Too much festive spirit: There are ways to reduce the effects of festive overindulgence

LOOKING forward to the work Christmas do? And the big day? Let's not forget Hogmanay either. Really, it's practically a legal requirement that, at least once or twice over the festive period, all consenting adults will be a little tipsy on peace, goodwill and cheap bubbly. It seems such a good idea at the time, doesn't it? But the next day, when the head is pounding, the stomach starts gurgling and you can't decide whether you need a bacon sandwich, a paracetamol or another drink, those immortal words will be heard all over the land: I'm never drinking again.

The average adult spends a whopping four years of their life nursing a hangover, according to one study. Eight in ten get the shakes, four in ten feel nauseous, one in five can't stop sweating and the same number feels dizzy. Nearly half have called in sick after a heavy night on the sauce. A new drug developed in the US claims to be able to eradicate all symptoms of a hangover within 15 minutes, thanks to a heady cocktail of caffeine, aspirin and antacid – though it won’t be available in the UK until next year.

“The driving fact behind hangovers is dehydration. Alcohol is a poison – there's no way round that," says Dr Roger Henderson, a self-proclaimed hangover expert – though he insists his expertise doesn't come entirely from personal experience. “If you see enough patients," he smiles wryly, “you've seen it all."

The dehydration, he says, causes inflammation of the lining of the brain and that's what gives you the stonking headache. So why do we keep on drinking? “For many people, the actual act of getting drunk – not being drunk – is very pleasurable. If you could just stop after two or three that would be fine, but most people don't have an off switch."

So, with umpteen parties in the diary, not to mention random leftover bottles on the sideboard, he has some tips on how to survive the festive season with as little pain as possible. “Try to alternate your alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic drinks," he suggests.

“Also, as the night goes on and more alcohol gets into you, you can get thirstier so you drink faster than you did at the start. If you alternate your drinks you're going to control the amount of alcohol you take in as well as the speed at which you drink it."

Take plenty of ice in your drinks for the same reason, don't try to compete with other drinkers and try not to party seven days a week. “Give your body a break," he says. “And avoid some of the big-hitter alcohols, especially things like brandy and dark rum. They can be rich in things called congeners, and they contribute to serious hangovers."

Then, when you get home, have that fabled pint of water. It really does help. “If you try to catch up in the morning, it's too late," warns Dr Henderson.

As well as rehydration, the other pressing issue is usually a thudding pain behind your temples. Soluble paracetamol and water is the best treatment. “That's because it gets into your bloodstream faster. Obviously the water will also help with hydration. But avoid aspirin and ibuprofen-type tablets because they can actually worsen stomach irritation caused by alcohol."

What about milk thistle, I ask? Plenty people swear by the herb as a hangover cure. “There's no good evidence of that," says Dr Henderson.

This might not be a good time to mention hair of the dog either ... “It might defer some of the worst symptoms," he admits, “but the pain is going to hit. You're certainly not going to drink yourself sober."

One remedy that does get a thumbs-up – albeit a tenuous one – is good old Irn-Bru, partly because you get a low blood sugar level the morning after. “Irn-Bru is packed with sugar so you're rehydrating and giving yourself a sugar fix. That is why you can feel better after taking it.”

Let's not forget the bacon sandwich, downed with several cups of sugary tea. “It works for some people. In general, though, the high fat content of a fry-up isn't a good idea because digesting the fat can put extra strain on an already hard-working digestive system."

Instead, he suggests something like scrambled egg, baked beans and toast, which will help to steady fluctuating blood sugar levels. “And eggs contain something called cysteine, which is said to help mop up toxins building up in the liver."

Basically we need to rehydrate, eat and take analgesics for the pain. “And get some fresh air,” says Dr Henderson. “Oxygen can help boost the processing of toxins.