The Art of the Hangover Cure: What Science, Culture, and This Sommelier Say to Do
You wake up with your tongue made of wool.
The sunlight hits your eyelids like judgment.
And somewhere inside you, a distant bell tolls the cost of last night’s joy.
Hangovers are as old as celebration itself.
Ancient Egyptians had remedies. So did the Romans.
Your grandmother might have had her own, too…whether it was a raw egg in tomato juice or a cold compress and prayer.
This article is not just a list of fixes.
It’s a love letter to recovery, to humanity, and to all the weird, tender rituals we create in the quiet aftermath of excess.
The Science: Why You Feel So Awful
Your headache isn’t just dehydration.
It’s a chemical protest.
When you drink, your liver works overtime breaking down ethanol into acetaldehyde…a substance more toxic than alcohol itself.
That, plus inflammation, poor sleep, and blood sugar dips, creates the perfect storm.
Scientists have tried to make hangover pills for decades.
None have stuck.
Because really, your body isn’t broken…it’s healing. And healing hurts.
Classic Western Cures: From Greasy Diners to Bloody Marys
The greasy breakfast myth persists. But research suggests it’s more psychological than medicinal.
Still, there’s something comforting about eggs on toast with a side of redemption.
Hair of the dog? It delays the hangover, not cures it.
And coffee + Advil remains the closest thing to Western alchemy.
Just be gentle on your stomach.
Sometimes it’s not about the cure…it’s about ritual. A diner booth. A cold orange juice. A sense of survival.
What Works for Me: A Sommelier’s Morning-After Ritual
Everyone has their own hangover language.
As a sommelier, I’ve danced with wine more times than I can count, but I’ve also learned how to waltz my way out of the fog the next morning.
My go-to ritual isn’t glamorous. It’s biological. Practical. Personal.
I start with horseradish.
Not in a Bloody Mary, but raw, sharp, alive.
The heat jolts my circulation awake, sending blood flowing to my head and warming my stomach lining.
The compound allyl isothiocyanate, responsible for the burn, stimulates digestion and may help clear sinuses and nausea, too.
Then come eggs: softly scrambled, no frills.
Eggs contain cysteine, an amino acid that helps break down acetaldehyde, the toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism.
They also replenish B vitamins your liver desperately used up the night before.
I add a banana on the side for potassium, which alcohol quietly depletes.
Potassium helps regulate nerve and muscle function, and when it drops too low, headaches and fatigue roll in fast.
Bananas bring it back gently.
After that, I go for a short run.
Nothing intense…just enough to get my heart moving, oxygen flowing, and endorphins whispering their apologies.
Light exercise speeds up metabolism and helps clear out the leftover alcohol more efficiently, while easing inflammation and that heavy, foggy brain.
Then comes the cold shower…a reset button in liquid form.
Cold exposure constricts blood vessels and reduces inflammation, but it also stimulates norepinephrine, a feel-good hormone that sharpens focus and energy.
I step out feeling like I’ve shed the previous night’s ghost.
Finally, I sip sparkling water, because flat water feels wrong, and the bubbles seem to wake up my whole mouth.
Carbonation may even help with delayed stomach emptying (yuck), easing nausea while hydrating at the same time.
It’s not a miracle. But it’s mine. A ritual not just for recovery, but for reentry…back into the body, the brain, the day ahead.
3. Global Remedies: What Other Cultures Swear By
Korea: Haejangguk ("hangover soup") with cabbage and ox blood.
Japan: Umeboshi plums, miso soup.
Mexico: Menudo.
Poland: Pickle brine.
Italy: Espresso with lemon.
Even if they don’t work physiologically, they often work spiritually. Because somewhere, across cultures, someone else has felt exactly like this.
Supplements, Scams, and Snake Oil
Milk thistle. B12 patches. Activated charcoal. Hangover hydration powders sold for $12 a sachet.
What helps? Maybe DHM, NAC, and thiamine. Maybe not.
The wellness industry wants you to believe you can out-supplement your sins.
Sometimes you can. Sometimes you just bought $40 pee.
What Actually Helps (A Short, Honest List)
Water + electrolytes
Sleep
Simple carbs (toast, bananas)
Anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, never Tylenol)
A slow walk, some sun, and a nap
You can’t fast-forward a sunrise. The same goes for healing.
The Weirdest Hangover Cures People Swear By
Rubbing lemons under your armpits (Puerto Rico).
Asparagus water.
Pickled sheep’s eyes (Mongolia).
Charcoal toast.
Not all cures are created equal. But if it brings you comfort, who are we to say it doesn’t work?
The Hangover as a Mirror: What It Teaches You About Your Life
Hangovers are brutally honest.
