Happy 2012!
…oooh…sorry, that was probably too loud for you, hmm? Today is International Hangover Day, also known as January 1, and if you’re either still lying in bed feeling sorry for yourself, or you’re upright but wish that you weren’t, then you’ve come to the right place.
This is your official guide to getting past that hangover so that you can start your New Year off on the right foot. But don’t worry: you’re not alone. Historical records of hangovers go back to Biblical times. In Isaiah 5:11 you can find: “Woe to those who rise early in the morning…who stay up late in the evening that wine may inflame them!” I think “woe” is the right word for mornings like this. So let’s get into it.
Why Am I Feeling Like This?
You’ve probably got a ripper of a headache right now, so I’ll put it in little words for you:
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it removes water and fluids from your body. With that loss of fluid comes a loss of important salts (such as potassium and magnesium) and vitamins (like A, B6, and C). Blood-sugar levels are also affected, and toxins from the alcohol can stay in your body long after you stop drinking. That’s what causes hangovers and is making you feel like hell right now.
What’s Happening to Me?
(According to MayoClinic.com)
Hangover symptoms can include: tiredness, dry mouth, thirst, headaches, muscle aches, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, shortened or poor sleep, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, bloodshot eyes, increased heartbeat, problems concentrating, shakiness, anxiety, or depression.
Am I Dying?
No, you’re not dying. Just recite the Hangover Recovery Prayer (“I am never drinking again. I am never drinking again.”) several times and stick with me. We’ll get through this together.
How Can I Make it Stop?
There’s a lot of ideas and information out there, so I’m going to help you sort through it. Since one of the problems you’re dealing with is alcohol still in your system, then there’s not much you can do until it naturally works its way out, so you’re forced to wait it out. In the meantime, there are some things you can do to help ease the pain.
The following suggestions are from RUPissed.com:
Coke – Fizz for the nausea, liquid for the dehydration, and a caffeine and sugar hit to make you feel a bit more lively.
Coffee – Same as Coke but without the bubbles to help ease the nausea. Try it with honey instead of sugar since the fructose is absorbed quicker than the sucrose in normal sugar, and it’s better for you.
Ginseng – It’s been noted that since caffeine is a diuretic like alcohol, it can actually make the dehydration worse, so try the herbal equivalent instead.
Vitamin C – Another thing the alcohol takes out that you’re advised to put back in as soon as possible. Orange juice, tomato juice, a 600mg Vitamin C tablet – doesn’t matter, just do it.
Bananas – Sugar in the form of fructose, and potassium, which is one of the things you lose lots of when you drink. Bananas are also a natural antacid to help with the nausea, and are high in magnesium which can help relax those pounding blood vessels causing that hangover headache. For a variety of reasons try a peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich on white bread.
The following suggestions are from About.com:
Water – at least twice the amount of water as alcohol you drank.
Sugar – alcohol lowers your blood sugar levels.
Pain Relief Tablets – Avoid aspirin as the alcohol has probably already made your stomach lining rather sensitive.
The following suggestions are from Forbes.com:
Prickly Pear – A recent study by researchers at Tulane University found that extract from prickly pears eases a few hangover symptoms such as nausea, dry mouth and loss of appetite. Check out vitamin companies for supplements
Berocca – Not available in the U.S. (sorry, Americans), but this Bayer-branded multivitamin is a favorite hangover cure in the U.K. and Australia.
Sports Drinks – To replace the electrolytes your body loses when drinking.
Do You Have Any Personal Recommendations?
You’re in luck. I asked for advice from my friends who’ve been in this situation more than anyone else I know. Here’s what they told me:
Alcoholic Friend Who Likes to Drink #1: Gatorade for the dehydration, and greasy food for the stomach. Greasy food works best if you feel like you have to puke. Anything will do: McDonald’s hash browns, a local diner that cooks scrambled eggs on the same grill as last night’s cheeseburgers, or if you’re lying on the floor of your living room and can’t stand up, try pulling yourself over to that seemingly empty pizza box in the corner, because some cold (well, room temperature) pizza can do the trick.
Alcoholic Friend Who Likes to Drink #2: When you get up, take some Advil with a LOT of water and try to go back to sleep. If that doesn’t work, switch to Bloody Marys.
Alcoholic Friend Who Likes to Drink #3: Soup is the way to go. If you’ve got Asian restaurants nearby, try ramen or pho. If not, plain old tomato soup works best.
Just Keep Drinking!
Of course, there’s some people out there who’ll tell you that the only way to get over your hangover is to start drinking again. If you can’t even THINK about alcohol right now, then just scan down to the next section, because this isn’t for you. If that idea doesn’t sound half-bad, then here’s some ideas for you:
The Bloody Mary is the classic alcoholic version of a hangover remedy. Smirnoff.com recommends the following recipe:
- 1 oz vodka
- 4 oz Tomato Juice
- 1/2 oz Worcestershire Sauce
- 1/4 oz Tabasco Sauce
- Optional: Pinch of salt and pepper
- Lemon Slice
Directions: Pour all ingredients over cubed ice in a highball glass, and stir well.
The Bloody Bull is a variation that is a personal favorite of mine. Hangovercocktails.com suggests the following way to make it:
- 2 cups Vodka
- 2 cups Spicy Tomato Juice or Spicy Vegetable Juice
- 1 cup canned double-strength Beef Broth
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
- Splash Tabasco (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Fresh Ground Pepper
- Celery Stick
Directions: In a pitcher, combine all ingredients except celery stick with ice and mix thoroughly. Prepare glasses by salting rim. Add fresh ice to glass and pour. Insert celery stick and enjoy!
The Corpse Reviver #2 is an old-school drink described in Savoy Cocktail Book (1930) by Harry Craddock for just our purpose, as the drink’s name suggests. But be careful, because as Craddock himself cautions: “four of these taken in straight succession will unrevive the corpse again.” Here’s how to make it:
Or, if that’s too loud for you:
- 1 shot gin
- 1 shot Cointreau
- 1 shot Lillet Blanc
- 1 shot fresh lemon juice
- Dash of absinthe or substitute (I used roughly ¼ teaspoon)
Directions: Shake well with ice and strain in to a cocktail glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.
What’s Next?
Be patient. These things take time. The only important thing to remember is that even after sleeping, you can still be quite drunk, so no driving or talking to your boyfriend/girlfriend’s mother.
And as the old belief goes: what you do on January 1 is what you’ll be doing all year. So take care of yourself and go about enjoying the rest of your holiday.
Here’s to a fantastic 2012…quietly. And slowly.