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How to recover from hangover quickly: 7 Effective Home Remedies (Supported by Science)

7 Effective Home Remedies (Supported by Science)

Written by Stephanie Watson

  • Water
  • Korean Pear Juice
  • Ginseng
  • Phyllanthus Amarus
  • Carbs
  • Pain Relievers
  • ‘Hair of the Dog’
  • Sleep
  • More

If you’ve ever had a few too many drinks on a night out, you know what the next morning can bring. The nausea, headache, parched mouth, and fatigue are telltale signs you’ve got a serious hangover.

Each of these symptoms stems from a different cause. Alcohol disrupts sleep and leaves you groggy in the morning. Drinking widens your blood vessels, which can trigger headaches. Alcohol also irritates the lining of your stomach, leading to nausea and sometimes diarrhea.

For almost as long as humans have had hangovers, we’ve tried to cure them with remedies that run the gamut from vitamin B to pickle juice. Some hangover treatments work better than others, but none is an actual cure. The only way to avoid a hangover is to limit how much you drink or avoid alcohol entirely. And if you find that hangovers are affecting your work or relationships, talk to your doctor about your drinking.

That said, a few hangover remedies can bring you relief from at least some of your symptoms. Here are a few tips to try.

A big glass of water might be the easiest hangover solution. Alcohol dehydrates you by increasing the amount of urine your kidneys make. You also lose fluid when you sweat, vomit, or have diarrhea after a night of bingeing. Dehydration causes symptoms like a dry mouth and headache.

If you drink alcohol, drink water before you go to bed. It will curb the effects of the booze in the morning. Another drink of water when you wake up will help keep you hydrated. Have a sports drink to replace the sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes you’ve lost from vomiting or diarrhea.

Some people say that getting fluids through an IV can help ease hangover symptoms. This method has the informal name of “drip bar.” It can be pricey, and health insurance doesn’t cover the bill. But there’s no need to pay for IV fluids when you can drink a glass of water for free. IVs also carry risks like infection.

Korean pear (Asian pear) juice is an old-school hangover remedy. Research shows that drinking about 7 1/2 ounces helps lower blood alcohol levels and makes hangovers less intense. The catch is, you need to drink it before you have alcohol. Drinking it afterward won’t work.

Researchers say Korean pears might work with your body’s chemistry to break down alcohol faster. Only a couple of studies have been done, which is far from proof that this hangover remedy works. But if you can find Korean pear juice at your local supermarket, it doesn’t hurt to try a glass before you go out drinking.

This root has been a feature of Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Herbalists use it to treat ailments ranging from stress to asthma. In one small study, a drink made from red ginseng cut down hangover symptoms.

An unrelated herb that goes by a similar name, Siberian ginseng extract, also improved hangover symptoms like headache, dizziness, and stomachache. But the Siberian type isn’t the ginseng used in Chinese medicine.

Ginseng is safe for most people. Check with your doctor before using it if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. Some evidence suggests it might affect blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

This medicinal herb grows along tropical coasts. It treats liver, kidney, and stomach ailments. In one small study, taking Phyllanthus amarus extract twice a day for 10 days helped lower blood alcohol levels, ease hangover symptoms, and improve mood in regular drinkers.

You can find extracts made from this herb online and in health food stores. Some of these products go by the name “stone breaker” herb. That’s because it may help reduce risk for kidney stones.

Alcohol lowers your blood sugar. That may explain the dizziness and shaking some people get with a hangover. Your brain needs carbs for fuel. Have a couple of slices of wheat toast or a few whole-grain crackers to bring those blood sugar levels back up to normal. You’ll give yourself an energy boost, too.

An over-the-counter pain reliever will calm a pounding headache. Just be careful how much you take. NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin irritate the stomach, which could make nausea worse. Avoid acetaminophen when you have a hangover. It can worsen the bad effects of alcohol on your liver.

The idea behind this popular hangover remedy is that taking another drink will relieve the effects of the last few you had. The name comes from an old folk tale that says the way to treat a dog bite is to cover the wound with hair taken from the dog that bit you.

But the truth is drinking again will just throw your body back into the same destructive cycle without giving it time to heal. Experts don’t recommend trying this method.

When it comes to getting over a hangover, time and rest may be the best medicine. Alcohol disrupts sleep. Even if you go to sleep for a few hours after a night of heavy drinking, it won’t be restful. Once you’ve had a glass of water and popped a pain reliever, slip back under the covers and catch up on more restorative sleep.

