Best Rugby World Cup sore head cure: Water, pills and bed

The dreaded hangover is bound to cause some widespread pain on the mother of all mornings-after. Photo / Thinkstock

Find somewhere quiet, guzzle plenty of water, take a couple of painkillers - and sleep it off.

Sadly, this is the best modern medical science has to offer against the age-old problem of the hangover, which is bound to cause widespread agony and moaning on the mother of all mornings-after, following the final.

However, the internet is awash with advice for dealing with the headache and nausea caused by too much alcohol. It ranges from eating banana, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, to cold pizza, to Marmite on toast. Some swear by brisk exercise.

Appropriately for a tournament sponsored by a Dutch brand of lager, the Dutch believe, according to a National Geographic survey, that a cold beer or two is the best remedy.

Retired Auckland drug and alcohol doctor Ian Scott recommended starting early on the only treatment that offered some hope of mitigating the misery.

"As soon as you get home and go to bed, drink a whole lot of water and take two paracetamol ... or two ibuprofen," he said.

What about a big cooked breakfast the morning after? No help.

Vitamin C? No.

An addictions specialist, who asked not to be named, said the body used up water in processing alcohol and he agreed with Dr Scott's prescription.

"You're dehydrated and your brain has got less water in it than it would like. Therefore there is constriction of blood vessels. That's what gives you a headache."

ProCare Health clinical director Dr John Cameron said eating while you drank could slow down the absorption of alcohol. But his best advice was: "Tell the neighbours not to mow the lawn, and have a sleep-in."

EASING THE PAIN

* Pickle juice - the preference of the Poles.

* Bacon, eggs and sausages for breakfast - plenty of fat.

* Berocca - vitamins, minerals and water.

* Painkillers and water - the preference of some doctors.