It's New Year's Day here in Pecan Springs, and many of our friends are recuperating from a little too much bottled happiness on New Year's Eve. Since this is a problem that's been with us since somebody first discovered the intoxicating power of fermented grain, we've collected a few tips on ways to handle a hangover. If you're suffering, maybe one of these will help.
Homer Mayo swears by the prickly pear cactus remedy that his daddy taught him. He felt pretty good last New Year's Day, especially after he read in the newspaper that scientists say that this really works. He says to drink it before you start on the hard stuff.
Homer's pal, Pete Hitchens, has a different cure. He mixes a cup of sauerkraut juice with a generous shot of Bloody Mary mix, for taste. In a couple of hours, he's feeling fit enough to turn on the TV and watch the bowl games.
Pansy Pride, president of the Myra Merryweather Herb Guild here in Pecan Springs, has a great deal of faith in a ginger-peppermint-feverfew tea, sweetened with 2-3 teaspoons honey. Ginger and peppermint are well-known stomach soothers, and feverfew is a time-tested headache remedy. The potassium in the honey will help to counteract the effects of the alcohol. Pansy's other remedy is just-say-no, but that never gets her very far.
Constance Letterman, who runs the Emporium, next door to Thyme & Seasons, lays in a supply of kudzu extract before the holidays. She read an article that claims that kudzu's isoflavones, diadzin and puerarin, will relieve the pain of over-indulgence. I was glad to hear this. A plant as prolific as kudzu has got to be good for something. (Actually, it's good for a lot of things, besides eating fences, telephone poles, and whole hillsides. You can read about them here. Scroll down the page for an intriguing recipe for kudzu blossom jelly. Now, aren't you glad you read this blog?)
For Ruby, thyme heals all things, including hangovers. She brews up a tea of crushed fresh or dried leaves, let's it steep for six or seven minutes, strains, and drinks.
Personally, I'm a firm believer in the power of milk thistle, or silymarin. It prevents toxins from entering liver cells and helps remove existing toxins. Take two 70 mg capsules before you head for that party.
All your friends in Pecan Springs send you a great big wish for a New Year that is happy and bright. We're praying for peace, too, and some good sense in Washington. We don't know about your town, but a whole lot of us here would be glad to have our military men and women back home with us to celebrate New Year's, 2008. Wouldn't that be a wonderful party?
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