It wasn’t long ago that there were simply no Asian flush products available. These days, a simple search on Google will yield a plethora of results ranging from home remedies to over the counter herbal supplements.
In the interests of helping our fellow flushers, we have decided to write a little bit about the various product available for curing Asian flush.
Before we go on, it is necessary to disclose that we too offer a cure in the way of a step-by-step treatment program called the No Red Face Formula. That said, we realise that this may not be the desired solution for everyone and thus, in the interests of impartiality, have decided to talk about the various other cures available and provide our unbiased opinions on each.
Pharmaceutical Treatments
The investigation and development of alcohol flushing treatments has to date, for whatever reason, somehow slipped under the radar of the larger pharmaceutical companies. There is, however, one medication in the pipeline that looks like a promising cure.
Convivia
We have been in contact with one NASDAQ listed biopharmaceutical startup by the name of Raptor Pharmaceuticals (RPTP) who are currently in the process of developing a product called Convivia.
Convivia is aimed at treating the symptoms of alcohol intolerance associated with ALDH2 deficiency. It claims to do so via an oral formulation of 4-methylpyrazole, which has been previously approved for sale in the US and EU for other purposes.
According to Raptor Pharmaceuticals, Convivia has completed Phase 2 clinical trials and will be developed in Taiwan under an exclusive agreement with Taiwanese pharmaceutical company Uni Pharma Co.
Out thoughts: Convivia is said to cure Asian flush symptoms via the reduction of acetaldehyde. In this regard, it is not too dissimilar from other non-pharmaceutical mineral supplements that we will go on to talk about below. Without any clear data regarding their testing, we will simply have to wait and see if it is in fact more effective than the alternatives that are already on the market. It is also relevant to note that Raptor Pharmaceuticals is a NASDAQ listed company with many other products in the development pipeline. With the constant need to raise capital, pay high director salaries and diversify their product risk exposure, we would not be surprised to see the release of this highly anticipated treatment pushed back even more than it has been to date.
Antacids
There is a lot of anecdotal evidence on the internet about people using Antacids such a Pepcid AC and Zantac to counteract the symptoms of their Asian flush.
This class of pharmaceutical is commonly referred to as a type-2 histamine blocker, the primary purpose of which is to reduce acid secretion in the stomach.
Whilst there is very little direct scientific evidence of the efficacy of such methods in curing Asian flush symptoms, the plethora of anecdotal evidence clearly points to some kind of positive correlation.
What we know is that the consumption of alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach and causes an increase in gastric acid production. It has been supposed that the consumption of antacids has the effect of inhibiting alcohol dehydrogenase, thus slowing down the metabolism of alcohol. It follows that by slowing down the metabolism of alcohol you are also slowing the rate at which your body is required to process acetaldehyde, which is the toxic by-product of this metabolic process.
What this means in plain language is that by taking these type-2 histamine blockers, you may get drunk a lot faster, but you may also slow down the rate at which your body is bombarded with the predominant catalyst for Asian flush – i.e. acetaldehyde.
Our thoughts: From personal experience and the large amount of anecdotal evidence, we can say that certain antacids have a positive effect in reducing the symptoms of alcohol flushing. However, the exact way it does so is still slightly unclear. To the extent that it merely masks the symptoms of acetaldehyde build up or slows down the exposure to this toxic substance, it poses possible health dangers in light of mounting evidence of acetaldehyde’s carcinogenic properties. For more information about this you can read our article on Asian flush cancer risks.
Non-Pharmaceutical Treatments
In the absence of fully developed pharmaceutical treatments, we have seen a recent emergence of various mineral and herbal alternatives claiming to achieve a similar outcome.
Mineral and Vitamin Supplements
To our knowledge there are currently 3 different supplement manufacturers offering products that claim to reduce alcohol related acetaldehyde: Acetium, Alcotox and NoGlo.
The ingredients of these supplements are all quite similar from product to product, essentially containing a cocktail of anti-oxidants aimed at reducing the carcinogenic effect of acetaldehyde on the body.
An important thing to note about these supplements is that they all contain an amino acid called NAC (n-acetyl-cysteine). This is the key ingredient in these formulations due to its ability to bind to and neutralize acetaldehyde, the supposed culprit behind Asian flushing and associated cancer risks.
Our thoughts: The operation of these supplements in reducing levels of acetaldehyde is highly beneficial in protecting our bodies against the toxin’s carcinogenic effects. That said, according to a lot of anecdotal evidence, the key ingredients these supplements employ don’t seem to have a marked effect in reducing red facial flushing. In our opinion, these supplements have their place in protecting our bodies against the cancer risks of drinking alcohol, rather than effectively treating an alcohol related red face.
If interested you may wish to check out or NoGlo review and Alcotox review.
Herbal Supplements
There are very few credible herbal supplements aimed at preventing Asian flush other than AF Formula from Goldwin Health.
When examining the ingredients used in their formulation it becomes apparent that there is an emphasis on herbs commonly used for reducing anxiety. As we know, one of the accompanying symptoms of Asian flush is an increased heart rate and a general social anxiety associated with experiencing symptoms in public. It is foreseeable that the ingredients of AF Formula will work in reducing this anxiety and in turn may be seen as an effective treatment for some of the reported symptoms of Asian flush.
Our thoughts: Whilst the calming effect of AF Formula’s ingredients may work to put you at ease while drinking in public, it is unclear whether their formula addresses the issue of acetaldehyde build up. As mentioned earlier in this article, the mere masking of symptoms may provide for a more pleasant drinking experience, but it is also important to be aware of the carcinogenic effects of acetaldehyde and what this means for your overall health and well being.
If interested you may wish to check out our AF Formula review.
Holistic Asian Flush Treatments
As mentioned at the beginning of this article, we too provide a solution for Asian flush that completely eliminates alcohol related facial flushing, whilst also combating the carcinogenic build up of acetaldehyde. In our experience, we’ve found that an effective treatment involves more than merely popping a pill before drinking. This is why we’ve developed a treatment program that involves various pre-drink procedures and an easy to follow supplement regime.
To date we’ve been flattered by the positive responses received from over 4,000 satisfied customers. Please don’t hesitate to check out our formula.
We hope that you found our article informative and encourage you to share it with your friends so they too can become more informed about this important health issue.