HOW TO DETOX A HANGOVER

The following program may sound daunting, but in terms of survival after a dire hangover, I strongly recommend that you try detoxing for a weekend at least: preferably one when you have no distractions and someone to pander to your every whim.

THE THREE-DAY DETOX PLAN

Too much rich food and drink, combined with a lack of exercise, leads to body overload, and your entire system becomes sluggish and congested. I recently devised this plan to cleanse the body and it’s not that challenging. You will feel reinvigorated afterward. Try it and feel the difference.

One word of caution, however: Do not try this diet if you are under medical supervision, pregnant, or following another special diet.

In preparation for your detox, add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your wash cycle so that your bed linen is drenched in the aroma.

After this three-day period, carry on with light meals such as steamed chicken (without the skin), steamed fish (organic salmon is great, as is John Dory) and steamed vegetables. And by the way—it’s best not to drink immediately after you’ve completed the program.

DAY ONE

Drink a cup of hot, boiled water first thing, followed throughout the day by only one kind of fruit, preferably apples or grapes. Drink your choice of mineral water when you feel hungry and don’t want a piece of fruit.

This ought to be a restful day, so take it easy. Read the week’s papers or flick through the latest issues of your favorite magazines, or go crazy on the Internet from your laptop.

In the evening, take a lavender bath, and when you have dried yourself, wrap up in a heavy bathrobe to assist toxin elimination through light sweating.

DAY TWO

You’re not allowed any food at all today. Instead, drink hot, boiled water only, as much as you can take. This speeds up elimination and stimulates the lymph glands and the blood stream. Rest as much as you can—the housework can wait. You may experience tiredness, even headaches, and other small pains. In the evening, take a bath using rosemary oil for an antiseptic effect.

DAY THREE

Start with a cup of hot, boiled water. At about 11 a.m., drink a cup of vegetable juice, such as spinach mixed with carrot and diluted 50/50 with mineral water. If you don’t like spinach, try beetroot—both are good for the liver.

Lunch can be a light salad of mixed green leaves and vegetables such as fresh spinach, zucchini, fresh green beans sliced thinly, and a variety of lettuce leaves. Squeeze a little lemon juice over this. One or two slices of organic whole grain bread will seem attractive at this point.

Afternoon tea can be an herbal variety or Earl Grey, with lemon.

For dinner, have some steamed brown rice with a fresh green vegetable, such as leeks, also steamed. Drink lots of mineral water throughout the day. In the evening, after dinner is digested, take a sea-salt bath to end the positive action.

NATURAL HERBAL CLEANSERS

ALFALFA SEEDS

Used in a Mexican tea remedy for a hangover headache. Steep one teaspoon of seed and a teaspoon of dried orange leaf in a cup of boiling water for five minutes. Strain into a cup and sip.

ANGELICA

Works as a tonic by improving liver function and stimulating digestion.

CAYENNE PEPPER

Soothing and restorative for the digestive system. Try sprinkling a small amount into a glass of still water and gargle. This will stimulate the production of saliva and other gastric juices to ease hangover-induced stomach troubles.

CHAMOMILE

Most commonly taken as a tea, this wonder herb is good for heartburn, stomachache, and general stress, among other complaints.

DANDELION

A godsend of a purifier. To treat a hangover, make a decoction using about 15 grams (half an ounce) of root to about 25 ounces (750ml) of water. Sip small quantities at frequent intervals throughout the day. To make a decoction the night before, place the root in a saucepan. Cover with cold water and bring to the boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Strain through a sieve into a jug. Cover and leave in a cool place.

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL

Thins the blood and dilates the vessels, thus easing that heavy thumping in your forehead.

FENNEL

Fennel tea is a soothing diuretic that will cleanse your system.

GINGER

Try chewing crystallized ginger to soothe the stomach and rebalance gastric juices. Similarly, ginger tea will help headache, heartburn, stomachaches, vomiting.

GINKGO BILOBA

Increases blood flow to the brain, so it’s great for memory loss. Might be useful in remembering the name of the person you wake up with!

GINSENG

An all-purpose healer, it contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and balances blood-sugar levels. It is available as a tea or may be taken in pill form. Keep some in the hangover kit because it protects, strengthens, and tones the liver, boosts the immune system, and helps prevent toxic overload.

KUDZU ROOT

In Chinese, it means “drunkenness dispeller.” Make a tea from equal parts of kudzu root, fresh ginger root, and umeboshi plum. All of the ingredients have an antispasmodic effect on the stomach muscles and help relieve nausea.

MILK THISTLE

Contains some of the most potent liver-cleansing properties around. The active nutrient is silymarin, which enhances the liver function and prevents free-radical damage. Available in tablet form. Take one with a meal each day.

PEPPERMINT

A familiar, pleasant-tasting remedy that relaxes the stomach muscles, calms down heartburn and stomachaches, and is a tried-and-tested remedy for nausea and vomiting. Take it as a tea.

ROSEMARY

Make an infusion of two heaped teaspoons of fresh rosemary in a cup of boiling water. Let it stand for five to ten minutes, then sip 2 oz. (50ml) every three hours.

SAFFRON

Use this spice in cooking to bring life back into your body. Buy the purest grade you can find, and add it to dishes per the recipe directions.

TURMERIC

A spice with antibacterial properties, turmeric has a beneficial effect on the liver, and stimulates the flow of bile. Take it as a capsule or in a curry.