Beating the Christmas hangover

2005-12-23 21:50

London - Just in case there were any doubts, new research has concluded the best way to beat a hangover - at Christmas or any other time - is to steer clear of alcohol in the first place.

In a timely paper in the British Medical Journal, published on Friday, three specialists in complementary medicine found "no compelling evidence" that conventional or alternative treatments can stave off the dreaded morning-after.

Max Pittler, Joris Verster and Edzard Ernst wrote that "until the pathology of alcohol hangover is understood in more detail, an effective intervention is likely to remain elusive.

"The most effective way to avoid the symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover is thus to practise abstinence or moderation."

Hangovers can be a real headache, and not just for revellers who have had a few too many.

In Britain, where "binge drinking" - deliberately going out on the town to get smashed - is an issue, excess drinking is blamed for about £2bn in lost wages each year.

Tests are not conclusive

The three researches added that, in the United States, the total cost of alcohol use is estimated at $12bn to $30bn a year, and excessive drinking can be blamed for a myriad of health problems.

Scanning the internet, the researchers found 38 "hangover cures", from aspirin to water, bananas, cabbage, coffee, fresh air, pizza, milk shakes and Vegemite on toast - not to mention another stiff drink.

The researchers, whose findings were based on an exhaustive trawl through published literature on hangovers, did find signs that dietary supplements could lead to a "significant reduction of hangover" and its symptoms of headache, laziness and tiredness.

However, given the small number of people who took part in tests, and the absence of "unvalidated symptom scores", the results cannot be seen as conclusive without further independent study.

What was clear though, is for the little that is known about hangovers, there are a lot of supposed remedies out there.

Pittler, Verster and Ernst said: "The paucity of randomised controlled trials is in stark contrast to the plethora of 'hangover cures' marketed on the internet.

"This confirms the unreliablity of the internet in health care matters."

- AFP