Holiday hangover? Cure may be a myth

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LONDON, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- There is no compelling evidence that any of the traditionally touted cures for a hangover really work, says a new study.

According to a study pubished this week in the British Medical Journal, most trials on conventional hangover treatments reported no benefits.

"We are confident that our search strategy located all published trials on the subject," say the authors. "Our findings show no compelling evidence to suggest that any complementary or conventional intervention is effective for treating or preventing the alcohol hangover."

However, the British researchers added that borage, a yeast-based preparation, and tolfenamic acid might provide some relief for holiday revelers who might over-imbibe this season.

At any rate, the researchers concluded that abstinence from alcohol or at least moderation are the only reliable ways to avoid a hangover.

The researchers reviewed a range of purported hangover remedies, including propranolol -- which is a beta-blocking drug -- the nausea and vertigo drug tropisetron, the painkiller tolfenamic acid, fructose or glucose, and the dietary supplements borage, artichoke, prickly pear and a yeast-based preparation.

Alcohol-induced hangovers account for about $2 billion British pounds -- or roughly $4 billion U.S. dollars -- in lost wages each year, the researchers said.