Top Picks

7 Effective Home Remedies (Supported by Science)

Written by Stephanie Watson

  • Water
  • Korean Pear Juice
  • Ginseng
  • Phyllanthus Amarus
  • Carbs
  • Pain Relievers
  • ‘Hair of the Dog’
  • Sleep
  • More

If you’ve ever had a few too many drinks on a night out, you know what the next morning can bring. The nausea, headache, parched mouth, and fatigue are telltale signs you’ve got a serious hangover.

Each of these symptoms stems from a different cause. Alcohol disrupts sleep and leaves you groggy in the morning. Drinking widens your blood vessels, which can trigger headaches. Alcohol also irritates the lining of your stomach, leading to nausea and sometimes diarrhea.

For almost as long as humans have had hangovers, we’ve tried to cure them with remedies that run the gamut from vitamin B to pickle juice. Some hangover treatments work better than others, but none is an actual cure. The only way to avoid a hangover is to limit how much you drink or avoid alcohol entirely. And if you find that hangovers are affecting your work or relationships, talk to your doctor about your drinking.

That said, a few hangover remedies can bring you relief from at least some of your symptoms. Here are a few tips to try.

A big glass of water might be the easiest hangover solution. Alcohol dehydrates you by increasing the amount of urine your kidneys make. You also lose fluid when you sweat, vomit, or have diarrhea after a night of bingeing. Dehydration causes symptoms like a dry mouth and headache.

If you drink alcohol, drink water before you go to bed. It will curb the effects of the booze in the morning. Another drink of water when you wake up will help keep you hydrated. Have a sports drink to replace the sodium, potassium, and other electrolytes you’ve lost from vomiting or diarrhea.

Some people say that getting fluids through an IV can help ease hangover symptoms. This method has the informal name of “drip bar.” It can be pricey, and health insurance doesn’t cover the bill. But there’s no need to pay for IV fluids when you can drink a glass of water for free. IVs also carry risks like infection.

Korean pear (Asian pear) juice is an old-school hangover remedy. Research shows that drinking about 7 1/2 ounces helps lower blood alcohol levels and makes hangovers less intense. The catch is, you need to drink it before you have alcohol. Drinking it afterward won’t work.

Researchers say Korean pears might work with your body’s chemistry to break down alcohol faster. Only a couple of studies have been done, which is far from proof that this hangover remedy works. But if you can find Korean pear juice at your local supermarket, it doesn’t hurt to try a glass before you go out drinking.

This root has been a feature of Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Herbalists use it to treat ailments ranging from stress to asthma. In one small study, a drink made from red ginseng cut down hangover symptoms.

An unrelated herb that goes by a similar name, Siberian ginseng extract, also improved hangover symptoms like headache, dizziness, and stomachache. But the Siberian type isn’t the ginseng used in Chinese medicine.

Ginseng is safe for most people. Check with your doctor before using it if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. Some evidence suggests it might affect blood sugar and blood pressure levels.

This medicinal herb grows along tropical coasts. It treats liver, kidney, and stomach ailments. In one small study, taking Phyllanthus amarus extract twice a day for 10 days helped lower blood alcohol levels, ease hangover symptoms, and improve mood in regular drinkers.

You can find extracts made from this herb online and in health food stores. Some of these products go by the name “stone breaker” herb. That’s because it may help reduce risk for kidney stones.

Alcohol lowers your blood sugar. That may explain the dizziness and shaking some people get with a hangover. Your brain needs carbs for fuel. Have a couple of slices of wheat toast or a few whole-grain crackers to bring those blood sugar levels back up to normal. You’ll give yourself an energy boost, too.

An over-the-counter pain reliever will calm a pounding headache. Just be careful how much you take. NSAIDs like ibuprofen and aspirin irritate the stomach, which could make nausea worse. Avoid acetaminophen when you have a hangover. It can worsen the bad effects of alcohol on your liver.

The idea behind this popular hangover remedy is that taking another drink will relieve the effects of the last few you had. The name comes from an old folk tale that says the way to treat a dog bite is to cover the wound with hair taken from the dog that bit you.

But the truth is drinking again will just throw your body back into the same destructive cycle without giving it time to heal. Experts don’t recommend trying this method.

When it comes to getting over a hangover, time and rest may be the best medicine. Alcohol disrupts sleep. Even if you go to sleep for a few hours after a night of heavy drinking, it won’t be restful. Once you’ve had a glass of water and popped a pain reliever, slip back under the covers and catch up on more restorative sleep.

