Hangover Herbs, Natural Cures and Alternative Remedies

You wake up and you know it immediately -- this is going to be an unpleasant morning. Yes, you have a hangover. As you stumble out of bed and stagger into the bathroom and kitchen to search for a morning hangover cure, your first instinct is to probably pop some aspirin and brew some coffee. But try to strive for a natural hangover treatment instead. There are some cheap yet effective alternative hangover remedies, herbal teas and supplements worthy of consideration.

Beware of caffeine

To treat hangover symptoms, your natural reaction may be to drink a caffeinated beverage. Not so fast! Your body is already out of balance, so why put more drugs in it? In fact, coffee may actually worsen your hangover symptoms since it is a diuretic and it can make an alcohol ravaged body feel more jittery than it already is.

Try a natural caffeine alternative for your morning hangover cure. The herb panax ginseng (sometimes labeled Asian or Korean Ginseng) is one natural hangover treatment known to boost mental alertness as well as physical endurance. If you "must" opt for some caffeine to treat hangover symptoms, the herbs Guarana and Green Tea are other alternative hangover remedies known for their ability to boost energy while delivering less caffeine than coffee. In addition, they also provide your body with other beneficial natural healing properties. Guarana is usually sold in pill or capsule form or as part of energy store drinks, while Green Tea is most often consumed in tea form but is also available in capsule or pill form at specialty supplement stores.

Other noteworthy alternative hangover remedies

Taking Milk Thistle herbal extract helps treat hangover symptoms by helping rid the liver of alcohol causing toxins. If you drink alcohol frequently, Milk Thistle (also Dandelion root and the supplement N-Acetyl-Cysteine), can also be taken on a daily basis to keep your liver from sustaining alcohol-causing damage. This natural hangover treatment is usually found in capsules or tablets.

If your hangover comes equipped with an upset stomach, there are some excellent herbal teas to help treat hangover symptoms. Get in the habit of drinking good old-fashioned herbal teas such as chamomile tea (my favorite), fenugreek tea, ginger tea or peppermint tea as a morning hangover cure.

Vitamins and minerals

Chances are, your household has some unused common vitamins sitting around. You'd be surprised that some of these supplements can help cure (or even prevent) a hangover. Don't be shy, take any vitamins you have at their recommended dosages.

Alcohol has a tendency to deplete the body of the mineral Magnesium. Therefore, before sleep and as a morning hangover cure, load up on Magnesium (higher dosages are usually non-harmful). The minerals Potassium and Calcium can each also be used as a natural hangover treatment. Other common supplements to take before bed or to treat hangover symptoms include B-Complex (or any B-vitamin), Acidophilus, and Vitamin C.

These are all natural morning hangover remedies. Still the best prevention is to reduce your chances of having a hangover, or at least help lower the severity of your symptoms. After drinking alcohol the night before (and before bedtime), drink plenty of water and fill your stomach with crackers or a few slices of toast. Be assured that when you awaken, there are plenty of alternative hangover remedies to help get you back on track.

Expanding on his personal battles and recovery from anxiety & depression, H. Mikael Nisula authors and operates his website Helpful Remedies [http://www.helpfulremedies.com]. His page offers practical solutions for anxiety and its associated disorders, such as addiction to alcohol, hangovers [http://www.helpfulremedies.com/hangovers/hangover-index.htm], insomnia and depression. His website is loaded with many original and unique health tips & remedies, all garnered from personal experiences. These include coping methods, dietary & lifestyle changes, and a myriad of natural alternatives to traditional & prescription medicine.