I’m a doctor and this is the only way to really get over your hangover

A DOCTOR has revealed what he believes is the only true way to get over a hangover.

But, unfortunately for those feeling a bit queasy, it does involved more booze…

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki shared his simple trick to bounce back from the abyss after a heavy night, but says it isn’t the one you should use.

The 73-year-old from Australia told listers of his podcast: “Unfortunately, a cure is just a bit of alcohol – the hair of the dog – which is a bad pathway to go down.”

This is because drinking more alcohol stops the body absorbing methanol – a toxic chemical found in booze.

It instead forces the body to deal with the new ethanol (the main proportion of alcohol).

However, this isn’t helpful in the long run, as you do have to face the music and absorb the methanol at some point.

And, the expert warns some people can feel so much better they then lean towards developing alcoholism.

So while it is a sure fire way to feel immediately more human, he said the safest way is to simply ride it out.

Drink lots of water, eat what you fancy and get some sleep and you should beat the hangover in no time.

Of course, the best way to avoid a hangover is to drink moderately on the night.

Lining your stomach with a carb or fat-heavy meal before boozing slows down the rate of alcohol absorption, something you’ll be thankful for in the morning.

Also, it can be handy to avoid dark-coloured drinks that contain natural chemicals called congeners (impurities), which irritate blood vessels and tissue in the brain and can make a hangover much worse.

Other ways to soother a hangover:

1. Rehydrate

Booze can make you expel up to four times as much water, which is why you always feel like a slug in a salt mine the morning after.

Make sure you drink lots of water before you go to sleep, but well, we all know how hard that is once you’ve knocked back a thousand tequilas and passed out on the front step.

GP Sarah Garsed at online health and wellness platform  says water is your best friend and will flush toxins out of your system.

Isotonic drinks can also give you an extra boost and replace lost fluids.

2. Snooze

Alcohol loves to rob us of good quality sleep.

This is because it inhibits the release of the sleep hormone melatonin, meaning it can be hard to get to sleep, difficult to have good quality sleep
and you may also find you wake up early unable to get back to sleep.

“Sleep is one of the most restorative things for a hangover so if you
need it, take a nap the following day” Dr Sarah added.

3. Medicate

Reach for the painkillers to help with head or muscle aches.

Stick to paracetamol-based remedies as aspirin can increase nausea.

Take an antacid if you have a dodgy stomach and need it settling.

4. Drink herbal tea

As well as plenty of water, hot drinks can help revive your body and mind.

Ginger tea can help with nausea and milk thistle tea cleanses the liver, while hot water with honey and lemon boosts blood sugar.

5. Exercise if you can

Depending on how bad your hangover is, exercise might seem like the last thing you want to do, BUT it could be the best thing for you, Dr Sarah says.

After drinking a lot of your natural feel-good brain chemicals can be left significantly reduced, leaving you feeling low in energy and mood.

6. Eat something

If your hangover is particularly bad and you are struggling to stomach much food, try a cold orange juice to get yourself back to being match ready.

“Orange juice can have a acid-neutralising effect when it is metabolised by the body and delivers a big does of potassium which helps to rehydrate you and restore any lost minerals.

“Orange juice is also high in natural sugar, which can help bring that low blood sugar up and reduce feelings of nausea”, Dr Sarah said.

The NHS recommends that both women and men have no more than 14 units of booze a week, with a pint of beer equating for around two units depending on strength.

• For confidential advice, tips and online tools, see . You can talk to a professional adviser by online chat or over the phone or find a list of support services either online or local to you.
• Drinkaware urges anyone worried about their drinking, or someone else’s, to call Drinkline on 0300 123 1110.