20 Home Remedies to Get Rid of a Hangover

An overdose of alcohol may fill your body with toxins, resulting in hangover. Poor health, dehydrated body, drinking too much on an empty stomach, drinking a lot of alcohol in less time, and lack of sleep – all these factors lead to hangover. Irritability, sensitivity to sound and light, dizziness, queasiness, pounding headache, excessive urination, elevated pulse rate, mood swings, red eyes, a bad taste in mouth and upset stomach are the symptoms of hangover. The best way to prevent hangover is either to abstain from alcohol or drink in moderation. How to get rid of hangover before it turns your night’s enjoyment into the next morning’s nightmare? You can do it with the help of following home remedies. It is recommended to seek advice of your health care provider or physician before trying out home cures.

Home Remedies for Hangover

1. Citrus Fruits and Juices

Citrus fruits contain vitamin C that helps cure hangover. Therefore, consume citrus fruits or drink their juices. Lemon juice is considered as one of the best remedies to counter the effects of alcohol. Squeeze the juice of a lemon in a glass of water and drink it. It will detoxify your body. Tomato juice and orange juice are also equally effective in alleviating the symptoms of hangover.

2. Water

The best and easiest way to reduce the level of alcohol in the body is to drink lots of water.

3. Cold Water Treatment

Fill chilled/ cold water in a bowl. Dip a washcloth or handkerchief in the water. Then put it on your forehead to get immediate relief from the headache caused due to hangover.

If you have had alcohol the preceding night, bathe with cold water in the morning. It will flush out all the toxins and reduce the effects of hangover.

Note – Warmer showers may result in more dehydration. So, avoid taking bath with warm water while dealing with warm water.

4. Honey

The higher levels of fructose in honey ease the symptoms of hangover. Just a tablespoon of honey will do wonders. You can also prepare toddy by adding lemon juice and honey (to taste) to a cup of boiled water. Drink it several times a day.

5. Chocolate Milk

Drink chocolate milk before hitting the hay, in order to get rid of hangover.

6. Banana

The potassium and magnesium levels reduce considerably when a person develops a hangover. To balance the level of these components, eat banana. Alternatively, immerse the peels of banana in a cup of water. Steep the water for a few minutes. Then cool it and drink. It will treat hangover.

7. Ginger

Ginger works wonders in curing hangover. Take a fresh ginger and slice it. Add these slices to 4 cups of water. Let it boil for at least 10-12 minutes. Now strain the solution and add ½ cup honey, juice of ½ a lemon and juice of 1 orange to it. Drink it to get relief.

Sucking on ginger candy can also aid you in overcoming nausea.

Note – Do not over consume ginger as it may result in further health issues by aggravating the delicate lining of the stomach.

8. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

Take ½ glass of water. Add a teaspoon each of soda bicarbonate and apple cider vinegar to it. Mix well and drink to recover fast from the symptoms of hangover. ACV helps maintain the balance of pH, as well as decreases the toxicity level of the body. Soda bicarbonate, on the other hand, replenishes the electrolytes lost due to hangover.

9. Spicy and Salty Foods

Salt containing snacks like pickled herring and pickle juice increases your thirst for water and also helps restore the lost electrolytes. Chicken broth and the spicy soup with large quantities of garlic and chili also make you feel better quick.

10. Black Coffee

Prepare a cup of black coffee. Do not add sugar to it. Instead, pour a few drops of lemon juice in it. Mix this concoction well and drink it. It’s an effective home remedy to cure hangovers.

Or else, drink other caffeinated drinks like cola or tea. It will ease the headache associated with hangover.

11. Eggs

After boozing in the night, have a meal containing eggs, the next morning. The cysteine found in eggs reduces the level of toxicity in the body.

12. Cabbage

Chew raw cabbage to get rid of headache resulted due to hangover. Cabbage juice, when taken with tomato juice, does wonders in reducing the assimilation of alcohol in the stomach.

13. Exercise

Mild exercises like brisk walking increase the blood circulation to the brain and other body parts. This, in turn, reduces the effect of hangover.

Herbal Remedies to Treat Hangover

There are several herbal remedies to get rid of hangover.  They are as follows:

14. Peppermint Tea

Peppermint tea is one of the best natural remedies to get rid of hangover. Steep some fresh peppermint leaves in a cup of boiling water for a few minutes. Strain it and drink.

15. Rosemary

Rosemary – whether take in the form of tea or use for steam inhalation or in bath – it  alleviates the effect of hangover fast.

16. Thyme

Add 5-6 crushed thyme leaves in a cup of hot water. Simmer it for approximately 5-8 minutes. Afterwards, strain it. Drink the solution warm. This herbal remedy will definitely provide relief from hangover.

17. Primrose Oil

Consume 2-3 teaspoons of primrose oil to counter balance the after effect of hangover magically.

18. Chamomile Tea

Steep some chamomile leaves in a cup of hot water for a few minutes. Then strain it and add honey to sweeten it. Drink it. This herbal remedy will cure indigestion and headache associated with hangover.

19. Milk Thistle

Either use flower heads of milk thistle as a salad or make herbal tea of it. Both works wonders in shielding the liver from harmful effects of excessive alcohol.

20. Fennel Tea

Boil a cup of water and add some fennel seeds to it. Let them steep for 5-7 minutes. Then strain the liquid and drink it. It will help lessen the effects of hangover.

Do’s

• Eat starchy food such as rice to reduce the absorption of alcohol.
• Drink alcoholic beverages and non-alcoholic drinks (like water) alternately.
• Go for light drinks like vodka, gin, and white wines.
• Take rest.
• Eat light and small meals.

Don’ts

• Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach.
• Avoid dark colour drinks like rum, bourbon, red wine, etc., since the level of congeners is quite higher in them.
• Men should not consume more than 2 units of alcohol while woman should not intake more than one unit (a unit of alcohol is equal to 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine).
• Refrain yourself from painkillers like Tylenol to suppress hangover, since such medications (if combined with alcohol) may damage the liver in the long run.