Knowledge is power

Tulane University students have one more reason to party: Researchers there recently discovered that an herbal supplement may lessen the hell of a hangover. A hangover that is the result of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages lasts from 12 to 36 hours. The most common reported characteristics of a hangover are headache, nausea, lethargy, sensitivity to light and noise, and thirst.

The scientists gave 55 people either an extract of prickly pear cactus or a placebo before letting them booze. When the drinkers rated their hangovers, those who swallowed the supplement reported 50 percent fewer symptoms than those who popped a placebo. One theory is that compounds in prickly pear cactus boost the body’s production of heat-shock proteins, which limit the inflammation caused by overimbibing. Look for a supplement that contains Tex-OE, the patented extract used in the study, and take it with a low-carb meal. The fiber in grains can inhibit absorption.

German drinkers need not apply!