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How to get rid of a hangover at home, which helps with a mild hangover – February 21, 2020

Water and a cat in the morning will be very useful

with activated charcoal) to quickly orient yourself after a small spree in honor of February 23 (and on other occasions) and quickly put yourself in order.

Only the most desperate, fearless and unprepared person will pour himself a glass without going through activated charcoal initiation. Absorbents are your best friend. But if the booze turned out to be spontaneous, and force majeure prevented you from taking preventive measures, try to at least eat. And the more fatty foods you take during a feast, the more difficult it will be for ethanol to be absorbed.

– When the body begins to absorb alcohol, it decomposes it into its constituent parts – glucose and acetaldehyde (a substance formed in the body as a result of the conversion of ethanol, later it is converted into acetate, which has on the body the effect that is commonly called a hangover). Acetaldehyde is a poison in itself. To mitigate the consequences, it makes sense to eat something heavier. The best option is to eat fat, says Igor Mormil, teacher at the Ural Institute of Fitness.

Sleep perfectly heals any ailment, and the body recovers best during REM sleep phases. But intoxication completely deprives a person of this pleasure. Therefore, even after eight hours of sleep, you will feel overwhelmed. Ask loved ones not to nag you for yesterday’s antics, close your eyes and try to sleep soundly.

Warn your loved ones that you are all right and put on a sleep mask

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No time to sleep? Run to the shower! Treat yourself in the morning at least a short-term feeling of cleanliness. This will give strength, improve well-being and mood. Let not for long.

— A shower will improve microcirculation due to the load of mechanoreceptors. And when a person takes a shower, of course, it will be easier for him. But after some time, the previous state will return,” says Igor Mormil. – A contrast shower is not barely warm and slightly cold water. These should be drops, similar to those when you plunge into the font. But this is not recommended for everyone. A person who neglects the recommendations may experience problems with the pulse, his pressure will rise, and heart palpitations will appear.

A contrast shower is frankly cold and very hot water, no half measures!

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Speaking of good mood. Try to support him no matter what. An important nuance of a hangover is the so-called adrenaline longing. This is the strongest feeling of guilt and shame that you experience in the morning. Even if they didn’t do anything. And along with it, depression, anxiety and irritability will surely come. This is a normal and physiologically reasonable sensation, but if you do not want to put up with it, eat honey. It will cheer you up, speed up your metabolism, help remove toxins from the body and restore the balance of glucose, which you diligently washed out with alcohol the day before.

— There are water-soluble minerals and trace elements in the human body, they need to be constantly replenished. But with a normal diet, this is difficult to do. Honey contains all the necessary substances, including glucose and fructose. To restore your glucose balance, eat a teaspoon of honey every hour throughout the day. In its pure form or in an aqueous solution, – explains the head of the peasant farm “Ural Med” Dmitry Pasechnik.

You will do this automatically, even if you have experienced the feeling of a hangover for the first time. Dry mouth and thirst will lead you to a source of water. Drink it as much as possible, even if you don’t really want to. You have already been poisoned, and it will not get worse, and the water will remove the toxic breakdown products of alcohol from the body. At the same time, mineral water, it turns out, will not be as useful as ordinary drinking water without gases.

You can drink a maximum of two glasses of mineral water, the rest is ordinary drinking

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— Mineral water is considered to be medicinal table water. And it can lead to hyperkalemia (an increase in the concentration of potassium in the blood; severe hyperkalemia leads to a violation of the heart rhythm. – Approx. ed. ) or hypermagnesemia (an increase in the concentration of magnesium in the plasma; more common in patients with renal insufficiency and leads to hyporeflexia, arterial hypotension, respiratory depression and cardiac arrest – Note ed. ), explains Igor Mormil. – Therefore, mineral water is used to replenish the deficiency of minerals (two glasses are enough), and ordinary water is used to maintain the body.

In general, although the inscription “healing” stands out on the bottles with mineral water, this water does not help everyone. All because of the combined concentration of potassium and sodium. The World Health Organization recommends consuming less than two grams of sodium per day (and in some mineral waters, the combined concentration of sodium and potassium exceeds four grams per liter). It happens that more salt intake leads to strokes and heart attacks. Somehow too cool for a banal hangover.

If you feel that you are of no use at work today, take a day off and sit at home. Well, in the case when the hyperactive employee of the month wakes up in you in the morning, here is an armor-piercing and extreme bartending tip for you.

