These scientists think they've found a hangover cure in the unlikeliest of places

While many people have their own prescribed method for dealing with a hangover - hair of the dog, a full English, curling up in a ball in a dark room - Australian researchers appear to have come up with a more scientific cure.

In an unlikely development, they believe the humble pear could be the answer to one of humanity's most pressing issues.

CSIRO, Australia's national science body, has been carrying out a wide-ranging study into the fruit, which is apparently unloved Down Under, according to ABC.

They've already found some other medicinal attributes to the fruit and believe it can help to reduce cholesterol, constipation, and inflammation. But, let's face it, their hangover finding may well be the most revolutionary.

Believe it or not, there are effects that pears may have on the amount of blood alcohol after an alcoholic drink.

• Manny Noakes, research director at CSIRO

But, like the only sure way to avoid a hangover (don't start drinking in the first place), this is one in which you have to prepare yourself in advance.

As Munchies puts it, "you can’t wait until the morning of and just go ape on a bushel". Instead you need to eat some pear before you start drinking.

I should make the point that the effect was demonstrated if you take pear juice before alcohol consumption.

Once you have a hangover, there is no evidence that it will do you any good.

• Manny Noakes, research director at CSIRO

While the study is not scheduled to be finished for another two months, its initial findings could back up a study by researchers in the US which found that the prickly pear cactus can reduce inflammation of the liver after a night on the sauce, however they would also oppose an ancient Egyptian recipe which claimed the plantain is in fact the fruit of choice when trying to treat a hangover.

Although if scientists manage to perfect this hangover-free wine then perhaps there's no need for a cure in the first place.

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