GB2114000A - Hang-over treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

An alleviating composition for use as a hangover cure comprising an aldehyde or ketone or mixture thereof as a first ingredient distributed in an aqueous vehicle or diluent containing a volatile second ingredient e.g. ethyl alcohol, the aldehyde or ketone being of such type and in such an amount and in such form as to be inhalable at ambient temperature or after warming to temperatures up to those of body heat. The aldehyde or ketone may be formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, metaaldehyde, paraaldehyde, propionaldehyde, n-butyraldehyde, n- valeraldehyde, acrolein, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone.

Description

SPECIFICATION Alleviating composition The present invention relates to compositions for alleviating the delayed symptoms in humans of consumption to excess of food or of food and alcohol or of alcohol even when aggravated by smoking, these symptoms typically including some or all of nausea, headache, and disequilibrium and typically are experienced some hours after the consumption of the food or alcohol or combinations thereof has finished, typically on the morning after an evening of drinking and colloquially being known by the term a "hangover".

The composition will be referred to as a hangover cure but it is to be understood that this term does not imply that the composition will remove any of the symptoms or even alleviate all ofthem, it does mean however that the composition in a significant number of cases will alleviate at least one of the systems collectively referred to above as a "hangover". It is not promised that the consumption will have any effect on the symptoms of excessive consumption of alcohol such as to constitute a condition of alcohol poisoning.

According to the present invention an alleviating composition comprises an aldehyde or ketone or mixture thereof as a first ingredient distributed in an aqueous vehicle or diluent containing a volatile second ingredient, the aldehyde or ketone being of such type and in such an amount and in such form as to be inhalable at ambient temperature or after warming to temperatures up to those of body heat.

A preferred aldehyde is formaldehyde CH3CHO.

The second ingredient may be a liquid and preferably has a volatility greater than that of pure water and may comprise a volatile liquid for example an alcohol e.g. a lower alcohol preferably ethyl alcohol.

The composition may also include a compatible perfume, scent or essential oil preferably a herbal essential oil as a third ingredient. This helps impart olefactory acceptability to the composition and increase its ease of inhalation. The second and third ingredients may conveniently be provided by eau de cologne.

The composition typically contains on a weight basis 0.1 to 20% of the first ingredient, preferably 0.5 to 1 5 to 0.75 to 12% when formaldehyde is used, preferably 1 5 to 19% of the second ingredient, e.g. ethyl alcohol, preferably 35 to 80% or 60 to 75% when formaldehyde is used and preferably 0.5 to 3.0% of the third ingredient, e.g. herbal essential oils preferably 0.5 to 2.5 or 1.0 to 2.3% when formaldehyde is used.

According to a preferred form of the invention the composition consists essentially of 0.75 to 12% by weight of formaldehyde, 20 to 80% by weight of ethyl alcohol and 1 to 2.5% by weight of herbal essential oils, balance water, and especially 5 to 50% or 8 to 20% by weight of formalin in eau de cologne.

Whilst herbal essential oils have been mentioned as preferred, other compatible perfumes or scents acceptable to a person in a "hungover" condition can be used and scents with a masculine aspect may be used for compositions formulated for the mens market and scents with a more feminine aspect may be used for the womens market.

The composition is preferably self-administered for example a drop, e.g. of 0.02 to 0.05 especially 0.03 ccs volume, i.e. containing approximately 0.6 to 1.5 especially 0.9 milligrams of the first ingredient may be applied to one hand e.g. to the palm, the hands rubbed together to warm the composition and the hands then held up to the face so that the vapours emanating from the hands can be inhaled.

One slow gentle inhalation has been found to give appreciable and rapid relief of hangover symptoms. The process may be repeated but the extra relief provided by repeated self-administration in this way does not add significantly to the initial perceived relief.

The unit dose when formaldehyde is used is thus typically less than 2 mgs and even may be less than 1 mg. It will be appreciated therefore that the composition is a highly effective, economical and rapid acting agent for alleviating the symptoms of hangover.

The composition may be packaged in bottles, e.g. provided with a dropper mechanism within a sealable cap lid or closure thus permitting repeated administration of individual drops or unit doses, or may be packaged in frangible ampoules e.g. of glass or plastics each ampoule providing a single unit dose.

Thus the composition may be packaged as a multiplicity of unit doses in a container provided with delivery means effective to deliver only a single tnit dose at a time.

The invention may be put into practice in various ways and one specific embodiment will be described to illustrate the invention with reference to the accompanying example.

EXAMPLE 1 A composition in accordance with the invention was made up by mixing 8 ccs of formalin solution Coloniensis British Pharmacopia Codex 1 949 (containing 84% v/v ethyl alcohol, and 2.3% v/v of a mixture of herbal essential oils, balance water). This mixture was shaken vigorously in a closed container at 1 50C to form a clear homogeneous solution.

homogeneous solution.

