Perhaps you partied too late last night to celebrate an important event in your life or to nurse a broken heart – not that I recommend doing it. You were so engrossed you lost track of time as well as the number of bottles you have downed. You even barely remember how you managed to get home in one piece. The next morning, you wake up with a really, really bad throbbing headache that it renders you useless. You could not stand up because the pain is too intense. If only you could go back to sleep, but you have work – and your boss is asking you to meet him in thirty minutes’ time because you will be discussing your presentation.

Alcohol, when taken excessively, can cause very uncomfortable symptoms. You become too irritable, you experience muscle aches, you become overly sensitive to sound and light. Plus, you become dizzy, feel queasy and the worst thing of all is the pounding headache which can render you incapable of getting up and going about your daily routine. So how do you do the impossible? How do you get rid of the nasty headache? How do you remedy a terrible hangover?

• Drink a glass of lime juice mixed with sugar water

  When you have consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, your body’s internal balance is disturbed. Keep in mind that alcohol is a depressant and because of its effects, your bodily functions are depressed as well. Mixing sugar water and lime can help you recover from a terrible hangover. It helps stabilize your blood sugar levels and the lime does wonders to your liver by refreshing and activating it.

  In a glass of water, put a quarter teaspoon of sugar and 2 teaspoons of freshly squeezed lime juice and then mix thoroughly. Once the sugar has dissolved and the mixture is ready, drink it slowly. This hangover remedy has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for a long time already.

• Eat bananas

  Have you ever noticed that when you are drinking alcohol you are also making frequent trips to the restroom? The more alcohol you consume, the more you pee. This explains why drinking too much alcoholic beverage can leave you dehydrated. Excessive urinating can rid the body of potassium, a very important mineral that helps maintain the integrity of the cell as well as the proper function of the heart. The lack of potassium inside the body could lead to irregular heart rhythms which can be fatal if left uncorrected.

  If you have a really nasty hangover, chances are, your body is depleted of its potassium stores. This is why eating bananas is highly recommended. Bananas are packed with potassium which can help you recover faster.

• Take ginger

  Ever since we can remember, ginger has been the favorite remedy for people who are feeling nauseated and seasick. When you have a hangover, you actually feel like you are on board a ship travelling on very turbulent seas. If you have ginger ale at home, then drink it to remedy a nasty case of hangover. If you can ask someone to brew some ginger tea for you, that would be even better. Ask that person to use a fresh ginger root, cut it to about 12 slices and then dunk it in water, about 4 cups. For 10 minutes, allow it to boil. Afterwards, strain the mixture and incorporate the juice of one freshly squeezed orange, ½ lemon juice and half a cup of honey. Stir the mixture and then drink.

  If you don’t have ginger ale at home, or if you can’t make the tea, take in ginger capsule.

• Try some aromatherapy

  It’s amazing how the scent of some essential oils can relieve the disturbing symptoms of a hangover. Numerous studies have supported the health benefits of aromatherapy. Under your nose, put a drop of peppermint oil and you can immediately feel relief from nausea. When you are having an upset stomach, place 2 drops of coriander oil on it two times a day. The essential oil of orange or grapefruit can instantly lift your spirits – a boost which you surely need because hangover symptoms can turn you into one irritable, grouchy individual. The scent of lavender also has relaxing and soothing effects.

• Drink lots of water

  As previously mentioned, taking in too much alcohol can cause dehydration. Your constant urination doesn’t help either. Alcohol draws water away from your body cells and this leaves you weak. Truth is, dehydration is the culprit behind your hangover symptoms. Because water is essential to the proper functioning of your vital organs and the rest of your body, it would do you good if you replenish your lost water stores.

  During a particularly nasty case of hangover, stick to water. Avoid caffeinated and carbonated beverages. Water will help you replenish what you have lost and will help remedy dehydration.

• Eat asparagus

  A group of researchers coming from South Korea’s Jeju National University and the Institute of Medical Science revealed the results of their study saying that the minerals and amino acids found in asparagus exert a protective effect on the cells of the liver against alcohol toxins and can also help ease hangover. The result was published in the Journal of Food Science.

  Asparagus is a fairly popular vegetable that is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folic acid, thiamin, fiber and potassium. The vegetable is also well-known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and anti-cancer effects. It cannot be denied that over-consumption of alcohol can be toxic to the body, most especially to the cells of the liver where metabolism takes place. The protective effects of asparagus can help prevent liver damage from happening.

  Of course, the most effective way of preventing a hangover is to refrain from too much alcohol consumption. If you are out to celebrate and could not simply leave alcoholic beverages out of the equation, at least try to drink moderately. This would entail discipline from your part. True, some people might call you a kill-joy, but keep in mind that they will not be the ones who are going to suffer from a nasty hangover the following day.

Sources
voices.yahoo.com
health.howstuffworks.com
news.health.com