Thursday, January 12, 2012

Cheers! Cure For The Hangover

While drinking my nightly beer, I ran across this article from AOL: UCLA researchers have found a compound that can counteract the effects of alcohol, but don't call it revolutionary: some people have known about it for over 1300 years.
The team, led by molecular pharmacologist Jing Liang, looked to ancient herbal remedies for inspiration in their study,
published this month in the Journal of Neuroscience, and then used modern science to test them. They found, according to MedicalXpress, "descriptions of anti-alcohol properties of the Asian tree Hovenia dulcis that dated back to 659."
In the experiment (which used rats, since their reaction to alcohol are similar to that of humans), all the subjects were given a strong dose of alcohol. Some were also given the key compound, Dihydromyricetin (DHM), from the ancient Hovenia Dulcis tree, and these subjects sobered up faster and showed a higher tolerance for alcohol in general. In addition, DHM fought hangovers; these extra-resistant rats were tested later for signs of anxiety and seizure, associated with hangovers, and showed fewer of those side effects.
Hangover resistance, as it turns out, was a bonus; the research was intended to develop treatments for alcohol use disorders.
ScienceNews writes. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/hangovers-cured-for-good-_n_1201459.html
I don't get hangovers anymore, at least not since my early party years when I was in my 20's or so. The only drinks that give me hangovers are lite beer, wine and champagne and since I don't drink those, I just don't get hangovers anymore.
But those who do get hangovers, there is hope besides taking Tums and Tylenol the day after drinking.
Somehow, finding a cure for both a hangover and alcohol abuse seem to be contradictory.
Cheers!

1 comment:

  1. Eating mineral food like pickles and canned fish is also beneficial for getting relief from hangover....Fruits with vitamin C also helps to cure hangover..

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