supplementing with the amino acid glutamine (2 grams taken in divided doses throughout the day, away from meals) can also help. More importantly, glutamine has been shown to significantly reduce the craving for alcohol in 90 percent of cases.

Aromatherapy
Rosemary, rose, and fennel are useful essential oils for reducing the effects of hangover.

Flower Essences
Take Rescue Remedy for accompanying stress; Olive for exhaustion, and Hornbeam for mental tiredness related to excess alcohol consumption and to help relieve hangover.

Herbs
Digestive bitter herbs can help clear a hangover if taken first thing in the morning or last thing the night before. Take 1/4 teaspoon of a tincture combination of digestive bitters or, as an alternative, combine gentian, mugwort, and dandelion root tinctures and take in the same amount.

Homeopathy
Nux vom., Arsen alb., Aconite, Sulfur, and Lachesis are helpful homeopathic remedies.

Hydrotherapy
Take a hot shower followed by 2-5 minutes of a cold shower. The bracing effects of such a shower will help shake off feelings of grogginess and fatigue.

Caution

If your symptoms persist despite the above measures, seek the help of a qualified health professional.

Back to Health Conditions A to Z

All material © 2019 Procuring Wellness. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of Procuring Wellness's terms of use and privacy policy. The information provided in this Web site is intended for your general knowledge only, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Please see your personal physician immediately if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen.