Friday, May 27, 2011

Ancient Hangovers



Yes you did read that title correctly. This post happens to be inspired by 1) the fact that tonight I am planning on heavily drinking to celebrate my best friend graduating from college and I just accepted a full time position at job which includes a raise (yes unfortunately this may mean less posts from me). 2) I'm going to see The Hangover Part II tomorrow morning.



I mean think about it people in Ancient times had hangovers as well and there was no greasy egg sandwiches, aspirin and other remedies we have now. So then what did they do to prevent those head splitting head aches, turning stomachs and that oh so fun roller coaster ride around the room in your mind. First let's look at the Ancient Assyrians along the Tigris river. They thought they could manage or treat their hangovers with a concoction featuring myrrh and the ground-up beaks of birds. Like every other human effort on the market, the research just doesn't support this one (Bonader 2011).


The Mongolians were another group that had a very strange hangover remedy: Pickled Sheep Eyes. Honestly I'd rather have the feeling of a hangover than injesting sheep eyes (well then again I'm also a vegetarian lol). Possibly even weirder, Europeans in the Middle Ages would chew on raw eel with some bitter almonds (http://www.drinkember.com/general/ancient-hangover-remedies%E2%80%A6/).


A little less weird remedies by the Egyptians was eating boiled cabbage, Ancient Libyans; a mixture of seawater and wine, Ancient Romans; fried canary and Australia; T-bone steak, chocolate milkshake. Of course we could always go with the Germans, Irish, Scottish and many other cultures that claimed the best was the "hair of the dog" (http://www.misscharming.com/bartender/hangovertips.htm).



It wasn't only the Ancients that had very weird conncotions. Even the "Wild West" had some nuitty ones. Not only did the guys back then rule over a scary lawless land, they drank tea made from rabbit droppings in order to alleviate their hangovers. Once again I think I'd rather have the hangover rather than drinking rabit droppings. Ewww.






References:




"5 Things You Didn't Know About Hangovers" By Ross Bonander
Published May 27, 2011 Askmen.comRead






http://www.misscharming.com/bartender/hangovertips.htm


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