quarta-feira, 6 de fevereiro de 2008

Natural Remedies for a Hangover

by Cindy Amorin



Symptoms of a Hangover,
Causes of Hangover Symptoms &
Natural Remedies for a Hangover

Symptoms of a hangover...

The music was great, the dancing was fun, and the drinks were abundant and superb, but what about that next day thumbing hangover?

The symptoms of a hangover include:

* Thirst
* Fatigue
* Shakiness and tremors
* Headaches
* Muscle aches
* Sensitivity to light and noise
* Dizziness or as if the room is spinning
* Nausea and vomiting
* Stomach pain
* Sweating
* Decreased quantity and quality of sleep
* Difficulty concentrating
* Redness of the eyes
* Rapid heartbeat
* Mood disturbances, especially anxiety, irritability, and depression

Side Note: The symptoms of a hangover differ for each individual.

Indeed, most everyone is aware that a hangover is caused by drinking too much alcohol. However, for some people, having one alcoholic drink is enough to trigger a hangover, while others may drink heavily and entirely escape the nasty effects of a hangover. In general, most people who drink to the point of intoxication will experience a hangover the next day.

What causes symptoms of a hangover?

There are various factors that may contribute to hangover severity such as:

Alcohol increases urination. Needless to say, urinating more than usual can lead to dehydration. Dehydration from excessive urination is what causes thirst. In addition, dehydration is often characterized by dizziness and lightheadedness.

Alcohol can irritate the lining of the stomach, increases stomach acid production and delays stomach emptying, which can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Alcohol can cause a lack of refreshing sleep, which, in turn, may leave you groggy and fatigued.

Alcohol can cause blood sugar regulation disturbance. More specifically, alcohol can cause your blood sugar to fall too low and, as such, you may experience fatigue, weakness, shakiness and mood changes.

Alcohol dilates blood vessels, which can lead to headaches.

Alcoholic beverages contain alcohol by-products called congeners that seem to increase the severity of a hangover. Congeners are toxic impurities that can have a great impact in adding to your woes. Clear liquors such as gin and vodka have fewer congeners, whereas dark liquors, such as brandy and whiskey have larger amounts. Champagne is also a notorious cause of hangovers as well as some sweet wines.

Lastly, acetaldehyde, a chemical created when the body processes alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor that causes hangover symptoms.

In a nutshell, experiencing hangover symptoms is nature's way of letting you know that as far as your body is concerned, alcohol is a poison.

Cures for a hangover...

The only real cure for a hangover is time. Your body needs time to process the toxins out of your system. But there are several natural remedies that may ease the symptoms of a hangover. However, keep in mind that what works for one person may not for another, so choose your own weapon as your hangover symptoms buster.

Natural remedies for a hangover...

The following may ease symptoms of a hangover:

Water - Drink lots of water throughout the day to rehydrate your body. Hangover discomforts arise partially from dehydration.

Banana milkshake - Replace lost nutrients, such as magnesium and potassium, with a stimulating banana milkshake (made from a half a glass of milk and one large ripe banana) sweetened with honey (two tablespoons). The honey raises blood sugar levels, which is lowered by excessive alcohol intake and the bananas are rich in important electrolytes, magnesium and potassium, which are severely depleted during heavy drinking. Milk soothes the stomach and rehydrates the system.

Fruit Juices - Nutritionists recommend fruit juices diluted with water or seltzer and consumed at two times the volume of the amount of alcohol you have drunk. It is said that fruit juices help the body to burn alcohol.

Vitamins - Several experts recommend taking a B-complex vitamin supplement, which helps to replace the B-vitamins lost while drinking.

Liver Detoxifying Herbs- The herbs dandelion and milk thistle have been used to aid detoxification of the liver and blood.

Nausea Helpers - Crackers and honey may ease nausea. Ginger tea is also used to counter nausea. To make tea use 1 cup of boiling water, add 1 tsp of dried ginger or 2 tsp of grated fresh ginger. Remove from the heat and steep in a covered pan for 10 minutes.

Headache Busters - White willow bark contains a natural form of salicylate, the active ingredient in aspirin and, as such, it may soothe a hangover headache. Drink hot as a tea -- made with 1 cup water simmered with 2 tsp bark in a covered pan for 10 minutes -- or chew on the bark.

When to seek medical help?

Call your physician if you are concerned that you have developed or are at risk of developing a dependency on alcohol -- or you can't control you're drinking.

Final note ....

We strongly recommend that if you do drink alcohol, you do so with moderation and caution. In addition, because of alcohol's effects on driving ability, never drive after drinking.






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