Did you drink too much last night? Headache, dry mouth, nausea? That’s a hangover for sure. But why does that happen? Let’s see scientifically why hangovers happen and how to cure them.

Hangovers are caused by a combination of the toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism (acetaldehyde), dehydration, and the depletion of vitamins A, B (particularly B6), and C triggered by the chemical action of alcohol on your system.

Some drinks give you worse hangovers than others due to the action of the impurities they contain. These impurities are called congeners. It’s ethyl alcohol (ethanol) that gets you drunk, but the amyl, butyl, methyl, propyl, and isopropyl alcohols that are also found in most beverages (sort of), and the concentration of these congeners determines how severe it will be your hangover. to be.

White (clear) spirits have fewer congeners than colored ones (vodka, gin, tequila instead of whiskey and cognac) as they are filtered. Another special “impurity” that really gives you a sick feeling after drinking is acetaldehyde, a byproduct of ethanol’s natural oxidation. This often contributes to the super headache one feels.

What can you do about it?

There are many folk cures and each country and culture seems to have its own. Below you can read the result of extensive research and the popularity of the cures among published articles found around the world.

Special rule: if you forget at night, take two oils containing Isobruphen. There are several names for this medicine, but DO NOT take aspirin or other similar medicines. Only Isobuphen seems to work, and other acetaminophen pain relievers can damage your liver.

Rule of thumb: Often called “dog hair that bites you.” A Bloody Mary cocktail seems to bring you back to normal. Paired with Isobuphen, a Bloody Mary can work quite spectacularly. Here is my recipe, taken from a famous Japanese restaurant in New York;

o A shot of vodka (use the best you can find)

or a pinch of lemon juice

or Worcestershire sauce

or 2 or 3 drops of Tabasco sauce or more if you can handle it

o Pepper, salt and celery salt

or 5 oz tomato juice

Over ice in a tall glass, add the spices and then the vodka.

Fill with tomato juice and stir.

Garnish with a celery stick and a lime wedge.

Special rules:

1. Take a hot shower

2. Do deep breathing exercises in front of an open window

3. Walk in place until your heart rate is approximately 115 beats per minute and then stop.

4. As you feel better, drink plenty of pure, clean water.

5. Eat bananas. Bananas contain high volumes of fructose and potassium, which is one of the things you lose a lot when you drink. Bananas are also a natural antacid that helps with nausea and they are high in magnesium that can help relax the blood vessels that hit and cause hangover headaches.

Obviously, one would not like to drink too much and suffer the consequences of a hangover the next day, but following the above rules will alleviate most or all of the symptoms.