By Eugenia Chien Thu, January 1, 2009, 12:01 am PST

(Photo by Megan Ann) It's New Year's Day -- and if you celebrated a little too much last night, you're probably either hugging your toilet or covering your face with a pillow, regretting that last glass of champagne. If you have just a little bit of energy to turn on your computer, you'll find that the Yahoo! Directory has a wealth of information on hangover cures, ranging from the scientific to the mythical. Scientists insist there is no real cure for hangovers, which are caused by dehydration, low blood sugar, acetaldehyde intoxication, and vitamin B12 deficiency. So, scientifically speaking, the only real "cure" is preventive: drinking conservatively, with a glass of water between each drink. It may also help if you eat a proper meal before downing champagne and take some vitamins before the party. But of course, that's no help if you're already in bed with a massive headache from the night before. For the daring eater, some anecdotal hangover treatments from around the world include pickled herring (Germany), tripe soup (Romania and Mexico), sour pickle juice (Poland), and pickled plums (Japan). But I took an informal survey among my friends and found some more interesting cures: "Chinese porridge, followed by strawberry Jell-O. Wash it down with soda water, then read lots of gossip rags in bed." "Regular V8, Advil, and water. Then lay on the floor on your stomach for a while." "Throw up. How do you make yourself throw up? Imagine you're swallowing a big vitamin pill with very little water. You'll feel better after!" "Spicy ramen -- the spices stop the nausea, and you'll need the liquid and sodium in the soup." "Dim sum, eggs Benedict -- and you must drink a ton of Gatorade." "A tall glass of Coke with ice, followed by a great, greasy breakfast of sausage, eggs, and hash browns." "Drink lots of Emergen-C and wear sunglasses all day." Personally, I prescribe to a very hot shower, then lots of very hot coffee, water, headache medicine, and self-pity, in no particular order. So, before you reach for that champagne glass next time, check out these hangover cures and more in the Yahoo! Directory. And please add your own hangover cures in the comment section below! Suggested Sites... Forbes Top 10 Hangover Cures - remedies from the experts at Forbes. How to Cure a Hangover - from AskMen.com Menudo recipe from RecipeZaar - this might be the perfect time to learn how to cook tripe!

Directory categories: All About Hangovers, Hangover Products (Self-pity Not Included), Cocktails (For Those Who Believe in the Hair of the Dog Theory)

Archived under: Alcohol, Celebrations, Food and Drink, Hangovers, Health, Holidays, How-To, Medicine, New Year

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