What is a hangover?

A hangover, medically known as veisalgia, is caused due to the consumption of large amounts of alcohol or some other drug. Hangover is most commonly associated with the after-effects of large consumption of alcohol. This article summarizes the cures and remedies available for alcohol hangovers.

Symptoms

Dry mouth
Your mouth will feel very dry and you will feel that strong urge for wetting your tongue and throat.

Headache remedy using Cinnamon
Heads feels very heavy and sometime here could be throbbing and painful. You feel sleepy and drowsy.

Bloodshot eyes
Your eyes may look swollen and will be slightly or very red in color. Your eyes may also dislike exposure to light.

Nausea and Vomiting
Strange sensation in the stomach with a feeling of Nausea and Vomiting.

Dizzy feeling
You feel drowsy when you wake up. There is a very strong urge of going back to Sleep.

Raging headaches.   Alcohol intoxication seems to produce dilation of the blood vessels that surround the brain, which may contribute to the headache in some people. Alcohol also has an effect on some neurotransmitters, increasing levels of serotonin or histamine that may trigger headaches.

Dehydration.  Ever wake up after a night of heavy alcohol consumption and wonder why your tongue is stuck to the roof of your mouth? Dehydration, also partly to blame for headaches and Nausea, is the culprit. It causes excess urination by stopping the release of a hormone that helps the body hold on to fluid. Also sweating, Vomiting, and Diarrhea that sometimes accompany excess drinking can cause a person to become dehydrated. The signs of dehydration can be dizziness, lightheadedness, thirst, and weakness -- symptoms that are felt during a hangover.

Fatigue. The day after a night of drinking and revelry, you're probably wiped out. That's because alcohol disrupts Sleep. Alcohol can work as a sedative to help promote Sleep. But alcohol has an effect on Sleep quality. People who drink alcohol tend to have Sleep maintenance insomnia -- you wake up too soon and then you can't get back to Sleep.

Causes

Excessive alcohol consumption

Ethyl alcohol or ethanol causes a lot of dehydration which causes your mouth to go dry and also is responsible for the headaches.

Hangover Cures

Hangover cure using water
•    Consume a lot of water before you go to bed. This should provide some relief to the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Drink lots of water even after you wake up.
•    Hangover remedy: eat some food - It’s a good practice to eat something before, during and after you are drinking. This helps reduce the rate at which alcohol enters your blood and thus can help reduce the after-effects.
•    Hangover remedy: Vitamin C - Take vitamin C tablets. These help break down the alcohol content in your body.

Tips:

Before the hangover hits, you can do some damage control. Here are some of the old-fashioned remedies you may have heard of that really work.
•    Choose your beverage of choice wisely. "A couple of studies show that alcoholic beverages that are mainly just alcohol and water, like vodka and gin, produce less severe hangovers, while other compounds that contain congeners -- brandy, whisky, red wine, to name a few -- tend to produce more severe hangovers.
•    Eat before you drink. The alcohol is absorbed more slowly when you have food in your stomach.  A piece of bread or muffin helps to absorb the alcohol in the stomach before it enters the bloodstream.
•    Pace yourself. Having a nonalcoholic drink between each alcoholic beverage, which helps to maintain a low blood alcohol level, and keeps you hydrated.
•    Replenish lost fluids. Before you put your head on the pillow, guzzle some water or other nonalcoholic drink, but avoid caffeine. Like alcohol, it has a diuretic effect and may contribute to hangover symptoms.
•    Take over-the-counter pain relief before the headache hits. Experts warn, however, to avoid acetaminophen (Tylenol), a common aspirin alternative. Too much acetaminophen is toxic to the liver. Alcohol can disrupt the metabolism of acetaminophen, making it even more toxic to the liver.  Although the risk of liver damage from the combination is minimal, it's possible.

Treatment

Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
Chamomile is a mild sedative and antispasmodic.  It can help the nauseous feeling you get in the morning after a night of binging.  A cup of Chamomile tea upon awakening and throughout the day.

Milk Thistle (Silibum marianum)
Protects against damage to the liver by drinking.  It is essential for cirrhosis, and powerfully regenerates damaged liver tissue.  If one is to continue drinking, it would be wise to include Milk Thistle in your daily cup of tea.

Skullcap (Scutellaria latirifolia)
This herb is a restorative for the emotional and nervous systems and good for long-term balancing.  It helps ease the pain of the headache and restores a restful Sleep.  1 capsule of 430mg  Skullcap, 3 times a day while experiencing hangover symptoms.  Or add 1tsp of dried herb to the Chamomile tea.