If you have ever over-indulged a bit on the liquid front, you’ll know what the next morning can feel like, right? And you’ve tried all kinds of “cures” … Everybody has one! From the “green ambulance” to the “fat fry-up”, the semi-logical to the certifiably crazy.
Here are some of the more interesting alleged remedies from across the world: (Try them at your peril)
GERMANY:
The Germans call that nasty morning-after feeling a “Katzenjammer”, literally ‘cats wailing’. To counter it, they suggest a Tomcat’s Breakfast, or “Katerfrühstück. It involves a pickled herring wrapped around pickled cucumbers and onions. No idea how it makes you feel, but the smell can’t be great!
POLAND:
The Poles suggest downing a glass of brine from sour pickles to ease the morning doldrums. Some bars even offer a shot of Bourbon with a pickle juice chaser.
HUNGARY:
In Hungary they suggest adding sparrow droppings to your brandy to reduce the headache. How you are supposed to get the sparrow to comply, nobody knows.
ESTONIA:
An old-fashioned Estonian cure involves soaking a pair of socks in vodka, wearing them under another pair of thick socks, and sitting back with a cup of hot tea. The less said about this one, the better…
IRELAND:
The Irish aren’t known for responsible alcohol consumption, but this cure is more than a little bonkers! The Irish legend claims burying yourself up to your neck in cold sand gets your blood pumping and wakes you up. At least they don’t expect you to eat it!
But do any of these actually work? Here’s what the experts have to say about the more well-known options:
“Beer before liquor, never been sicker. Beer before wine and you’ll feel fine. Grape or grain, but never the twain.”
This is a MYTH, sorry to say. The rhymes might be catchy, but it is how much you drink, not the order that matters. According to Dr Keri Peterson, an internist from New York, drinking too many alcoholic beverages of any kind will still leave you feeling hung over, whether you start with spirits and then move to wine or beer or do the reverse.
“The hair of the dog that bit you.”
Another MYTH! You’ll probably end up feeling worse later on. That’s because hangover symptoms kick in as your blood alcohol level drops, and you feel your worst when none is left in your system, says Dr Peterson. This means that after you metabolize the “hair”, the pain will come roaring back.
“Greasy food will soak up the alcohol.”
Nope. MYTH. Food does slow the absorption of alcohol, but only if you start eating before you begin drinking. Stopping for that garage pie can make a queasy stomach or heartburn even worse!
CONCLUSION
We can safely say that there is no magical cure. The best way to feel good in the morning is to drink alcohol in moderation. The more alcohol you drink, the higher your chances of having a chorus of cats in your head the next day. Drinking a glass of water in between drinks also helps. You can also consider taking two capsules of MYRKL* two hours before the event for a refreshed feeling the next day.
Important Notes:
*MYRKL is a supplement designed to support well-being while consuming alcohol and promote responsible alcohol consumption. It efficiently breaks down the absorption of alcohol, giving you the opportunity to enjoy your social experiences regret-free. Do not take more than the recommended dose of 2 capsules in 24 hours.
Based on a randomised placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study, conducted with 24 healthy subjects. Subjects were randomised to take 2 capsules/day of AB001 or placebo for 1 week prior to experimental day, where they ingested a light breakfast and drank a moderate glass of spirit (0.3 g/kg body weight).
- Pfützner A, Hanna M, Andor Y, Sachsenheimer D, Demircik F, Wittig T and de Faire J. Chronic Uptake of A Probiotic Nutritional Supplement (AB001) Inhibits Absorption of Ethylalcohol in the Intestine Tract – Results from a Randomized Double-blind Crossover Study. Nutr. Metab. Insights. 2022;15:1-5
