\n
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWe\u2019ve all been there. The pounding headache, relentless nausea, and the kind of tired no amount of coffee can fix. Hangovers are a reminder that last night\u2019s fun comes at a cost.<\/p>\n
These days, hangovers aren\u2019t just something to complain about over a greasy breakfast \u2013 they\u2019re big business. The global market for hangover cures is now valued at US$2.29 billion and projected to reach US$6.71 billion by 2032.<\/p>\n
These products \u2013 ranging from capsules to drinks to patches \u2013 appear to be popular. Nearly 70% of drinkers say they would buy an effective hangover remedy. But any scientific evidence that they work is thin.<\/p>\n
First, what causes hangovers?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Despite years of research, the exact cause of a hangover is still unclear. <\/p>\n
But we know several biological processes contribute to that hungover feeling.<\/p>\n
1. Your <\/strong>immune system<\/strong> is in overdrive<\/strong><\/p>\nWhen you drink, your body treats alcohol like a threat. It breaks alcohol down into acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct that triggers an immune response, releasing inflammatory chemicals called cytokines.<\/p>\n
These chemicals are the same ones your body uses to fight infections, which is why a hangover can feel eerily similar to being sick.<\/p>\n
2. You\u2019re dehydrated<\/strong><\/p>\nAlcohol blocks vasopressin, a hormone that helps the body retain water. Without it, you make more frequent trips to the bathroom and lose more fluid than you take in, leading to thirst, dry mouth, and the classic hangover headache.<\/p>\n
3. Your sleep takes a hit<\/strong><\/p>\nAlthough alcohol might help you fall asleep faster, it disrupts your natural sleep pattern. You get more deep sleep early on, but less rapid eye movement (REM) and light sleep stages.<\/p>\n
As the alcohol wears off, your brain rebounds with more REM sleep and frequent wake-ups, leaving you groggy and cognitively impaired the next day.<\/p>\n
4. Your brain is recalibrating<\/strong><\/p>\nAlcohol disrupts several brain chemicals. It boosts gamma-aminobutyric acid, a calming neurotransmitter, and suppresses glutamate, which normally keeps you stimulated and alert. That\u2019s part of why drinking feels relaxing. But as your body tries to rebalance, you may be left feeling anxious or irritable.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s in hangover \u2018remedies\u2019?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Modern hangover remedies have evolved well beyond the \u201chair of the dog\u201d. You\u2019ve got liver-protecting capsules, electrolyte-packed drinks, vitamin patches for while you party, and strips that dissolve on your tongue \u2013 all with the goal of accelerating recovery.<\/p>\n
A 2025 analysis which looked at hangover products marketed in Australia found B vitamins and sodium were the most common ingredients, appearing in nearly half of all products reviewed.<\/p>\n
B vitamins are often included based on the idea alcohol depletes them, while sodium is thought to support rehydration. However, there\u2019s little solid evidence that either significantly improves hangover symptoms in otherwise healthy people.<\/p>\n
Natural ingredients such as ginger and dihydromyricetin, a compound extracted from the Japanese raisin tree, were also popular, featuring in more than one-quarter and one-third of products, respectively.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>There\u2019s little evidence pricey infusions work any better than water, food and rest (Getty\/iStock)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nGinger is widely used to treat nausea and vomiting, and there\u2019s some evidence to support its effectiveness for gastrointestinal symptoms. However, this is not specific to hangovers.<\/p>\n
Dihydromyricetin has been marketed as a revolutionary hangover fighter, with claims it helps the liver process alcohol more efficiently. Yet, when tested under controlled conditions, it failed to reduce hangover severity more than a placebo.<\/p>\n
Other popular ingredients show similarly underwhelming results. The amino acid L-cysteine has shown some benefits in one study, but the sample was too small to draw firm conclusions.<\/p>\n
Another product often marketed as a hangover remedy is Korean pear juice. If consumed before drinking, it may help the body break down alcohol more efficiently. A 2013 study found it slightly lowered blood alcohol levels and improved focus. However, the effects were small, and it offered little benefit once a hangover had already set in.<\/p>\n
Another natural remedy that has shown some promise is red ginseng. One study found that participants who drank red ginseng extract after alcohol were less thirsty, fatigued, had fewer stomach aches, and even had improved memory compared to people who drank just plain water.<\/p>\n
Mouse trials of ginseng have also shown consistent benefits across symptoms and biological markers of alcohol-related stress.<\/p>\n
How about IV drips and vitamin patches?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Not all remedies come in pill or plant form. IV drips, often marketed as wellness boosters for energy, immunity, and even glowing skin, are now offered at clinics and \u201cdrip bars\u201d for hangovers, too. But unless you\u2019re severely dehydrated, there\u2019s little evidence these pricey infusions work any better than water, food and rest.<\/p>\n
Vitamin patches are also trending, claiming to deliver nutrients through the skin while bypassing digestion. But again, studies don\u2019t necessarily support this. Most vitamins are better absorbed through food or oral supplements.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no magic cure for a hangover<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n As the hangover remedy market continues to grow, science hasn\u2019t kept pace with marketing claims. However, these science-backed strategies may help:<\/p>\n
\n
\npacing yourself and having no more than one standard drink an hour gives your liver time to keep up, so you\u2019re less likely to feel too drunk or hungover the next day <\/li>\n stay hydrated by alternating alcoholic drinks with water <\/li>\n eating before drinking slows alcohol absorption and can help reduce stomach irritation <\/li>\n get plenty of sleep after a big night out, as your body does most of its recovery while you rest. Even a short nap the next day can help you feel better. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\nPractising moderation can be difficult in the moment. But it\u2019s likely to be your best bet to avoid waking up feeling rough the next day.<\/p>\n
Blair Aitken is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Psychopharmacology at Swinburne University of Technology. Rebecca Rothman is a PhD Candidate in Clinical Psychology in the School of Health Sciences at Swinburne University of Technology.<\/em><\/p>\nThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the <\/em>original article<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more We\u2019ve all been there. The pounding headache, relentless nausea, and the kind of tired no amount of coffee can fix. Hangovers are a reminder that last night\u2019s fun comes at a cost. These days, hangovers aren\u2019t just something to complain about over a greasy breakfast \u2013 they\u2019re big business. The global market for hangover cures is now valued at US$2.29 billion and projected to reach US$6.71 billion by 2032. These products \u2013 ranging from capsules to drinks to patches \u2013 appear to be popular. Nearly 70% of drinkers say they would buy an effective hangover remedy. But any scientific evidence that they work is thin. First, what causes hangovers? Despite years of research, the exact cause of a hangover is still unclear. But we know several biological processes contribute to that hungover feeling. 1. Your immune system is in overdrive When you drink, your body treats alcohol like a threat. It breaks alcohol down into acetaldehyde, a toxic byproduct that triggers an immune response, releasing inflammatory chemicals called cytoki…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1509,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1508"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1508"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1508\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1509"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}