The final composition thus contained 3% formaldehyde, 77.3% ethyl alcohol,2.1 of a mixture of herbal essential oils, balance water.

1 drop of volume 0.03 ccs containing 0.9 milligrams of formaldehyde when rubbed on the hands and inhaled slowly, with the eyes closed, after a short deiay of some 5 to 10 seconds, produced a smoothly rising effect in the nasal passages, clearing the head and promoting alertness, the effect dying away after some 30 seconds to 1 minute. When used the morning after an evening of excessive consumption of alcohol the treatment alleviates nausea and headache.

It has been found desirable to follow this procedure when used after the consumption of alcohol by drinking half a pint of water (420 ccs) or a quarter pint (210 ccs) of citrus fruit or tomato juice.

Because of the preferred mode of administration the first ingredient desirably has a boiling point below 900C especially below 800 C.

Spiritus Coloniensis can be made up by mixing the following ingredients: Herbal essential oils 2.3% v/v (assuming 2 of the orange flower water is essential oil) Oil of Bergamot 12.5 ml Oil of Lemon 5.0 ml Oil of Neroli 2.0 ml Oil of Rosemary 1.5 ml Concentrated Orange-flower water 3.0 ml Water 41.7 ml Ethyl Alcohol (90% EtOH 10% H20) to 1000 ml i.e. Total EtOH 84% v/v Total H20 13.7 v/v as follows: The essential oils are dissolved in 900 ml of the alcohol, the orange flower water which has previously been diluted with the water is then slowly added and then the mixture is made up to 10coo ml with the remaining alcohol.

Various formulations were made up and their composition and efficacy are given in Tables 1 A and 1 B below: TABLE 1A

Volume of Volume of Formalin - Vehicle vehicle Essential Example used used used Oils Effect 2 2 ccs H20 23 ccs - None - to very faint 3 2 ccs Vodka 23 ccs - None - to very slight (37.5% EtOH) 4 - Spiritus 100% herbal None Coloniensis 5 2 ccs Spiritus 10.5 ccs herbal Substantially as Example 1 Coloniensis 6 100% ~ ~ ~ Greasy appearance on hands -- sharp un pleasant smell, skin on face stung nasal sensation less pervasive than Example 1 7 4 ccs Spiritus 8.5 herbal Substantially as Coloniensis Examplel 8 6 ccs Spiritus 6.5 herbal Very strong Coloniensis immediate rapidly rising ----------------------------- effect 9 Ex. 1 Spiritus herbal Similar effect to formulation Coloniensis Ex. 1 but longer 1 cc + delay of 10-15 1 cc H20 seconds before onset 10 Ex. 1 Spiritus herbal Similar effect to formulation Coloniensis Ex. 1 but longer 1 cc + delay of 1 5-20 3 ccs H20 seconds before onset TABLE 1B

% w/v formaldehyde EtOH content Total HzO content I Essential oils on total % v/v on total % v/v on total % v/v on total Example composition composition composition composition 2 3 97 3 3 34.4 62.6 4 - 84 13.7 2.3 5 5.9 70.6 21.6 1.9 6 37 7 11.8 57.1 29.5 1.6 8 17.8 43.7 37.3 1.2 9 1.5 38.7 57.75 1.05 10 0.75 19.3 79.42 0.53 Whilst the preferred first ingredient is formaldehyde or formalin, any other such material could be used instead which had an appropriate relieving effect and which was pharmacologically acceptable at the dosage levels envisaged herein. Such materials may include acetaldehyde, metaaldehyde, paraaldehyde, propionaldehyde, n-butyraldehyde and n-valeraldehyde and acrolein, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone. Because of the preferred mode of administration the first ingredient desirably has a boiling point below 900C especially below 800 C.

The invention also extends to apparatus for supplying a composition in accordance with the invention comprising a reservoir for the composition, and coin freed means for delivering a unit dose of the said composition to an outlet.

A supply of disposable single use nose or face masks may also be provided and arranged to be released one at a time by the coin freed mechanism, which is also arranged to enable a user activatable mechanism for delivering a single unit dose of the said composition per mask.

The user activatable mechanism can be operated by the user once he has put on the mask and connected it to the delivery outlet of the apparatus.

In addition heater means may be provided for volatilizing the said composition. Preferably the heater means are activated by the coin freed mechanism.

In another form of the invention a composition in accordance with the invention is packaged as a single unit dose in container means which seal the composition from the atmosphere prior to use but are readily actuable manually by the intended user to cause release of the said composition.

The container means may comprise a frangible ampoule e.g. of glass or plastic, or the container means may comprise a rupturable container e.g. a bubble of plastics film, or the container means may comprise a rupturable outer film envelope substantially impermeable to the said composition under normal storage conditions.

