London, Sep 17 (IANS): Is "hair of the dog" the best cure for hangover? According to a renowned author and journalist, another drink is the way to get rid of those forgetful morning episodes of a dry mouth, headaches, nausea and lethargy.

Adam Rogers, the author of the bestseller "Proof: the Science of Booze", opines that there could be an explanation as to why more alcohol relieves a hangover.

"There is a theory that says that a hangover is actually the symptom of very, very small amounts of methanol," he was quoted as saying in a report published by The Independent.

"If a hangover is methanol toxicity, you are going to have another drink and the ethanol displaces the methanol and you will feel better," he added.

All alcohol contains trace amounts of toxic methanol which can even lead to death in high concentrations because the body converts it into formaldehyde.

"Fortunately, the levels of methanol in most drinks are very low but added up over time, it can cause a hangover," said Rogers who covers science and miscellaneous geekery as the articles editor at Wired magazine.

In his book, he writes that the scientific name for a hangover is veisalgia, which is the Greek word for pain.

However, for Dr. Nick Knight, a junior doctor based in London, the best way to avoid a hangover is not to drink.

"Many people suffer from crippling alcohol dependence and addiction and for them, a hangover can be the trigger for the next drink," he said.

"Hangover and work absence also has a huge negative socio-economic impact affecting productivity," Dr. Knight added.

"Remember to drink responsibly and within your limits," he advised.