Patch promises hangover cure

Kimberly Gillan
Thursday, November 1, 2012
The Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch

As the festive season hits, many partygoers reluctantly accept that a few foggy mornings are probably on the cards. But the Bytox Hangover Prevention Patch promises to offer a helping hand.

Launched in the UK this week and available on eBay for Australian consumers, the patch claims to be able to replenish vitamins and acids that are lost when drinking.

The patch contains a blend of vitamins A, B, D and E, acai berry and folic acid.

Related: Drink wine and lose weight!

Users are instructed to stick the patch on their skin 45 minutes before drinking and leave it on for eight hours after they finish their alcohol session, in order for the ingredients to absorb directly into the blood stream.

While it hasn't received any official medical endorsement, online reviews claim "it works great".

But accredited practicing dietitian Katherine Shone from Nutrition Australia, warns the patch is probably too good to be true.

"It's unlikely to have much of an effect because it doesn't really address the main cause of the hangover, which is the amount of alcohol in the blood stream," Shone said.

"It doesn't prevent the body from absorbing that alcohol, or even assist it in getting rid of the toxins that are created by the alcohol during digestion."

Shone warned that people using patches and other quick fix hangover remedies needed to be careful.

"These patches are a bit of a concern because by using them, people might feel like they have a free path to drink unsafe levels of alcohol," she said.

"Dieitians like to see people stick to the recommended dietary guidelines, which is two standard drinks a day with at least two alcohol-free days a week."

When it comes to hangover relief, the advice hasn't changed.

"The only way to prevent a hangover is to drink less alcohol in the first place," Shone said.

"Only time can cure the hangover because the body needs time to process and remove the alcohol from the bloodstream, and that process can't be sped up."

The best thing revellers who have a big night can do is to keep hydrated.

"Dehydration is one of the key factors that leads to a hangover, along with lack of sleep and the toxins that are floating around in your body," Shone said.

Related gallery: How to cure a hangover

"Water with electrolytes will assist the body absorbing the fluid."

Watch as the What's Good For You This Summer team find the drinks that will help you avoid a hangover


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