The Wine Lover's Survival Kit

If you love to drink wine, these herbs and essential oils will be your new BFF.

I’m going to be drinking a lot of wine for the next 3 days. You see, Scott and I are going to our first “barrel tasting” in Sonoma, which means we will be sipping, and stumbling our way through wine country in search of great wine buys. What is a barrel tasting exactly? It’s a chance to try and invest in wine before it makes it into the bottle 12-18 months later, at a discounted price. This is a great opportunity to build your wine collection out and purchase wines that are often limited in release or hard to get come bottling time. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that my husband Scott is REALLY getting into wine.

This “contraption” is aptly called a “wine thief”. Photo via creative commons

I LOVE DRINKING wine. And because of that, I’m sharing my tips for taking the right steps to eliminate the dreadful wine hangover. Because we all know that wine hangovers are the absolute worst! And because I drink wine pretty much every day, there are some steps that need to be taken to make sure I’m also detoxing on a regular basis. So here is my ultimate wine lovers survival kit to help eliminate the ultimate terrible wine hangover, and ways to lessen the pain and suffering the next day.

Here’s the damage we did with our Thanksgiving Wine Pairing Menu. The next day was BRUTAL!!!

BEFORE DRINKING:

#1) Gymnema: If you get nothing else on this list, trust me, Gymnema will be your savior for any night of drinking – and not just for wine. This herb essentially eats the sugar in your system and lessens the effects of a hangover. I have my sailing friend Vicky to thank for telling me about this herb! Vicky, this has changed my life! You need to take 2-3 Gymnema BEFORE you start drinking. That is the key!!!

AFTER DRINKING:

#2) Grapefruit Essential Oil: If you search “hangover” in the reference guide for essential oils- the 2 oils that show up are Grapefruit and Lemon. You can dilute in a carrier oil such olive oil or coconut oil and apply to the back of the neck or over the liver. Just breathing the aroma in gives a “pick me up” that can also help with nausea. **I always recommend using high quality Essential Oil. I use Young Living, unless they are out of stock when I may substitute another brand.

#3) Peppermint Oil: Peppermint Oil is REALLY great for headaches. It is also really great for helping you “wake up” and get energized. I recommend rubbing a mix of grapefruit and peppermint essential oils between your hands and inhaling for an energizing blend that helps you get going after having one two many the night before. This is also great for nausea. I also use the peppermint oil to help relieve headaches by rubbing some on my temples and on the back of my neck. Trust me, this has worked when Aleve hasn’t!

#4) Milk Thistle: this herb is a powerful liver detoxifier that also fights free radicals. I always take a milk thistle pill after a night of drinking but try to remember to take milk thistle on a regular basis (a few times a week) as it also helps your liver get rid of the toxins in pesticides, prescription drugs and other environmental stressors (all of that on top of your alcohol consumption!)

ONGOING DETOX:

#4) Juniper Essential Oil: I recommend Juniper Essential oil to be taken on a regular basis (not just after a night of drinking) as it it a natural all-over body detoxifier. It can relieve bloating, has anti-bacterial properties, helps rid your body of waste, and is also used for emotional stress. Try diffusing or applying topically with a carrier oil. I like to rub juniper oil with a dap of carrier oil over my liver a few times a week, on top of diffusing in the house. (Please note that if you have kidney problems, it is advised to not use juniper essential oil).