Slap this clear patch that’s chock-full of vitamins on your butt before a night out and you won’t have a hangover the next day. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not. It freaking works.
Bye-bye hangover, hello Bytox.
I was introduced to Bytox The Hangover Patch by friends who handed me a patch as we headed out the door for a night out on the town. I carefully examined the (very clear) ingredient list before slapping that sucker on and forgetting about it until morning. Since then, I’ve “tested” it out again, as have several other “testers” of mine, and it seems as though Bytox does make the morning-after ouchies go bye-bye. It doesn’t, however, make up for lost sleep, so don’t expect to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after a late night. That’s what coffee is for.
How to Use Bytox The Hangover Patch
Apply the approximately 2-by-2-inch clear square to a hairless part of your body before you begin drinking and leave it on for at least 8 hours after. It peels off really easily when you’re ready to remove it.
So, What’s in Bytox The Hangover Patch?
It contains 12 vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients, including a significant dose of vitamin B12 and folic acid. The manufacturer says it “contains a vitamin-B complex as well as many other nutrients that are essential in helping your brain and body function on a day-to-day basis.”
The manufacturer also says it is an 100% organic formula, but FYI, it’s not certified organic. Here is the ingredient list:
BYTOX THE HANGOVER PATCH INGREDIENTS: Acai Berry 20mg, Vitamin A 1mg, Vitamin B12 1000mcg, Vitamin B2 1.7mg, Vitamin B3 19mg, Vitamin B5 5mg, Vitamin B6 2mg, Folic Acid 4000 mcg, Vitamin D 5mcg, Vitamin E 10mg, Vitamin B1 150mg, Green Tea Extract 10mg. Inactive Ingredients: Acrylic Copolymer Adhesive. The Patch does not contain latex.
(The “Acrylic Copolymer Adhesive” is what makes it stick to your skin.)
Water-soluble B vitamins dissolve in water and are carried to the body’s tissues. Your body uses what it needs and flushes out the rest from the kidneys when you go to the bathroom. It can also store vitamin B12 in the liver for years.
How a Hangover Happens
Alcohol is a diuretic (causes increased peeing!), so drinking too much results in dehydration. Dehydration shrinks the membrane surrounding your brain called the dura, causing your headache. The diuretic effects also cause the depletion of beneficial nutrients and vitamins from the body, including B vitamins.
How Bytox Works
The Bytox patch essentially works to help restore your vitamin balance.
“I am not familiar with this patch personally, but after reviewing all the ingredients, I could see how it could be effective,” says Dr. Bindiya Gandhi, functional and integrative medicine physician at Revive MD. “Because alcohol can dehydrate you, taking B vitamins or even staying hydrated will help. This is also why people love IVs filled with B vitamins the next day after they have a hangover to flush out the kidneys and keep hydrated.”
A Word of Caution
High doses of folic acid can block the effects of some medicines. If you take any regular medicines, ask your doctor first before using this patch. Also, if you have sensitive skin or have had a reaction from adhesive bandages in the past, you may get a reaction from the patch.
Still interested in giving it a try? You can find it on Amazon here.
Of course, the most effective way to avoid a hangover is simply not to drink too much or not drink at all! Just remember, the body can process about one drink per hour and a best practice is to follow every glass of alcohol with a glass of water. Hydration is your friend. So is food. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Carbs can help slow the absorption of alcohol. OK, that’s all.
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