Hangovers: real cures

You may feel like a bacon and egg sarnie or a Bloody Mary but the experts have different ideas as to what cures a hangover. We ask them to tell us their secret remedies.

The doctor - Timothy Peters professor of clinical biochemistry at King's College Hospital:

"Drink water. The reason we feel so bad after drinking is primarily because our bodies are dehydrated. Most of the nasty symptoms of a hangover including headache, dizziness, thirst, paleness and tremors are caused by dehydration. The reason is that alcohol is a diuretic, as it stops the production of the body's anti-diuretic hormone. The kidneys, therefore, direct fluids straight to the bladder, making you urinate excessively and therefore speeding up the loss of fluid from the body, causing dehydration. Therefore the best way to prevent a hangover is to drink plenty of fluid before going to bed. And then again when you get up."

The fitness trainer - Marco Gasco, fitness manager at the Harbour Club:

"A brisk walk can speed up recovery, but don't overdo it as heavy sessions at the gym when your body is dehydrated are not advisable. A swim can be quite refreshing. It will get the blood flowing around the body and breaking into a mild sweat will help to release toxins. Anyone who does exercise will have to remember they can't do their normal work-out with the same zest. But if you feel dizzy, stop immediately.î

The acupuncturist - Phil Hochhauser:

"Take some aloe vera juice, yoghurt or green tea to cool the liver down. If you have bloodshot eyes after a night drinking, it's often due to the liver overheating. Another way to tell is by examining your tongue - if it is bright red then your organs are too hot. However, if it is pale then it hasn't overheated, but you may need to take some ginger to stimulate digestion.î

The nutritionist - Collette Kelly from the British Nutrition
Foundation:

"Eat nuts and cereals, which include all five B vitamins, as well as meat, cheese and yoghurt, which also contain them. During the metabolising process your liver will be using up vitamins and minerals. Therefore you will need to eat foods to replace your depleted stocks. Some people during a hangover suffer from muscle twitches usually caused by a lack of potassium, which is needed by cells to communicate with each other. Bananas are a rich source of this and so are green leafy vegetables, such as sprouts, broccoli, spinach, and fish as well.î

The yoga teacher - Mary Mackie from the British Wheel of Yoga:

"Relaxed, deep breathing can help to flush out toxins. Drink lots of fluids as well. If you find yourself drinking excessively often, practising yoga regularly will help you to learn how to control your general urges and prevent you from drinking too much. And learning to meditate encourages you to start respecting your body instead of abusing it.î

The chef - Richard Corrigan, of the English Garden in Chelsea:

"Artichoke and milk thistle is a famous herbal aid and it may help digestion.î

The nurse - Pat Hutcheon, registered nurse:

"Drink at least one pint of water before you go to bed and take a jug of it with you in case you wake up feeling thirsty in the night. You can take Dioralyte the next day. It's for diarrhoea and vomiting and is essentially sugar and salt, and so works quite well with hangovers, too, but it's important to combine it with lots of fluids.î

The barman - Peter Dorelli, head barman at The Savoy's American Bar:

"The Corpse Reviver is a triedandtested cure which has been passed down from barman to barman at The Savoy since the 1920s. It is one-third white creme de menthe, one-third brandy and one-third Fernet Branca. Drink this as a magic quick fix as it works within 15 minutes, but you need to have food afterwards or the hangover will come back and hit you twofold. A hangover is caused by dehydration and a loss of minerals, sugar and salt. For people who care about their health, more alcohol is probably not the thing and so I would recommend an excellent remedy which is both cheap and easy to make at home. It's orange juice and honey and replaces lost fluids, vitamin C and sugar. It reacts in the body very quickly (maximum 20 minutes to half an hour) and puts back all those missing things.î

The holistic beauty guru - Bharti Vyas, beauty therapist:

"If you have puffy eyes, use some moisturiser or a little oil and, with your ring finger, massage the point where the top of your nose meets the beginning of your eyebrows. Massage this acupressure point four or five times to clear the lymphatic system.î

The acupressure expert - Steve Kippax, joint head of medical services,
The Third Space Medicine:

"Go to your pharmacist and buy some Nux Vomica. It's a homeopathic remedy which will lift your mood and stop you having a headache or feeling sick. Suck two pills every couple of hours for three or four doses. If you're feeling nauseous, get some seasickness bands which press an acupressure point on the wrist. Alternatively, flex your hand a little until you see creases on the inside of the wrist. Find a point three fingers down from the first wrist crease and press quite hard. For headaches, find the bone at the outside corner of your eye, then press the pressure point half an inch further out.î

The aromatherapist - Martin Stroud, natural-healthcare practitioner:

"One of the simplest things is to put a tiny bit of lavender oil on the temples as this will quieten and ease you. If you have to go to work, then lemon or grapefruit essential oil dabbed on your temples or the back of your neck will support the liver, as this is the organ really hit by rich food and alcohol. As well as being refreshing, this improves alertness and accuracy. Another tip is to apply rose oil to the solar plexus (to find this, follow a central line down your ribcage until it suddenly goes soft). Be careful with using neat oils if you have sensitive skin. Mix a tiny splash of vegetable oil with a drop of essential oil before applying, or use a non-scented base cream.î

The pub-and-bar critic - Edward Sullivan, of the Evening Standard:

"I take Berocca in a pint of water before I go to bed. It replaces all the B and C vitamins in a massive dose so it can get working during the night. For a hangover breakfast the next day, don't have a fry-up. Your blood-sugar levels are low and your brain is sending confused messages making you want grease, but what you really need is water, a bowl of cereal, some fruit and a slice of toast. This will kick-start your energy levels for the day and get rid of beer breath.î

The detox expert - Jane Scrivner, author of The Quick-Fix Hangover Detox:

"Eat a healthy breakfast of muesli or porridge. These will provide slow-releasing energy. The toxic alcohol will have pickled your insides. The liver will be working to metabolise it. Avoid a big carbohydrate binge as it may give you an energy rush that lasts for five to 10 minutes, but then makes you feel sleepy. Eat little and often - your body will need energy through food regularly throughout the day as the liver continues to metabolise the alcohol. Also, drink fruit juices which provide energy and help to rehydrate your body.î