Preferably the container means contain a foraminous, porous or fibrous support of extended surface area on which the said composition is carried.

The container means may include or be carried on a laminar or planar support.

In another form of the invention the container means comprise a multiplicity of small containers rupturable in combination to release said single unit dose, for example the container means may comprise a multiplicity of microspheres encapsulating the said composition.

In this form of the invention, the microspheres are preferably distributed over a planar support, the number of such microspheres, their distribution and the concentration of the first ingredient therein being such as to cause an effective single unit dose to be released at least by rupturing only a restricted area thereof, said minimum effective area preferably being visually indicated on the said support.

In another form of the invention reactive means are provided in the container means separately from the alleviating composition arranged such that a simple manipulation of the package will cause the reactive means to come into contact and heat up, the package being such that this heat is conducted to the alleviating composition whereby its inhalation is facilitated. Preferably means are provided to simultaneously mix the reactive ingredients and expose the alleviating composition to the atmosphere.

Claims (28)

1. An alleviating composition for use as a hangover cure comprising an aldehyde or ketone or mixture thereof as a first ingredient distributed in an aqueous vehicle or diluent containing a volatile second ingredient, the aldehyde or ketone being of such type and in such an amount and in such form as to be inhalable at ambient temperature or after warming to temperatures up to those of body heat.

2. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 in which the first ingredient comprises formaldehyde.

3. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the second ingredient comprises a liquid having a volatility greater than that of pure water.

4. A composition as claimed in Claim 3 in which the second ingredient comprises volatile lower alcohol.

5. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 including a compatible perfume, scent or essential oil as a third ingredient.

6. A composition as claimed in Claim 4 and Claim 5 in which the second and third ingredients are provided by eau de cologne.

7. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6, which contains 0.1 to 20% by weight of the first ingredient.

8. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 which contains 1 5 to 90% by weight of the second ingredient.

9. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 8 which contains 0.5 to 3.0% by weight of the third ingredient.

10. A composition as claimed in Claim 4, 5 or 6 consisting essentially of 0.75 to 12% by weight of formaldehyde, 35 to 80% by weight of ethyl alcohol and 0.5 to 2.5% by weight of essential oils, balance water.

11. A composition as claimed in Claim 4, 5 or 6 consisting essentially of 5 to 50% by weight of formalin in eau de cologne.

1 2. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as specifically described herein with reference to any one of the accompanying Examples 1, 5, 7 or 8.

13. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12 packaged as a multiplicity of unit doses in a container provided with delivery means effective to deliver only a single unit dose at a time.

14. Apparatus for supplying a composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12 comprising a reservoir for the composition, and coin freed means for delivering a unit dose of the said composition to an outlet.

1 5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 in which a supply of disposable single use nose or face masks is provided and arranged to be released one at a time by the coin freed mechanism, which is also arranged to enable a user activatable mechanism for delivering a single unit dose of the said composition per mask.

1 6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 14 or 1 5 in which heater means are provided for volatilizing the said composition.

1 7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 6 in which the heater means are activated by the coin freed mechanism.

18. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12 packaged as a single unit dose in container means which seal the composition from the atmosphere prior to use but are readily actuable manually by the intended user to cause release of the said composition.

1 9. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 8 in which the container means comprise a frangible ampoule.

20. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 8 in which the container means comprise a rupturable container.

21. A composition as claimed in Claim 1 8 in which the container means comprise a rupturable outer film envelope substantially impermeable to the said composition under normai storage conditions.

22. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 18 to 21 in which the container means contain a foraminous, porous or fibrous support of extended surface area on which the said composition is carried.

23. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 8 to 22 in which the container means include or are carried on a laminar or planar support.

24. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 8 to 23 in which the container means comprise a multiplicity of smaller containers rupturable in combination to release said single unit dose.

25. A composition as claimed in Claim 24 in which the container means comprise a multiplicity of microspheres encapsulating the said composition.

26. A composition as claimed in Claim 25 in which the microspheres are distributed over a planar support, the number of such microspheres, their distribution and the concentration of the first ingredient therein are such as to cause an effective single unit dose to be released at least by rupturing only a restricted area thereof, said minimum effective area preferably being visually indicated on the said support.

27. A composition as claimed in any one of Claims 1 8 to 26 in which reactive means are provided in the container means separately from the alleviating composition arranged such that a simple manipulation of the package will cause the reactive means to come into contact and heat up, the package being such that this heat is conducted to the alleviating composition whereby its inhalation is facilitated.

28. A composition as claimed in Claim 27 in which means are provided to simultaneously mix the reactive ingredients and expose the alleviating composition to the atmosphere.