Ah, just in time. MetaFilter has a thread today on hangover remedies. As mentioned in the FPP, the time-tested water & aspirin is a good standby (and it’s what I go with, though with ibuprofen in lieu of aspirin). And, as would be expected on MetaFilter, there’s a fair degree of snark with several suggestions to just keep drinking; but, there’re also some more useful comments in there.
One that caught my eye is N-Acetyl Cysteine, suggested by dws. N-Acetyl Cysteine, also known by its acronym “NAC”, is an over-the-counter supplement with a variety of uses, from treating an acetaminophen overdose to compensating for depressed levels of glutathione in AIDS patients. However, it apparently can also counteract hangovers:
Studies suggest that NAC, taken together with Vitamin C and B1 can be used to prevent and relief syptoms of veisalgia (hangover caused by alcohol). The primary detoxification mechanism for scavenging unmetabolized acetaldehyde (product of alcohol dehydrogenase) is sulfur-containing antioxidants. Cysteine and glutathione are active against acetaldehyde because they contain a reduced (unoxidized) form of sulfur called a sulfhydryl group, which contains a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (abreviated SH). Another study indicates, that N-acetylcysteine generally regresses the oxidative damage induced by alcohol. […]
Of course, I’m guessing that all the usual stores which might carry NAC would be closed today; so, I’ll just have to buy some in time for next year. However, the Wikipedia page on Hangovers also mentions that NAC can be found to some extent in eggs — perhaps explaining why eggs are a component of many hangover folk remedies. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an omelette to make (HHOS).