 Nature's
Way
with Alan Hayes
Coping with Excess
With December now upon us most people are preparing for the usual round of parties and celebrations leading up to and over Christmas. Those New Year resolutions, from the beginning of the year, swearing that we won't overindulge in alcohol or all those tempting goodies seem to dissolve away as many of us still succumb.
This year why not consider an enjoyable alternative? For those special occasions, essential oils can add considerable zing to the party punch. They will add both flavour and aroma, turning an otherwise tame beverage into an extravaganza.
The following essential oils can be added to your own punch recipe, or just a simple bottle of non-alcoholic wine.
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Spices - cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, coriander, cardamom, ginger.
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Citrus - lemon, lime, mandarin, orange, tangerine, grapefruit.
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Flowers and herbs - bergamot orange, lemon balm (Melissa), lemon verbena, peppermint, rose, spearmint.
If you don't have a favourite party punch recipe, you may like to try this orange wine punch.
Put one bottle of non-alcoholic wine and half a litre of orange juice in a large punch bowl, add one drop of orange essential oil and one drop of grapefruit essential oil, and six slices each of orange and ruby grapefruit. Stir to mix. To serve cold, add ice cubes in which calendula flowers have been frozen.
You can vary the punch by substituting coriander and geranium oils, and the flowers in the ice cubes. Other flower petal choices are rose, nasturtium, borage, dandelions and violets.
If you find that you have succumbed to the end-of-year festivities by eating and drinking too much, herbs and essential oils can be used to relieve the associated discomfort.
Chamomile tea is excellent for calming down an overworked stomach; spearmint tea aids digestion and helps to dispel stomach gas. A mixture of equal parts peppermint, lemon balm and lemon verbena can be drunk after a heavy meal to aid digestion. Add one teaspoon of the dried herb (or one teaspoon of a mixture of them) to a ceramic cup, pour in hot water, infuse for three minutes, and strain into another cup. Adjust to taste with honey and lemon juice if preferred.
Another simple tea to aid digestion can be made by using one of the following: lemon oil, ginger oil or peppermint oil. Put one or two drops of your chosen oil and a teaspoon of honey into a mug, pour in boiling water, stir until dissolved, and sip slowly.
Overindulgence in alcohol leads to dehydration and results in those miserable sensations commonly called a hangover. To a greater or lesser degree the body is having to cope with poisoning.
Preventive measures include drinking plenty of water before you drink alcohol, or in between alcoholic drinks. This slows down the alcohol absorption rate and allows your body to cope better. Drink plenty of water after the party is over will help to flush the toxins from the body. Before going to sleep, take around a 1000 mg of vitamin C, but do not take any more than this (more than 1000 mg could cause diarrhoea). Avoid drinking black coffee as this will only make things worse.
The best antidote for a hangover and indigestion, however, is moderation. Drink and eat sensibly, and your body will thank you.
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