Natural Health: What can I take for my hangovers which are getting worse with age?

Plus: natural ways of dealing with fungal infection and thickening toenails

Pic: iStock

I like to enjoy a few drinks over Christmas but find the hangovers get worse with age. What would you suggest?

As we age the accumulation of stress, sleep deficit, and general health niggles all contribute to how our bodies process alcohol and our experience of hangovers. The liver is a hard-working organ and is essential for overall health. Some of its key functions include processing toxins, regulating cholesterol, producing bile and enzymes for digestion, and storing glycogen, which acts as a short-term energy reserve.

To support your liver, try milk thistle and dandelion root. Milk thistle is best taken in tablet format or as a tincture, while dandelion root works well as a herbal infusion.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) helps to reduce hangover-type symptoms by increasing glutathione levels and reducing acetaldehyde effects on the body. B vitamins are in shorter supply as we age, and alcohol further depletes these precious vitamins. Vitamin B1 and NAC are thought to work synergistically, so take a quality B-complex together with 200mg of NAC about half an hour before you drink alcohol to help moderate any hangover-type symptoms the next day.

Kudzu, a coarse, high-climbing perennial vine from China, contains the active constituents daidzein and daidzin, which help to minimise the negative effects of alcohol. You will need to take 1,000mg (1g) of Kudzu with breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the same again the day after drinking. You can also try applying essential oils to the soles of your feet to help minimise hangovers. Fennel, juniper, and geranium essential oils will stimulate the pressure points for the kidney area, and this helps to speed up the elimination of toxins from the body. Either drop the oils neat onto the inner soles of your shoes or massage them into your feet at a ratio of five drops per 10ml of base oil.

Make sure you pace yourself by alternating alcoholic beverages with hydrating non-alcoholic drinks throughout the evening to stay hydrated. Still or sparkling water with a citrus twist is a good choice — you can even add a pinch of salt to help keep your electrolytes up.

I’ve a fungal infection in my toenails, which makes them look like claws. I’ve tried over-the-counter preparations with no luck. Is there a natural remedy I could use, or do I need to put up with this for life?

Fungal infection of the nails often indicates that the immune system is overburdened or weakened, so it is crucial to address this internally and externally. It is common for toenails to thicken somewhat as we age, however fungal infections will further exacerbate this issue.

Most people’s feet are trapped in socks and shoes throughout the day, creating an optimal warm, often damp, environment for fungal infections to take hold. Using essential oils such as tea tree, manuka, or Melissa (lemon balm) works quickly and effectively for most people.

Apply the pure essential oil directly to the nails twice to three times daily, using a cotton bud or pad. You can get specific preparations,  however these are often best for fungal infections of the skin rather than the actual toenails.

Iodine-based topical preparations have long been used to help treat fungal and bacterial skin and nail infections, but you can also include healing iodine-rich foods in your diet. Sea vegetables are an excellent source of bioavailable iodine, or you can take a supplement such as nascent iodine or Lugol’s preparation.

Since the root cause of fungal infections varies between individuals, it can often be the case that what works well for one person or one infection may not work for another.

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• NOTE: The information contained in this column is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult a doctor.