Natural Ways to Cure and Prevent Your Next Hangover

For many, the dreaded hangover is a symptom of a night filled with just a little too much drinking. Some only have to experience it once to know their limits and never drink that much again. A hangover can have many different symptoms caused by many different factors.

Alcohol is a diuretic (dehydrator) and the loss of fluid can cause you to feel thirsty and experience a headache. The headache can also be caused by the relaxing effect of alcohol on the blood vessels. When the vessels relax, they open up. If the blood vessels of the head open up too much, you can experience pain. Your liver is responsible for the breakdown of ethanol, but the process inhibits the liver's ability to supply glucose to the rest of the body, including the brain. Since glucose is the brain's food, the lack of this chemical leads to a feeling of weakness and moodiness. The fatigue can also be caused by the build up of acids in the blood.

If you have the unfortunate experience of waking up one morning with a hangover, there are many natural ways that you can do to help alleviate the symptoms, or ways to prevent another hangover in the future.

Ginkgo. Although ginkgo is not approved by the FDA, other cultures have been using ginkgo seeds to prevent hangovers and cure them. Some studies in mice have shown that ginkgo seeds can help speed up the body's metabolism of alcohol, therefore helping to relieve the hangover symptoms.

Wintergreen and Willow Both of these herbs contain an aspirin-like compound called methyl-salicylate. Since aspirin can be hard on the stomach (which is the last thing you want if you're all ready hugging the toilet), taking one of these herbal supplements might be helpful.

Fructose. Some scientists say that fructose can speed up the body's metabolism of alcohol. You can simply eat a teaspoon of honey, which is at least 40% fructose, or add it to a wintergreen herbal tea for a double anti-hangover effect.

Really, the best way to cure a hangover is to prevent it from happening in the first place. If you feel yourself starting to get a little tipsy, put the drink down. Drink clear beverages such as vodka and stay away from the darker ones like bourbon. The darker the drink, them more impurities it contains and those impurities contribute to hangovers. Never drink on an empty stomach and never drink alone. Having someone with you to help you realize when you might have had a little too much just might save your life.