Herb to stop hangover
I have about a dozen parties to go to in the run up to Christmas and am worried about the damage I am going to do to my health. I have heard there is a herb I can take which will stop me getting a hangover. Do you know which one and what else can I take to make sure I do not suffer and undo the good work of the last year?
The herb you are thinking of is called Kudzu. A perennial vine, native to China where it is a weed, the root can grow as big as an adult human. This root is rich in two isoflavones called daidzein and daidzen, both of which have been shown in animal studies to inhibit the desire for alcohol. (If you are wondering what animal was used for these experiments, it was alcoholic hamsters since these are one of the few species, besides humans, who can develop this condition.)
This may not be exactly what you had in mind as a hangover cure - a remedy that will make you drink less in the first place - but it sure beats drinking a tea made from boiled banana skins, which is another traditional Chinese remedy and not as bonkers as it sounds because bananas are an excellent source of, among other things, potassium which is wiped out by too much booze.
Lots of hair-of-the dog hangover remedies include raw eggs, which contain an amino acid called N-acetyl-cysteine, (NAC). This is one of the building blocks of a natural antioxidant compound called glutathione. In the body, this acts as a major mine sweeper clearing out toxins from alcohol and cigarette smoke. Ironically, when you drink, you lower levels of this nutrient so building it up in advance is a good idea, especially since a much-quoted study into hangover cures by New Scientist magazine showed NAC was the best antidote of all.
*You can take Kudzu as a tincture on the day you plan to party take 3-4ml, three times a day. If you cannot find NAC supplements in your local health store, Revital (0800- 252875) sells 90 x 500mg tablets for £23.95 plus £1.50 p&p.