A common definition of the word is “something that remains from what is past.”
Know what the word is? No? Here’s another hint — you just might be experiencing it right now if your New Year’s Eve celebration was fueled by more spirits than sense.
Yep, the word is hangover, also defined as the, “disagreeable physical effects following heavy consumption of alcohol ...” Disagreeable physical effects like cotton mouth, thirst, headache, nausea and sensitivity to noise and light, just to name a few of the multitude of symptoms that can accompany a hangover.
And if you already didn’t feel bad enough, did you know a hangover can last up to two or three days?
All right, already! You know what you have and you want some good news right? Like a cure, maybe?
Darn! It’s just not going to happen. Medical experts say there is no proven scientific cure. But there is light at the end of the hangover tunnel — the malady does eventually run its course.
If you don’t think you can survive waiting for nature to reverse the damage, there are lots of home remedies you can try, from eating raw persimmons to ease that headache to drinking sauerkraut or pickle juice to replace lost nutrients, or trying prickly pear cactus extract, said to ease nausea and counteract dry mouth.
Don’t happen to have any cactus extract lying around the house or a bottle of sauerkraut juice lurking in the refrigerator?
Here are more ideas from the long, long, long list of antidote suggestions that can be found on the Internet. While none of these remedies have been proven to offer any real assistance, they will give you something to do while you wait for the only known treatment to work — time.
• Sleep it off — Sleep lets you recover in a blissful state of unconsciousness.
• Try a banana smoothie or shake — Bananas may help ease upset stomachs and are full of good-for-you nutrients.
• Chicken soup — Hey, it’s a feel-better-when-you’re-sick standard.
• Drink plenty of liquids, but go easy on the caffeine — Caffeine dehydrates the body, something your body is already experiencing.
• Avoid over-the-counter painkillers — While they may give some immediate relief they can be hard on the stomach, kidneys and liver.
• Exercise — You’re already in pain, so why not gain some benefits from a good workout or maybe even a snail-paced walk.
• Scalp massage — Increasing the circulation may help relieve a headache and, if not, it will still feel good.
• Vitamins — C, the Bs or a multivitamin, take your pick. They may not help, but they can’t hurt.
• Shower — Keep switching the temperature from hot to cold. The theory is you’re body will be in such shock, you’ll forget all about your hangover.
And, of course, no list would be complete without the old “Hair of the Dog That Bit You” option. However, instead of downing another of whatever gave you the hangover in the first place, those who claim this antidote really works recommend a Bloody Mary.
The idea is that tomato juice, hot sauce and celery really do have some health benefits and, if you’re really serious about feeling better, eliminate the vodka from the recipe and sip away.