— Do you want to cheer up urgently and for a long time? Assess your strength and heart health and drink coffee with an energy drink. This, of course, will be a fatality, but it’s worth it,” says head bartender Ivan Derendyaev.

If you cannot help but work, do it at home

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You don’t always want to eat in the morning after the holiday, but you have to force yourself. Breakfast is an important part of every day, and a hangover is no reason to skip it. It is better to eat a couple of hours after waking up. During this time, the body will have time to cleanse itself. Choose lighter foods: low-fat soups, cereals, broths and fruits are your choice. Include foods high in vitamin C in your morning diet. Fatty foods are best avoided so as not to provoke an additional burden on the digestive organs.

By the way, we have already told you which menu should be preferred if you woke up after a serious spree. In response, we received experience-tested recipes and decided to discuss some of them with Sergey Bogdanov, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Narcology of the Ural State Medical University.

“50 grams of vodka and a glass of kefir”

Treating like with like is suitable for alcoholism. If you drink alcohol in the morning, then this is nothing more than a withdrawal syndrome. A person who is not addicted to alcohol will simply not be able to touch alcohol in the morning. Because he has postintoxication syndrome, he got poisoned. Poison will only make things worse. If alcohol improves your condition, then this is a formidable sign of the formation of alcohol dependence. With kefir or not – it does not matter.

“Half a glass of vodka, cucumber or cabbage pickle”

Rational grain is here, but do not confuse cooking technologies. If the base of the brine is vinegar, then against the background of an irritated stomach, it will only make things worse. As for fermentation, this is an independent fermentation process. Such a brine is really rich in trace elements, minerals, etc. A very useful tool. Only without alcohol, of course.

“Drink a large mug of sweet tea at night”

Strong tea is a matter of caffeine. It is a kind of antidote to alcohol, a sobering agent. There is also tannin, and this is the protection of the mucosa from absorbing additional doses of alcohol.

Plombira Briquette

Firstly, the cold factor works here. This is the receptor effect of cold. The second point is milk fat, if natural ice cream, without palm oil. As an energy substrate, it can somewhat alleviate the condition, increase the energy capabilities of the body. Plus sugar, we have already talked about it.

“Can of cola or fanta”

The issue of carbon dioxide may play a role because it excites receptors in the digestive tract. This can cheer up a person a little and improve his condition. There are many other ingredients in the same cola. Some of them can be a stimulant in and of themselves. With sugar, which is contained in carbonated drinks, it is more difficult. Here the question arises of its assimilation. It is complicated by an irritated stomach and anergy, the body does not have the energy to absorb it. However, it may slightly increase blood sugar levels.

step-by-step instructions with expert advice

The suffering that is a hangover can be radically cured by only one method – the rejection of alcohol in large doses. In addition, there are many methods of “treating” a hangover, with varying degrees of effectiveness.

According to experts, in the fight against a hangover, it is most advisable to combine several different tips that will be most effective for a specific problem. We discuss the problem of dealing with a hangover from different angles to help you feel better as soon as possible.

Of course, the surest way to avoid a hangover is not to drink too much. Organizations such as the WHO, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the US Department of Health recommend no more than 2 drinks per day for men and no more than 1 for women. strong alcohol;

  • glass of wine;
  • 0.33 l of beer.
  • What is a hangover

    Scientists and doctors have tried to figure out what exactly causes a hangover, but it’s more complicated than one might think. The effects of alcohol on the body are, at least in part, inflammatory in nature and are related to the chemical effects it has on the brain.

    Experts explain three factors that often cause next day side effects from too much alcohol:

    Dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic. This means that it increases the production of urine. And if you drink alcohol, then you don’t drink water.

    Bad sleep. Alcohol may help you sleep at first, but studies show that metabolic products cause sleep disturbance and an inability to fall asleep at night. We know that sleep is our body’s natural reset. So if we can’t sleep well and our body is busy getting rid of alcohol and its by-products, it won’t be able to perform its normal reset routine. This may be one of the reasons why the next morning we feel bad and do not look good.

    Accumulation of toxins. Alcohol is broken down in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase to acetaldehyde (acetone). Acetaldehyde is further cleaved by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and glutathione.

    When drinking a lot of alcohol, the liver does not have time to neutralize all the toxins. Thus, toxic acetaldehyde builds up in the blood while the liver tries to make extra glutathione.

    Elevated levels of acetaldehyde can lead to oxidative stress, liver damage and possibly cancer over time. Genetic variations in the detox process can determine how quickly and efficiently you are able to metabolize alcohol, which can later cause problems for those who metabolize alcohol slowly.

