What do pickled sheep’s eye, rabbit dropping soup and the skull of a hanged man have in common? They were all used as hangover cures in the past. Ironically, they’d probably make any present-day dude with a hangover groan at the mere thought. Thankfully, those days are far behind us. Well, kind of. While arguably less disgusting, we still have some ridiculous hangover cures dangling about, ranging from asinine (e.g. hair of the dog) to just plain dangerous (e.g. saunas). Wondering what you can do about your next toxicity binge? Plan ahead for your St.Patty’s Day hangover with a few of these DIY remedies.
Hydrate
It’s nothing new that drinking plenty of water before, during, and after binge drinking can help ease the effects of a hangover, but it isn’t necessary to limit yourself to just H2O. “Juice, water, Gatorade, all those things—they’re going to make you feel better,” says Dr. Charles Cutler, chair of the American College of Physicians’ board of governors. Another known trick is to mix tomato juice with sugar, lime and cayenne pepper to help re-balance your blood sugar and replenish electrolytes.
Wasabi Bath
“As much as a third of toxic body waste is cleared through the skin,” How Stuff Works says. “So doesn’t it suddenly make complete sense to soak in a tub of toxin-purging wasabi?” Part of the cabbage family, wasabi is known to clear the metabolic waste of cells by promoting oxygenation of cellular tissue and increasing the blood circulation of organs. By taking a wasabi bath, some of the destruction created from a night of drinking can be siphoned out through your skin like a suckerfish. Only a little less scary.
Honey Sammich
Honey has been viewed as a natural, purifying element for all sorts of situations for thousands of years. With so much staying power, suffice it to say there’s probably something to it. With its anti-inflammatory components, honey is often used these days for epidermal problems such as acne. But when it comes to hangover sufferers, it’s highly recommended to eat a honey sandwich, preferably on whole wheat bread. If you have allergies, go for local organic honey since it will less likely include allergens ranging from pollen to beestings.
Banana Smoothie
In case you didn’t know (though you really should), drinking causes a loss of important vitamins and minerals. Bring them back with a powerhouse food like bananas. But instead of just chowing down, opt to kill two birds with one stone by making a banana smoothie. Blend 2 ripe bananas, 1 ½ cups milk, and 3 tablespoons honey (see?!) and drink it down to replace those lost nutrients, hydrate yourself and coat your upset stomach.
Just Say No
We know you don’t want to hear it, but drinking at any degree is creating a toxic environment within your body. Any ill effects created by drinking are simply your body’s defenses telling you that you did something a tad dumb. In the end, “the only way to avoid a pounding head and queasiness the morning after is to drink in moderation, or to stay away from alcohol entirely,” says Health.com. But if the idea of never drinking again destroys you, consider easing up a bit and pacing yourself. According to Dr. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin of the Mayo Clinic, “your body metabolizes each beer (or wine or shot) in about 60 to 75 minutes.” In the end, limit your drinks to one every hour and you shouldn’t be regretting it in the morning.
