Having imbibed heavily in my college years, I can tell you that there is no real "cure" for a hangover; however, I can tell you that it's affects can be lessened considerably using this remedy. A friend of mine, who is a physician, once told me that there is a physiological reason this cure works. I used it for 7 years during my heavy-drinking college days, and the few years thereafter before I "grew up" - and I never ONCE really suffered from hangover.
Alcohol inhibits the formation of an anti-diuretic hormone in the brain; so, you pee a lot when you're drunk. That peeing causes you to lose body salts and minerals that help to maintain your body's well being. They need to be restored, and fast. It's better to do that while you're still drunk, but first thing in the morning isn't too late. (It's the replenishment of salts that my doctor friend says makes this work.)
I could drink a lot, and I did: up to 1 1/2 quarts of whiskey in a single sitting; up to three cases of beer; three pitchers of sangria (which seemed to get me very drunk very quick -- much faster than whiskey -- for some reason I've never quite been able to figure out); maybe six or eight bottles of wine (though I was never much of a wine drinker back then.)
Here, then, is my drinking regimen:
First, never drink on an empty stomach. Make sure you've eaten a lot of proteins and carbs before you go on your binge.
Second, never mix your booze. If you drink beer, stick to it. Mixing wine and beer or whiskey and wine or any other combination will make you sick.
(I always stuck even to the same brand of whatever I was drinking, but that's optional.)
Third, while you're still drunk (or if you're just getting up) it's important to replenish those body salts and fluids. As disgusting as it may sound, I recommend eating and drinking the following:
- An entire pint of ice-cream;
- A litre bottle of sugared soda (Coke is best.)
- Some type of chocolate (a Hershey bar always worked best for me.)
- Eat a high-protein sandwich of white meat, like tuna or turkey.
- Drink at least two glasses of water.
- Go back to bed for an hour or two.
If you've done this while you're still a bit drunk, odds are you won't have any hangover at all. If you do it first thing in the morning, you might suffer a bit, but it will be far less than you would have otherwise.
For the rest of the day, stay away from people (you probably reek of booze) and stay handy to the toilet. You'll be servicable, but not much more - and you won't feel like doing anything anyway.
Next year, remember: Only AMATEUR drinkers go out on New Year's Eve. And stay home.