The truth of the matter is that the only surefire way to avoid a hangover is to consume alcohol in moderation. However, as science has taught us more about what a hangovers actually are, we have found that there are a number of scientifically-backed methods to successfully mitigating hangover symptoms. But what does that mean for the hangover cures rooted less in science and more in folklore? Today we’re going to look at one of the more common hangover cures, and one of the most simple–cold compresses.
So does a cold compress actually help a hangover? The short answer–it will make you feel better. The long answer is a bit more complicated. Before we can get into that, it’s important that we are all on the same page about what a hangover actually is.
A hangover is a collection of symptoms that occur as a result of consuming alcohol. More specifically, hangover symptoms are a result of your body trying to process ethanol, which is the chemical that gets you drunk that is in alcohol. Since alcohol is a diuretic, many hangover symptoms are a result of dehydration as well. All told, classic hangover symptoms tend to include: nausea, headaches, drowsiness, fatigue, vomiting and anxiety.
Since a hangover is a collection of symptoms, it makes sense that a successful hangover cure is something that can mitigate the severity of those symptoms. A cold compress can mitigate some of those symptoms, but it doesn’t cure them. Not only that, but a cold compress doesn’t address enough of those symptoms to legitimately be considered a hangover cure.
Much like a stiff cup of coffee, a cold compress can effectively mask some symptoms of a hangover, but it’s not actually addressing the source of those symptoms. Essentially, a cold compress is helping you pass the time more comfortably while you wait for those symptoms to naturally abate.
Out of the six classic hangover symptoms that we listed a cold compress can help with anxiety, fatigue and headaches. However, a cold compress is most effective when treating a headache, which can truly be one of the nastiest symptoms of a hangover. All you need to do is take a cool washcloth and apply it to your forehead or over your eyes. The cooling sensation will not only calm your body down and lower your heart rate, which will help with fatigue and anxiety, but it can also completely eliminate a headache.
Unfortunately, a cold compress does nothing for nausea, fatigue or gastrointestinal distress (e.g. vomiting). Not only that, but a cold compress is only masking your headache, it’s not addressing the root cause. That’s why a cold compress should only be used to treat a hangover in conjunction with more effective methods like hydration and supplements like Primer by Intelligent Drinking.
Since dehydration is one of the primary culprits behind hangover symptoms, it stand to reason that one of the best ways to mitigate the severity of a hangover is to re-hydrate. Water in combination with Primer is a surefire way to help any hangover.
What is Primer you may be asking? Primer is an all natural blend of vitamins, minerals and amino acids which fortify your body and help expel toxins through liver detoxification. With Primer, you’ll be able to reclaim your mornings. Visit www.intelligentdrinking.com to learn more.