Naturopath Han van de Braak has these tips for all those who overindulge during the festive season.

The festive season is a time when people let their hair down, relax, party – and then regret it the next morning when the dreaded hangover strikes. Alcohol consumption amongst most demographics is on the increase – and on New Year’s Day, an estimated 48% of households will be holding their heads and regretting the alcoholic excess of the night before.

This may be good news for the drug companies who can expect a bumper sales period over the festive period, but it is bad news for the rest of us. Our first instinct is often to reach for an over the counter remedy which promises to ease our heads and settle our stomachs, but this may not always be the best option. Of course, the best way to avoid a hangover is to avoid excessive drinking, but that isn’t very helpful advice for many people. However, there are more natural and effective ways that you can minimise the effects of the morning after feeling in a less abrasive way.

Excess alcohol basically poisons the body, making the liver work overtime to break. The resulting dehydration forces the body to take water from wherever it can find it – including the brain. This causes the cells to shrink, inducing headaches. Drinking too much also drains the body of vital vitamins and minerals so any basic hangover treatment should include restoring moisture and replacing the nutrients that the body has lost.

So, before people reach for abrasive medicines, they should consider trying these four top tips, some are basic common sense – and they have worked for me on many occasions.

• Eat fruit: bananas are good source of fructose and potassium – both of which are lost when drinking to excess. They are a natural antacid, rich in magnesium to help ease a throbbing head. Fruit juice works well because the fructose burns up the residual alcohol in the stomach speeding up recovery.

• Avoid aspirin as it can irritate the stomach. Instead, try a more natural remedy such as aloe vera. This herb has been used to ease digestive problems and to heal since ancient times. Best taken in a concentrated form, such as Aloeride®, aloe vera placates the stomach lining, and reduces nausea. Take a couple before going out, and a couple the morning after. See www.aloeride.eu for more information on the uses that aloe vera can have.

• Sweat it out! Despite the fact that your body is dehydrated, heading to your local sauna or steam room is a good way to get rid of all the toxins that are poisoning your body and making you feel bad. But don’t forget to rehydrate your body at regular intervals.

• Eat properly. Food increases the metabolism and speeds up the body’s processes enabling it to recover more quickly. The traditional fry up is best avoided: choose foods that will release sugar slowly and provide protein to build up amino acids. Baked beans, scrambled eggs and porridge are all good choices.

About Han van de Braak

Han van de Braak is a chartered physiotherapist, registered acupuncturist and naturopath. He is the founder of the Integrated Medicine Practice in Leicestershire which offers a variety of complementary treatments in homeopathy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, osteopath and diet modification.






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				Top hangover tips – step away from the aspirin! Naturopath Han van de Braak has these tips for all those who overindulge during the festive season. The festive season is a time when people let their hair down, relax, party – and then regret it the next morning when the dreaded hangover strikes. Alcohol consumption amongst most demographics is on the increase – and on New Year’s Day, an estimated 48% of households will be holding their heads and regretting the alcoholic excess of the night before. This may be good news for the drug companies who can expect a bumper sales period over the festive period, but it is bad news for the rest of us. Our first instinct is often to reach for an over the counter remedy which promises to ease our heads and settle our stomachs, but this may not always be the best option. Of course, the best way to avoid a hangover is to avoid excessive drinking, but that isn’t very helpful advice for many people. However, there are more natural and effective ways that you can minimise the effects of the morning after feeling in a less abrasive way. Excess alcohol basically poisons the body, making the liver work overtime to break. The resulting dehydration forces the body to take water from wherever it can find it – including the brain. This causes the cells to shrink, inducing headaches. Drinking too much also drains the body of vital vitamins and minerals so any basic hangover treatment should include restoring moisture and replacing the nutrients that the body has lost. So, before people reach for abrasive medicines, they should consider trying these four top tips, some are basic common sense – and they have worked for me on many occasions. • Eat fruit: bananas are good source of fructose and potassium – both of which are lost when drinking to excess. They are a natural antacid, rich in magnesium to help ease a throbbing head. Fruit juice works well because the fructose burns up the residual alcohol in the stomach speeding up recovery. • Avoid aspirin as it can irritate the stomach. Instead, try a more natural remedy such as aloe vera. This herb has been used to ease digestive problems and to heal since ancient times. Best taken in a concentrated form, such as Aloeride®, aloe vera placates the stomach lining, and reduces nausea. Take a couple before going out, and a couple the morning after. See www.aloeride.eu for more information on the uses that aloe vera can have. • Sweat it out! Despite the fact that your body is dehydrated, heading to your local sauna or steam room is a good way to get rid of all the toxins that are poisoning your body and making you feel bad. But don’t forget to rehydrate your body at regular intervals. • Eat properly. Food increases the metabolism and speeds up the body’s processes enabling it to recover more quickly. The traditional fry up is best avoided: choose foods that will release sugar slowly and provide protein to build up amino acids. Baked beans, scrambled eggs and porridge are all good choices. About Han van de Braak Han van de Braak is a chartered physiotherapist, registered acupuncturist and naturopath. He is the founder of the Integrated Medicine Practice in Leicestershire which offers a variety of complementary treatments in homeopathy, physiotherapy, acupuncture, osteopath and diet modification.