Based on the hundreds that have shared my last post over the past couple of days, it seems Easing Political Stress with Homeopathy was especially helpful to people. So, I thought I would share more secrets about homeopathy with another timely situation that I have seen homeopathy particularly helpful. And, that, my friends is when we have overindulged and find ourselves with a hangover.
Difficult to Define, but Easy to Predict Seldom a day goes by without hearing or saying “I am stressed”…. or, at least seeing the effects of being stressed. The man credited with bringing the effects of stress to our awareness is Hungarian-born scientist Hans Selye who first published his Generalized Adaptation Syndrome in Nature in 1936. Stress is a tough thing to define. Even Selye once told reporters, “Everyone knows what stress is, but nobody really knows.” More recently however, a division of the National Institute for Health (NIH) has suggested that stress can be organized into four main areas: General life stressors (such as problems at work or trouble with a neighbor), Fateful/Catastrophic Events (such as terrorist attacks and nuclear disasters), Childhood maltreatment (such as emotional or physical abuse/neglect), and Minority Stress (such as being in a racial/ethnic/sexual minority). Just based on these categories and our current political affairs, it would seem as though most all of our country is under increased stress right now. No matter what your definition of stress might be. And, research published in the International Journal of Stress Management seems to suggest pretty clearly that more stress also means greater potential for binge drinking. Furthermore, as the stressors pile up, so does the potential for binge drinking. The past few weeks have been a particular pile up of stress for a lot of people in this country. So, it is my guess that the ad spots for Michelob Ultra and Budweiser will be particularly well placed this Super Bowl. Super Bowl: an Excuse to Indulge All of this stress around us lately combined with the perceived feelings of stress reduction from alcohol and spending time with friends will likely be an excuse for many of us to indulge. Maybe even over-indulge during this year’s Super Bowl parties. From the perspective of a homeopath, this over-indulgence is also considered a stress. And we have some remedies for that. Of course, the best way to prevent a hang-over is to abstain or drink in moderation (and stay well hydrated along the way). With all of the stress adding up around us lately though, that may be difficult for some to do this weekend. If this is the case for you, homeopathy may be able to make Monday morning a little easier. Here are a few examples that I have seen along the way. Nux vomica is the homeopathic remedy most commonly used in the case of a hangover. People who will most often find benefit from this remedy will experience head pain and nausea. They may feel as though “if I could only vomit, I would feel better.” They tend to be irritable and impatient, as well as sensitive to lights, sounds, smells, and cold air blowing on them. Arsenicum album is another homeopathic remedy that may be helpful in easing symptoms of a hangover, especially if the person is experiencing vomiting and loose stools after drinking. People who might find benefit in this remedy may also experience increased anxiety and restlessness.
Finally, Gelsemium is a homeopathic remedy that might be helpful if you are experiencing drowsiness, dizziness, and a sensation of heaviness after drinking. People who might find benefit from Gelsemium often also notice trembling and profuse urination.
Some suggest that regular use of homeopathic remedies can also decrease cravings for alcohol. Using homeopathy in this way definitely requires the advice of an expert though. If you or someone you love is struggling with cravings for alcohol, you might consider reaching out to a well-trained homeopathic practitioner. Long-term Effects are Unknown Drinking alcohol is often considered to be an option to reduce stress in the short-term, but having more than one or two drinks a day often leads to long term damage to the liver, pancreas, brain, and other parts of the body. Research is not clear whether homeopathy also helps to ease this long term damage. It sure would be great if Anheuser-Busch used some of their profits from alcohol sales this weekend to fund that study though. This article is not meant to condone binge drinking as a solution to managing your stress, especially if you have any existing or genetic risk for addictions, liver or kidney disease, diabetes, and many other health conditions. It is also not meant to replace the advice of your healthcare team or to suggest that homeopathy will reduce the long-term injurious effects of binge drinking. Make sure to chat with them about your risks of drinking based on your personal health history. It is your healthcare providers' job to counsel you on how to best care for yourself, please talk to them. It is quite literally their job. Rather, this article is mean to spark your curiosity that there may be alternatives to taking a acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin for your hangover. Because these options have been shown to potentially have long-term negative effects on the body also. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) has been linked to liver as well as kidney damage. Ibuprofen and aspirin both increase the risk of ulcers and bleeding along the digestive tract, especially when combined with alcohol . If you are having a difficult time with managing your stress or abusing alcohol to help ease stress, then reach out to your homeopathic practitioner. We may be able to help. There is no need to have that battle alone. This Super Bowl weekend, have fun but be nice to yourself. No need to hurt yourself just because you want to relieve a little stress.
