So, stop swearing that you'll never drink again, open those bleary, bloodshot eyes and take a gander at our top recommendations. We may not be doctors but we have experienced a fair few hangovers in our time and we can vouch that these recommended hangover cures, although often weird and wonderful, may well kick your throbbing head into touch and have you back out on the razz. And if they don't? Well, you've got no-one to blame but yourself.
- Bloody Mary
A classic - the appeal being the combination of the vitamins in the tomato juice, the alcohol and the spice. Add a shot of vodka (try Absolut Pepper), to a shaker half full of ice, then add 200ml of tomato juice, 2-10 dashes of Tabasco sauce (depending on pepper tolerance), a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce, a teaspoon of horseradish sauce, a dash of port or red wine, the juice of quarter of a lemon, and a grind of salt and pepper. Shake and strain into an ice-filled glass. The best bit? You don't have to stop propping up the bar for it to start working.
- Prairie Oyster
Can you handle it? It sounds pretty disgusting but its reputation as a cure-all treatment is legendary. Separate an egg into yolk and white, and add the white to a tumbler. Add a small measure of brandy, a hefty dash of both Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce, a small amount of malt vinegar, a splash of tomato juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir vigorously, and then carefully add the yolk, without breaking it. The idea is to down the entire concoction, swallowing the yolk whole. Gulp.
- Can of Coke and Two Ibubrofen
Available from the nearest corner shop. Quick, basic, no nonsense. It’s based on the theory that alcohol makes your brain swell, hence the throbbing headache and that ibuprofen reduces swelling. The can of coke is just to give you the sugar rush necessary to stumble out of bed. Replace the coke with an isotonic drink to combat dehydration, or Berocca for an added vitamin blast.
- Fernet-Branca
A popular Italian digestif that’s supposed to be very good at soothing your stomach and enhancing your health generally. Made from aromatic myrrh, rhubarb, chamomile, cardamom, aloe, and saffron, the legendary Soho boozer Daniel Farson was a firm believer in its medicinal properties. Try a small splash of the stuff over ice, with a ginger ale chaser.
- Full English Breakfast
A good, old-fashioned British tradition when it comes to hangover cures. Usually consists of sausage, eggs, bacon, toast and mushrooms, tomatoes or beans. Combine with fresh air and exercise by having it at a cafe, or if you’re up to buying the ingredients - maybe even prepared enough to stock them already - use dry cured bacon, free-range eggs and quality sausages. The combination of protein and carbohydrate is ideal for soaking up any excess alcohol - and it's a fairly healthy option if you grill rather than fry the bacon and sausages.
- Rassol
A favourite hangover cure in Russia. It’s basically salty water that has been used to boil cabbage which is reputed to be very tasty, and a fail proof cure if you're Russian.
- Lemon Slices
Rub lemon slices under your armpits. Sounds like a joke, but this is supposedly a top holistic hangover cure. The theory is that lemon juice helps you retain fluid that guards against dehydration thereby staving off hangover headaches.
- Ginger Tea
A Chinese remedy for the common cold, but ginger's stomach-settling properties make it eminently suitable for tackling hangovers. Chop a golf ball-sized chunk of fresh ginger into small pieces, and boil it for 20 minutes. Strain it into a mug, add sugar or honey, and drink it down hot. Failing that, try flat ginger ale.
- Water
The simplest, and oldest hangover remedy. Down some before you fall asleep if you can. Otherwise, get gulping as soon as you wake up. A spoonful of honey added to a mug of herbal tea is another good way to rehydrate if you're feeling fragile. Before you know it you'll be getting the rounds in again.
Content updated: 26/05/2012 17:12
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