A combination of plant extracts may be the best hangover cure, scientists say. New research shows promising results from fruits, leaves and roots to relieve the symptoms of a hangover.
The research, published in BMJ Nutrition Prevention & Health, has looked at the potential of specific plant extracts, along with vitamins, minerals and antioxidents to ease the commons hangover symptoms.
The researchers took extracts from Barbados cherry, prickly pear, ginkgo biloba, willow and ginger root, along with magnesium, potassium, sodium bicarbonate, zinc, riboflavin, thiamin and folic acid and tested them across 214 healthy 18-65 year olds.
Splitting the participants into three groups, each were given a different combination of plant extracts, vitamins and minerals.
Group 1 were given a supplement containing the plant extracts, vitamins and minerals, with antioxidant compounds steviol glycosides and inulin. Group 2 were given the supplement without the plant extracts and group 3 given a placebo.
Given beer, white wine and white wine spritzers to drink, the participants were regularly measured on their alcohol intake and blood pressure with blood and urine samples taken over a four-hour period.
After 12 hours, samples were taken again and participants answered questions about the type and intensity of hangover symptoms.
The results showed various differences across the three groups.
The first group, taking a combination of plant extracts, minerals/vitamins and antioxidents reported less severe symptoms.
Interestingly, the researchers found that alcohol may not affect electrolyte and mineral balance, as is commonly thought.
Dehydration is also commonly thought of as a link to hangover symptoms. Contrary to this, the study also showed that the amount of water in the body wasn’t associated with the amount of alcohol drunk, concluding, “It seems to be clear that hangover symptoms are predominantly caused by alcohol and its metabolites.”
