Doc's Relief

Not all hangovers are cure-able, although with proper education and herbal prevention one can greatly reduce them. Sometimes one might just drink too much and not get enough sleep (It's like wearing a seatbelt in a car, if you hit a wall at 80mph, well, good luck to you, no matter what protection you have). At these times pain medications such as ibuprofen and more sleep will greatly aid the 'ill' feelings.

Hangovers are mainly due to toxification in the bloodstream from acetaldehyde and secondarily from dehydration. Since they both contribute to the effects, we will discuss them in detail.

Production of acetaldehyde

In the Liver, alcohol/ethanol is metabolized through an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH).

Alcohol dehydrogenases comprise a group of several isozymes that facilitate the conversion of toxic alcohols to aldehyde, thus forming acetaldehyde.

It's this little chemical that's responsible for most hangover symptoms. Acetaldehyde is much more toxic than ethanol (alcohol) itself.

The more efficient your body is at removing acetaldehyde, the less hung-over you feel.

Doc's Relief targets acetaldehyde, binding to it, thus dropping it from the bloodstream

Acetaldehyde Accumulation

Smoking:
Acetaldehyde is a significant component of tobacco smoke. It has been demonstrated to have a synergistic effect with nicotine, increasing the onset and intensity of addiction.

Inflammation:
Acetaldehyde is a toxic substance. The metabolism of alcohol produces an acetaldehyde buildup in the Liver. Since this is a portal to general circulation, acetaldehyde thus acts as a systemic CNS and spinal nerve irritant.

Candida:
Acetaldehyde is also a product of Candida metabolism. Removing acetaldehyde is thus helpful to those with Candida.

Olfactory Sensitivity:
Some people are sensitive to various fragrances and airborne odors. Those patients with acetaldehyde sensitivity are incredibly sensitive to any type of fragrance. Removing acetaldehyde is thus helpful to reduce this long-term sensitivity.

Alzheimer's:
People who have a genetic deficiency for the conversion of acetaldehyde into acetic acid may have a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease. It has been shown that this ALDH2 deficiency is a risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Organ Disease:
Acetaldehyde has the ability to bind to proteins, thus forming adducts. These adducts are linked to organ disease.

Neuronal Damage:
When acetaldehyde is present in the brain, thus binding to proteins creating adducts. Its these adducts that can cause neuronal damage. They can cause neurons and their related synaptic receptors to disappear.

Carcinogen:
Acetaldehyde is damaging to DNA and causes abnormal muscle development as it binds to proteins. Acetaldehyde is also a possible carcinogen in humans.

Alcoholism:
A study of 818 heavy drinkers found that those exposed to more acetaldehyde than normal, through a defect in the gene for alcohol dehydrogenase, are at greater risk of developing cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract and liver. Acetaldehyde adducts are also found in the frontal cortex and midbrain of alcoholics.

Dehydration and its effects

Since alcohol is a diuretic, the body easily becomes dehydrated. This dehydration is responsible for fatigue, headaches, feelings of being light headed, nausea, photophobia and even vomiting.

Doc's Relief reduces dehyrdration by offsetting Potassium loss.

Fermentation and its effects

Some alcoholic drinks have a higher probability of causing hangovers than others. These drinks tend to have high quantities of congeners, impurities that include acetone, acetaldehyde, and tannins. Congeners are responsible for most of the taste, aroma, and color of alcoholic beverages. They are more present in alcohols such as red wine, causing more severe symptoms than those with lower concentration of congeners such as white wine. Red wines also contain Tyramines, which are not easily broken down by the Liver. This is one of the major triggers of Migraines and headaches in Tyramine sensitive people.

Dietary Prevention

Eating a meal before drinking will help to lessen the effects of alcohol consumption by slowing its absorption into the bloodstream. To prevent the irritating effects alcohol has on the stomach, eat more fatty foods.

Since alcohol causes the blood sugar to drop, eating foods that raise blood sugar are helpful. Foods that restore lost potassium and salts, as well those containing fructose, which assists in burning the alcohol faster, are also helpful.

Another preventive measure is consuming water and non-fizzy soft drinks while imbibing to hydrate the body.