Tried all the tricks — coffee, two panados, three cups of water? Apparently the latest fad is to ingest some pumice. Yes, a piece of unmolten lava said to soak up your poisonous alcohol levels may just be your answer to a pained morning-after-a-night-out.

A British corporation, Global Health Company, discovered that volcanic dust acts as a natural detoxifying agent when it attaches itself to toxins that have entered your body. They say six pills taken before a night of drinking should be enough to keep the edge off a four to five-pint booze hangover.

A hangover, says Professor Karen Charlton, Head of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Cape Town, is caused by dehydration. Although hangovers can be moderated by drinking less or slower and eating before going out, what do you do when you occasionally get a little carried away?

Charlton believes there isn’t a specific hangover cure, but there are several things that will help ease the pain and assist you to recovery.

Down a glass of fruit juice
 Cindy Chin, a registered dietician, recommends fresh fruit blended with low fat yoghurt and wheat germ. This, she says, "will give you a convenient drink packed with vitamin C and B6 to help you detox, and the carbs and protein will help to normalise blood sugar levels."

Sip a sports drink
 Sports drinks like Energade, says Charlton, work wonders. "Keep some ready-made bottles in the fridge, or better still, next to the bed when you get home from your party."

Marmite and bananas
 Marmite or Bovril, says Charlton, is packed with much-needed B vitamins, while bananas contain potassium, which your body will need to replenish after a night out.

Lay off aspirin and coffee
 Headache tablets or strong cup of black coffee should not be taken as preventatives, says Charlton, as they can aggravate the symptoms of a hangover. "If you want to take a pill, a multivitamin might help by replenishing some of the B vitamins you have lost in your urine during the course of the evening."

Hair of the dog
 "This, like black coffee after a night out," says Charlton, "is an old wives’ tale. Another drink will only prolong your recovery time. Rather call in sick if you have to work the next day and try to sleep it off."

Drink lighter
 Charlton says there are toxins besides alcohol itself that contribute to a mega hangover such as chemicals called congeners. "The general rule is that darker drinks, such as red wine, bourbon, scotch and brandy, have more congeners than lighter drinks like white wine, vodka and gin.

"But you should also keep in mind that whatever your drink's colour, the cheaper it is, the more toxins will be in it."