Hang that hangover
Dec 20, 2005
For a lot of people, the Christmas spirit means the alcoholic rather than the spiritual one. Surprisingly, according to Dr Herbert Mugarua of Middle East Hospital, Bugolobi, alcohol does have some benefits; “It can certainly relax people, while small amounts of alcohol stimulate the production of
By Hilary Bainemigisha
For a lot of people, the Christmas spirit means the alcoholic rather than the spiritual one. Surprisingly, according to Dr Herbert Mugarua of Middle East Hospital, Bugolobi, alcohol does have some benefits; “It can certainly relax people, while small amounts of alcohol stimulate the production of important digestive hormones such as gastrin, and increase liver blood flow, both of which can help with the digestion and absorption of the Christmas feast.â€
But taking alcohol in excess is not healthy and there is something worse than being drunk. It is called hangover. It is a thirst-raging, stomach-churning, head-banging hell, characterised by weakness, nausea, anorexia (loss of appetite), diarrhoea and other bad conditions that you can think of.
According to Dr Vincent Karuhanga of Friends Polyclinic, dehydration is the main cause of a person’s hanging over. Alcohol suppresses a hormone that stops urine from being excreted. The body then borrows water from organs including the brain, which is not a good idea. That is why a glass of water is a time-tested remedy.
Although water offers no protection from other hangover effects, it helps address this devastating dehydration.
However, there are more solutions than just taking water. These solutions can be right near you in your compound.
According to Dr Jjuuko Ndawula, a consultant in alternative and complementary medicine, contemporary medicine just treats symptoms with painkillers. To burst the dreaded condition, herbal therapy is more dependable.
“One of the lethal weapons is lemon (nnimu) and a raw egg. You squeeze one lemon into juice, add an egg and stir before swallowing,†he said. This may stop stomach churning, clear headache, nausea and diarrhoea.
Jjuuko also says the ‘hanger’ can drink a cup of juice made by crushing passion fruit flowers into water. “It helps one return into shape,†he says.
In her book, Family Medicinal Plant Garden, Monic Adriaens, a Belgian researcher in the Rwenzori region, says the resurrection plant (ekiyondo) works. “Warm three leaves on fire for a minute, then squeeze the juice into a cup of water and drink about a quarter of glass,†she writes.
Last June, Tulane University in New Orleans, US, revealed another herbal cure that cures hangover pangs; an extract from the skin of the prickly pear fruit. According to the results of their study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, “the severity of the alcohol hangover may be related to inflammation induced by impurities in the alcohol beverage and by-products of alcohol metabolism. An extract of the Opuntia ficus indica (pear) plant diminishes this inflammatory response to stressful stimuli.â€
The university gathered 55 volunteers, aged 21 to 35 and gave them a dinner before boozing them to at least 1.75 g/kg alcohol consumption of their body weight. The next morning, those who were given pear fruit therapy improved their hangover effects and overall well-being from severe to mild. (Severe hangover was defined as a hangover that would prevent the person from attending work or school).
Other local treatment found in medical literature include dandelion (kitonto), cucumber, Fennel, water melon, which are said to assist brain circulation, soothe and heal the abused liver and digestion and re-establish central nervous system connections.
Fruit juice, rich in the simple sugar called fructose, gives the body a much-needed boost of energy in the form of converted glucose. In fact fruits and vegetables replace many of the vitamins and nutrients that are washed out of your system during heavy drinking. The potassium in bananas is especially helpful as a pain reliever.
Ends
For a lot of people, the Christmas spirit means the alcoholic rather than the spiritual one. Surprisingly, according to Dr Herbert Mugarua of Middle East Hospital, Bugolobi, alcohol does have some benefits; “It can certainly relax people, while small amounts of alcohol stimulate the production of important digestive hormones such as gastrin, and increase liver blood flow, both of which can help with the digestion and absorption of the Christmas feast.â€
But taking alcohol in excess is not healthy and there is something worse than being drunk. It is called hangover. It is a thirst-raging, stomach-churning, head-banging hell, characterised by weakness, nausea, anorexia (loss of appetite), diarrhoea and other bad conditions that you can think of.
According to Dr Vincent Karuhanga of Friends Polyclinic, dehydration is the main cause of a person’s hanging over. Alcohol suppresses a hormone that stops urine from being excreted. The body then borrows water from organs including the brain, which is not a good idea. That is why a glass of water is a time-tested remedy.
Although water offers no protection from other hangover effects, it helps address this devastating dehydration.
However, there are more solutions than just taking water. These solutions can be right near you in your compound.
According to Dr Jjuuko Ndawula, a consultant in alternative and complementary medicine, contemporary medicine just treats symptoms with painkillers. To burst the dreaded condition, herbal therapy is more dependable.
“One of the lethal weapons is lemon (nnimu) and a raw egg. You squeeze one lemon into juice, add an egg and stir before swallowing,†he said. This may stop stomach churning, clear headache, nausea and diarrhoea.
Jjuuko also says the ‘hanger’ can drink a cup of juice made by crushing passion fruit flowers into water. “It helps one return into shape,†he says.
In her book, Family Medicinal Plant Garden, Monic Adriaens, a Belgian researcher in the Rwenzori region, says the resurrection plant (ekiyondo) works. “Warm three leaves on fire for a minute, then squeeze the juice into a cup of water and drink about a quarter of glass,†she writes.
Last June, Tulane University in New Orleans, US, revealed another herbal cure that cures hangover pangs; an extract from the skin of the prickly pear fruit. According to the results of their study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, “the severity of the alcohol hangover may be related to inflammation induced by impurities in the alcohol beverage and by-products of alcohol metabolism. An extract of the Opuntia ficus indica (pear) plant diminishes this inflammatory response to stressful stimuli.â€
The university gathered 55 volunteers, aged 21 to 35 and gave them a dinner before boozing them to at least 1.75 g/kg alcohol consumption of their body weight. The next morning, those who were given pear fruit therapy improved their hangover effects and overall well-being from severe to mild. (Severe hangover was defined as a hangover that would prevent the person from attending work or school).
Other local treatment found in medical literature include dandelion (kitonto), cucumber, Fennel, water melon, which are said to assist brain circulation, soothe and heal the abused liver and digestion and re-establish central nervous system connections.
Fruit juice, rich in the simple sugar called fructose, gives the body a much-needed boost of energy in the form of converted glucose. In fact fruits and vegetables replace many of the vitamins and nutrients that are washed out of your system during heavy drinking. The potassium in bananas is especially helpful as a pain reliever.
Ends