8 Doctor-Approved Hangover Remedies That Really Work

Unless we refrain from alcohol completely or have amazing self-control, we all face the risk of downing one too many glasses once in a while. As a doctor, I typically avoid overindulging, but we are all guilty of this now and again, and almost everyone who drinks has experienced the pain that follows the next day: a searing headache, waves of nausea, and a blurry, cotton-y sensation throughout. But there are some great fixes to treat those next-day hangovers and getting back on track to being functional and maybe even productive.

8 Doctor-Approved Hangover Remedies That Really Work (Slideshow)

Truth be told, alcohol is a drug — it's a depressant. When consumed in excess, it wreaks havoc on your body, filling it up with toxins, causing dizziness, nausea, and muscle aches.

Just like any other drug or chemical, your body's natural response is to get rid of it, and the process depletes vitamin and mineral stores in your body, making you feel awful over the next several hours and maybe even days. We've got some natural ways to nurture your body back to health.

While it may be tempting, try to avoid popping painkillers, whether they're aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Aspirin and ibuprofen thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding while acetaminophen can further amplify liver damage that the alcohol already started. So what do you do for those nasty hangover headaches? Rub some tiger balm on your forehead and temples for a soothing, topical effect.

Contrary to popular belief, the "hair of the dog" method doesn't really work. Hangover symptoms are actually the worst when the blood alcohol content goes back down to zero.

Having a Bloody Mary or another alcoholic drink the next morning may seem to lessen the symptoms initially, but it only makes things worse in the long run, because the liver has to work again to metabolize alcohol. Down the road, this practice may contribute to dependence on alcohol.

Yoga and exercise are great ways to speed up your hangover cure, as I discussed in my article 12 Yoga Poses To  Cure Your Hangover. The quicker you detoxify and try some or all of these natural remedies you can see in our slideshow (including some easy-to-make recipes), the sooner you'll be back on your game. Cheers to all!

Dr. Deepa Verma of Synergistiq Integrative Health believes that healthy and holistic living is the key to happiness and aging gracefully. Follow her on Twitter @DrDeepaVerma and subscribe to her Youtube Channel.