They amplify whatever you've been ignoring.
If you’re overworked, you feel it.
If you’re lonely, you know.
If you drank to quiet something in you, the silence feels deafening in the morning.
But the gift of a hangover is that it forces you to stop.
You can't scroll away the headache.
You can't hustle through the nausea.
You have to sit with yourself. And sometimes, in that quiet, you hear what your life’s been trying to say all week.
Your Hangover Kit: What to Keep at Home
Rehydration salts or coconut water
Crackers or pretzels
A sleep mask
Pain relievers
Miso or bouillon cubes for broth
Your favorite hoodie and a gentle show
Recovery isn’t a science. It’s an art. Paint it however you need to.
Emotional Hangovers: When Guilt Hits Harder Than the Vodka
Sometimes it’s not your stomach that hurts. It’s your heart.
Alcohol can scramble serotonin and leave you feeling hollow the next morning.
Add in texts you don’t remember sending, and shame settles in like fog.
Forgive yourself. Hydrate your soul. Watch a comfort show. Let the day be soft.
When Food Is Medicine (and When It’s Just a Hug)
There’s a reason you crave carbs and fat when you're hungover.
Your blood sugar is low.
Your serotonin is sputtering.
Your gut is inflamed.
But there’s also a reason people call certain foods “comfort food”…because they soothe more than the stomach.
A bowl of buttery pasta doesn’t just fill you; it forgives you.
A slice of toast, a bowl of cereal, a handful of crackers…simple, soft foods are how we reintroduce the world to our nervous system.
And when someone makes you food after a night out?
That’s more healing than any supplement.
That’s love in edible form.
Weathering It With Someone Else
There is magic in shared misery.
The split aspirin.
The blurry laughter.
The unspoken bond of two people slumped on the couch, chewing dry toast and watching cartoons.
If you can, have your hangover with a friend. Misery doesn’t just love company…it metabolizes faster with it.
Preventative Potions: What To Do Before You Drink
Want to skip tomorrow’s punishment?
Eat before drinking
Alternate alcohol with water
Avoid sugary mixers
Stick to clear liquors (less congeners)
Take B vitamins + electrolytes before bed
It’s not sexy. But neither is nausea in a subway station.
The Rise of the Hangover Economy
Hangovers are big business. From IV drips on demand to boutique supplement kits, entire startups now cater to your morning regret.
There are apps that deliver coconut water, hangover cafes popping up in Japan, and luxury Airbnb add-ons that include hydration therapy.
Even capitalism wants in on your recovery.
Why Some People Never Get Hangovers (and Why That’s Not Always Lucky)
We all know someone who “never” gets hungover.
They wake up chipper after three martinis and a Negroni.
Their skin glows. They make brunch plans.
But hangover resistance isn’t always a blessing.
Some people metabolize alcohol differently due to genetics, yes…but others simply don’t notice what their body is trying to say.
A mild headache, a lost REM cycle, an anxious gut…ignored because it doesn’t knock them over.
Over time, this can lead to quieter, long-term damage: liver strain, hormonal imbalance, creeping fatigue.
The absence of punishment doesn’t mean the behavior was kind.
Sometimes, the hangover is a mercy.
A reminder to rest.
The Myth of the Perfect Cure
Every generation believes it’s one product away from beating the hangover.
Your friend swears by a turmeric shot.
Your coworker keeps coconut water on her nightstand.
TikTok tells you to drink raw pickle juice while standing on one foot.
But the truth is this: no cure is perfect because no hangover is the same.
Your weight, what you ate, your hormones, your hydration…each one shapes the storm.
What worked once might fail next time.
And sometimes, chasing the perfect cure only leads to more disappointment.
The real secret?
Not expecting to feel brand new…just a little less terrible, and a lot more cared for.
Rehydration Isn’t Just Water, It’s Ritual
Sure, we talk about electrolytes.
But rehydration after drinking isn’t just about sodium and potassium, it’s about returning to yourself.
The act of pouring water, the cool glass in your hand, the first sip down a throat that feels like sandpaper, it’s all a ritual.
Some people have their favorite cup.
Others need it cold with a lemon slice.
Some keep Pedialyte in the fridge like holy water.
Rehydrating is the hangover version of anointing.
It’s the moment you stop surviving and start healing.
So take your time with that first drink of the day, it might be the most honest one you have.
Forgive the Night, Love the Morning
You had fun. You overdid it. You are human.
Be tender with yourself. Sit in a patch of sunlight. Drink water like it’s mercy.
The world doesn’t need your productivity today. It needs your gentleness.
Amazon: Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier (I like the passionfruit one!)
Etsy: Hangover Recovery Kit Gift Bag (only $1!)
