It’s time to gear up for a month full of holiday events – office luncheons, dinner parties and gift exchanges, oh my!

When all the merriment and shopping takes its toll, you may experience these common holiday hangovers. Here are a few suggested cures.

A POUNDING HEADACHE is one of the most common symptoms after a holiday party. For trusted advice, we turned to Dr. Michele Raithel with Revolutions Natural Medical Solutions in Folsom. Dr. Raithel is trained in natural therapeutics and the practice of alternative medicine. “The best medicine for over-indulgence is planning,” she says. “If you know that you are going to enjoy a few cocktails and you want to avoid the inevitable headache, load up on the necessary cofactors for the metabolism of alcohol. A detox shot including [vitamins] B12, B complex, thiamine, and a homeopathic to flush out the toxins is adequate.”

NAUSEA occurs when alcohol irritates your stomach lining.  Dr. Oz – author, heart surgeon and host of The Dr. Oz Show – says your best bet for nausea is cooked eggs, which are high in cysteine, an amino acid that helps your body process the toxins in alcohol. You might also try drinking a fruit smoothie to increase your blood sugar and replenish one or two nutrients that were likely lost the previous night.

EATING TOO MUCH RICH FOOD can also make you feel sick. If you don’t normally eat heavy sauces, gravies or butter-laden foods, your body isn’t used to processing them. “Eating rich foods is a temptation that most people can’t resist during the holidays,” Dr. Raithel acknowledges. “If you do end up with a miserably full stomach, a good enzyme supplement with a well-rounded grouping of digestive enzymes will help break things down faster.”

EMOTIONAL STRESS is, unfortunately, a big part of the holiday rush. An important thing to remember, says Dr. Raithel, is that the goodwill of the holiday season can only be shared if you are being good to yourself first. “Make holiday choices that will make you smile every time you think of them,” she says. “Random acts of kindness are a good start. When I am stressed out on a shopping day I like to leave an extra $5 with the cashier at a coffee shop and ask them to buy a coffee for the next person who looks like they need a smile.”

SLEEP DEPRIVATION is a problem for many when their holiday schedule involves long to-do lists and late night parties. Stick to your regular schedule if at all possible, including sleep/wake and meal times. Experiment with a few different ways to relax in the evening and promote sleep, such as listening to soothing music instead of watching action-oriented TV shows, soaking in a warm bath with aromatic oils (lavender and rose scents are good choices), or relaxing with your favorite book and a cup of chamomile tea.