    Step-by-step hangover guide

    In addition to limiting the number of drinks, experts offer several more options for dealing with a hangover before and after drinking in a bar.

    Choose light alcohol

    Drink organic vodka or drinks that are light in color and high quality. Light spirits contain fewer toxins than dark ones.

    Do not stir drinks

    Avoid mixtures with sugar, cocktails and lowering degrees.

    Drink more water

    Seems like a lot, but it’s the best way to avoid a hangover. Alternating alcoholic beverages with a glass of water not only helps you stay hydrated, but also slows down your overall drinking.

    Drinking alcohol prevents the body from producing a chemical called vasopressin. This means that the kidneys send water directly to the bladder and not to the tissues of the body. This is another reason why you need to go to the toilet so many times while you are having fun and drinking alcohol. Frequent urination also leads to dehydration, since the body can excrete four times as much water, which is probably why you will have a severe headache and dry mouth in the morning.

    The best solution is to place a large bottle (or two) of water in front of the bed. So you won’t forget to drink it when you get ready for bed. Make sure you continue to drink plenty of water when you wake up the next morning. In any case, we should drink 8 glasses a day, and with a hangover – 2 times more.

    We should drink 8 glasses of water a day, and with a hangover – 2 times more. Photo: Pixabay

    Eating a hearty meal

    Eating a wholesome meal with good quality protein and healthy fats before drinking helps slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.

    If you can and want to eat a large plate of white or high fat food in the morning to cure a hangover, this is an option that can work for many people. Fat in foods contains a lot of calories, so you get an energy boost, while eggs and meat are rich in the amino acid cysteine, which is considered to be a good detoxifier.

    However, if you’re feeling sick, experts recommend that a bland breakfast help restore blood sugar levels without causing more stomach problems. Crackers, toast, or thin vegetable broth are some of the options.

    Alcohol can also lower potassium levels, so eating one or two bananas can help you feel better.

    Hangover cures

    Eggs. Your liver is working to its limits to neutralize the acetaldehyde toxin with an amino acid called L-cysteine. Help your liver by eating eggs for breakfast, which are a source of L-cysteine.

    Coconut water. Alcohol is a diuretic that prevents the pituitary gland from producing vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone), which then causes the kidneys to reabsorb less water and excrete it instead. This loss of water can also cause electrolyte imbalances. Dehydration, as well as loss of electrolytes, can cause headaches, tremors, fatigue, dizziness, and muscle spasms. Fight dehydration by drinking plenty of fluids. Coconut water supplies the body with potassium, so it hydrates you and helps replenish electrolyte balance at the same time.

    Make your own anti-hangover drink: mix water, freshly squeezed juice, a pinch of sea salt and honey (optional).

    Bananas. They are famous for their high electrolyte potassium content, which is also a good idea if you suffer from indigestion. Alcohol can have an inflammatory effect on the stomach lining and digestive system, which is a common cause of nausea and indigestion.

    Ginger. Cut fresh ginger root and add it to water. Ginger can be effective for nausea and vomiting.

    Can of sweet lemon soda. A can of lemon-based sweet soda (Sprite or Seven-Up) might be just what you need. A Chinese study of 57 different drinks found that lemon and lime helped flush alcohol out of the body faster, making you feel better faster.

    Sprite was one of the drinks that accelerated this process the most, causing the alcohol to break down faster, shortening the duration of the hangover. The experts explain: It’s high in water for rehydration and high in sugar for instant rejuvenation, but the simple sugars mean the tone won’t last long and you need to eat afterward.

    Plus, lemon and lime juice is alkaline and helps balance acid in the intestines, reducing nausea.

    Painkillers and other drugs

    Paracetamol. It can help relieve discomfort. This is another obvious choice – especially when you wake up feeling like your head is in a vise. Experts recommend taking over-the-counter pain relievers. They can help with headaches and muscle spasms, but avoid taking aspirin as it can further irritate your stomach and make you feel more nauseated. Instead, opt for a paracetamol or ibuprofen based product.

    Soluble tablets with vitamins. An excellent way to replenish the nutritional loss due to alcohol. They contain vitamin C, B vitamins, as well as calcium and magnesium.

    Popular questions and answers

    neurologist of the highest category Evgeny Mosin answered our questions about a hangover.

    Why is a hangover dangerous?

    In people who have chronic diseases, exacerbation and worsening of the condition is possible. And in itself, a severe hangover is a day, or even more, that practically falls out of life.