Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — Did you greet the first day of 2023 affected by alcoholic beverages?
If so, then surely you are looking for a way to ease your suffering.
There are a lot of what people refer to as hangover cures, some of which go back centuries.
But in reality, the only cure for hangovers is time, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
There may be things you can do to make it easier, experts say, but many common “treatments” may make your condition worse.
Here are myths and facts about alcohol hangover treatment:
Myth: Drinking more alcohol is good
Doing so is wrong according to experts.
The reason why some believe this method works is that the brain that suffers from the effects of alcohol is stimulated once the sedative effects of alcohol have passed.
“If you look at the brain of someone who is suffering from the effects of alcohol, even though the person may feel tired, their brain is actually overexcited,” said Dr. Robert Swift, professor of psychiatry and human behavior at Brown University’s Warren Albert School of Medicine.
Swift asserted that consuming more alcohol normalizes the brain again “because you’re adding a tranquilizer to your overexcited brain,” then added, “You’ll feel better until the alcohol wears off, and the cycle repeats in some way.”
Fact: Drinking coffee speeds up the healing process
Dr. John Brick, former head of research at the Center for the Study of Alcohol, Department of Education and Training at Rutgers University in New Jersey, and author of “The Doctor’s Hangover Handbook,” says the answer is yes, depending on the symptoms present.
And if you already drink coffee, skipping your morning cup of this beverage could lead to caffeine withdrawal symptoms in addition to suffering from the effects of alcohol.
But Brick noted that coffee can irritate a stomach lining that’s already inflamed by alcohol, so if you’re feeling nauseous, coffee could make things worse.
Myth: Eating fatty foods is good
Swift recommended avoiding a greasy breakfast after a night of drinking, saying, “Fatty foods are hard to digest, so it might be a good idea to avoid them.”
Instead, experts suggest using food to prevent the effects of alcohol by consuming it before consuming your first drink. “Eating food that is loaded with protein and carbohydrates can significantly slow the absorption of alcohol,” Brick explained.
He also added, “The slower the alcohol gets to your brain, the slower the shock rate to your brain.”
Fact: Drinking electrolytes is beneficial
Alcohol causes dehydration, so headaches and other symptoms of alcohol drinking may be due in part to narrowed blood vessels and a loss of electrolytes and essential minerals such as sodium, calcium and potassium that your body needs.
Swift confirmed that replacing lost fluids with water, or a type of sports drink rich in additional electrolytes, can contribute to recovery from the effects of alcohol.
Myth: Taking acetaminophen before bed can block the effects of alcohol
Experts say taking over-the-counter pain relievers can be dangerous, especially if you take a lot of them while you’re drunk.
Taking acetaminophen, like Tylenol, can do more damage to your already overworked liver, while aspirin and ibuprofen can irritate your stomach lining.
Fact: Drink as much water as possible
While the liver handles most of the alcohol in your body, only a small amount leaves the body untouched through sweat, urine, and breath.
Brick recommended getting up to do some stretches, or taking a walk, and drinking plenty of water to encourage urination.
And if you’d rather drink something warm, Brick suggested home-made soup.
Myth: Alcohol pills can help you recover
Store shelves are full of so-called hangover cures, and unfortunately there is no evidence that they work.
And in 2020, researchers published the results of a trial of supplements containing vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and antioxidants, and found no real improvement in symptoms of the effects of alcohol.
And even if one solution works, it probably won’t improve all symptoms, according to experts.