The holiday season is a time for celebration, but sometimes the festivities can lead to a less-than-festive morning after.
If you’ve had a few too many festive cocktails at a holiday gathering, you might be searching for effective hangover remedies.
People often experiment with various methods to combat the dreaded morning-after headache, from unusual juice blends like those featuring raw eggs and savory sauces to trying to sweat it out with a vigorous exercise session.
Dr Donald Grant, a GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, noted that while there are numerous ways people attempt to ease hangover symptoms, many are ineffective.
His insights come after reviewing a range of hangover tips making rounds on TikTok.
Some TikTok users have been advocating extreme tactics for avoiding hangovers. Suggestions such as combining coffee and lemon juice can actually exacerbate hangover symptoms due to the high acidity of lemons and the caffeine in coffee. Although IV drips might help with hydration, they don’t address other hangover factors like sleep disturbances and inflammation.
Another prevalent belief is that drinking more alcohol, often referred to as ‘hair of the dog’, provides a quick remedy. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.
“The phrase ‘hair of the dog’ is widely known, but drinking more alcohol only postpones the inevitable hangover, and can, in fact, increase its severity,” Grant explained. “It might temporarily mask symptoms by raising blood alcohol levels, but this effect fades quickly, often resulting in a more intense second wave of symptoms. Despite its popularity, there’s no supporting evidence for this method.”
“In general, there are many outrageous health claims on social media, including a variety of extreme hangover cures,” Grant continued. “Regrettably, many of them lack factual accuracy and might simply serve as a placebo.”
Instead of opting for a morning mimosa following a night of heavy drinking, Grant suggests taking practical steps to alleviate a hangover.
“The most effective method to overcome a hangover is to aid the body’s recovery with rest, hydration, and a nutritious meal. Anything else promising a quick fix is just wishful thinking.”