Mason Delacroix
Hangovers are the unpleasant symptoms that occur after drinking too much alcohol. While there is no cure for a hangover, there are several home remedies that can help ease the symptoms. Hangovers are caused by a variety of factors, including dehydration, poor sleep, and the breakdown products of alcohol, which affect the stomach and other organs. Here are some ways to help alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of a hangover at home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Prevention | Drink slowly, on a full stomach, and in moderation |
| Drink water in between alcoholic drinks | |
| Avoid alcohol completely | |
| Remedies | Drink water |
| Drink Korean pear juice before drinking alcohol | |
| Drink caffeine | |
| Take B vitamins and zinc | |
| Drink electrolyte solutions, such as sports drinks or bouillon soup | |
| Take ginseng | |
| Eat fast-digesting carbs | |
| Avoid strong smells that may trigger nausea | |
| Avoid medication, especially acetaminophen and ibuprofen |
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What You'll Learn
Drink water before bed and when you wake up
Drinking water before bed and when you wake up is one of the most effective ways to prevent and relieve a hangover. Alcohol promotes urination, which can lead to dehydration, a common contributor to hangover symptoms such as thirst, headache, fatigue, and dry mouth.
Before you go to bed, force yourself to drink two full pints of water. This will help replace the fluid volume lost through urination. Drinking water before bed may cause you to wake up in the middle of the night, but this is a good thing as it allows you to drink more water, further aiding in hangover prevention. You can also drink a glass of water with a little salt in it, or a sports drink like Gatorade, to help retain hydration.
When you wake up, continue to drink water to stay hydrated. You can also drink coconut water, which is known to be effective in relieving hangovers. If you want to get ahead of your hangover, you can even freeze coconut water and blend it with a banana for a morning smoothie.
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Drink Korean pear juice
Drinking Korean pear juice is a popular home remedy for hangovers. While there is limited scientific evidence to support its effectiveness, some studies suggest that it may help alleviate hangover symptoms.
Korean pear, or Pyrus pyrifolia cv. Shingo, has been used traditionally to prevent and treat hangovers. A 2020 double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that Korean pear juice reduced the severity of hangover symptoms by 16% and average hangover severity by 21% 15 hours after alcohol consumption. The study also found that pear juice improved concentration, memory, and sensitivity to light and sound in participants with specific genotypes.
The juice is believed to contain enzymes that speed up alcohol metabolism and slightly inhibit alcohol absorption. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory properties that can help relieve hangover headaches caused by the release of inflammatory chemicals during the immune response to alcohol.
To use Korean pear juice as a hangover remedy, it is recommended to consume one cup of the juice before drinking alcohol. This proactive approach may help reduce the severity of hangover symptoms. However, it's important to remember that drinking in moderation and staying hydrated are still the most effective ways to prevent hangovers.
While Korean pear juice may provide some relief from hangover symptoms, it is not a cure-all. Hangovers can be complex and vary depending on individual factors, such as genetics, body size, and drinking patterns. A combination of remedies, including hydration, rest, and consuming electrolyte-rich foods and drinks, may be more effective in managing hangover symptoms.
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Take ginseng
While there is no conventional treatment for reducing the severity of hangover symptoms, red ginseng has shown positive effects on alcohol metabolism in animal studies. Red ginseng is a form of Panax ginseng widely used in Korea and other Asian countries. It is produced by steaming and subsequently drying the raw herbal, resulting in a reddish colour and prolonged shelf life.
A small, two-week, randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled study found that 25 healthy men and women who did not have a history of alcohol abuse were randomly assigned to drink alcohol during two consecutive visits spaced one week apart. After drinking alcohol, individuals in the study were randomly assigned to drink either a standardized extract of red ginseng or an equivalent quantity of water within five minutes of drinking alcohol (or water). The findings showed that the red ginseng group had significantly lower levels of expiratory alcohol (i.e. alcohol exhaled in the breath) compared to the placebo group.
In addition to beneficial effects on ADH activity, the antioxidant effects of red ginseng might mitigate hangover symptoms by removing hepatotoxic metabolites from the blood. However, it is important to keep in mind that genetic differences between drinkers play a role in how alcohol is metabolized. Such differences help explain why people from different ethnic backgrounds have varying tolerance for the toxic effects of alcohol. For example, a genetic variant of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ADH) common in people of Asian ancestry results in slower metabolism of alcohol and more severe hangover symptoms.
While red ginseng may help with hangover symptoms, it is important to consult with your doctor before using it, especially if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. Some evidence suggests that it might affect blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
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Drink coffee or tea
While drinking coffee or tea may not be a special cure for a hangover, it can help with grogginess and alertness. However, it is important to note that caffeine is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production and can lead to dehydration. Since dehydration is one of the main causes of a hangover, consuming too much caffeine can worsen the symptoms.
Caffeine and alcohol should not be mixed, as caffeine can mask the depressant effects of alcohol, making you feel more alert than you actually are. Drinking caffeine while drinking alcohol will also not prevent a hangover. The caffeine wears off first, leaving you to deal with the negative effects of alcohol without the caffeine boost.
If you decide to drink coffee or tea to help with a hangover, make sure to also drink plenty of water, as this will help with hydration. You can also try drinking coconut water, aloe vera water, or adding squash or diluted fruit syrups or juices to your water to provide some flavor.
In addition to drinking fluids, getting plenty of rest can also help with a hangover. While there is no definitive cure for a hangover, most hangovers are gone within 24 hours.
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Take B vitamins and zinc
Taking B vitamins and zinc can help to reduce the severity of hangovers. A study published in The Journal of Clinical Medicine found that people who consumed more zinc and B vitamins in their food and beverages before and after drinking had less severe hangovers.
There are several types of vitamins in the Vitamin B complex. Vitamin B12, for example, is important for brain function and energy creation, so it may help reduce the tiredness commonly felt during a hangover. Vitamin B3 also plays a role in combating the negative effects of alcohol on the body. When you drink alcohol, your body starts to crave this vitamin. Vitamin B1, or thiamine, is another type of B vitamin that is lost when you urinate after drinking.
Zinc also plays a pivotal role in the oxidation of ethanol into acetaldehyde. A study found that social drinkers who had a higher dietary intake of zinc reported significantly less severe hangovers.
If you are looking for quick relief from a hangover, you might consider IV therapy, which can deliver a blend of IV fluids, electrolytes, vitamins, and medications directly into your bloodstream.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no full cure for a hangover, but there are some remedies that can help ease the symptoms:
- Drinking water before bed and when you wake up can help keep you hydrated.
- Sports drinks can help replace lost electrolytes.
- Drinking coffee or tea may help with grogginess.
- Taking B vitamins and zinc may help.
Some foods and drinks that may help ease hangover symptoms include:
- Korean pear juice
- Fruit juice
- Honey
- Fast-digesting carbs
- Greek yogurt
- Hard-boiled eggs
To prevent a hangover, it is recommended to:
- Drink alcohol slowly and in moderation.
- Drink a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks.
- Drink on a full stomach.
Most hangovers are gone within 24 hours.
It is recommended to avoid medicines that contain acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, as this may cause liver damage when combined with alcohol. Ibuprofen can increase stomach acid release, adding to irritation in the stomach.
