herbs and pills in cups and bowls

Hangover Home Remedies: Do They Really Work?

Many of us are all too familiar with the rude awakening that awaits us after a celebratory evening featuring one too many cocktails. The feeling of a hangover is like a dark, gloomy cloud of doubt hanging over us, forcing us to examine our actions of the previous 12 hours through a regret-tinted window. A brief stroll online or chatter at the local barbershop will reveal a multitude or hangover remedies and cures complete with firsthand testimonials of their effectiveness. This article takes a closer look at hangover home remedies that can minimize your symptoms without the need to leave the comfort of your home.

Why do hangovers happen?

To understand why some home remedies work while others don’t, let’s first take a look at why hangovers happen in the first place. Hangovers occur due to a variety of factors that occur once someone has drunk past the point of excess.

These factors include:

  • Low blood sugar
  • Electrolyte imbalance
  • Alcohol withdrawal
  • Gastrointestinal irritation

More than a third of adults wake up with the unpleasant effects of a hangover the morning after a night of heavy drinking. That dehydrated feeling – complete with a parched mouth, the throbbing headache, fatigue and nausea – are characteristics of a severe hangover.

Alcohol can have a dramatic effect on our sleep patterns, making it difficult to reach that blissful REM sleep cycle, leaving us feeling more dazed and confused than alert and ready once we leave the confines of our bed. Our blood vessels widen after drinking, and alcohol can cause nausea and even diarrhea due to it aggravating the lining of your stomach.

5 ways to treat a hangover at home

Hangover cures and remedies are no new concept. People have looked to remedy hangovers since they were first discovered to be a problem. They say desperate times call for desperate measures, and ideas to ease the pain have been bandied about for ages.

We’ve heard everything from drinking glasses of pickle juice, ramping up your intake of vitamin B, or laying waste to a greasy cheeseburger, and they’ve all been touted as a simple but surefire hangover cure. But are these merely urban myths or can you genuinely cure a hangover at home?

The only true way to guarantee yourself a morning without a hangover is to minimize your alcohol intake or abstain from drinking full stop. Having established that, there are a few hangover remedies that can provide a respite from some of your symptoms, so we’ve gathered those that we feel are worth a look.

1. Get hydrated quickly

Getting hydrated should be the first thing you do when you’ve had one drink too many. A glass of water can go a long way towards raising your spirits and helping you recover from the symptoms of a hangover. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases the volume of urine made by the kidney and passed through the body. Precious fluids are also lost through sweat or if you experience diarrhea or vomiting as a symptom after a night of heavy drinking.

Remaining hydrating – while – drinking can also aid in minimizing those aftereffects. Alternating a full glass of water in between cocktails is a helpful trick to help avoid hangover symptoms. It’s good practice to remember that having a hydrating beverage once you get back home can provide a tremendous boost for your body before calling it a night.

We recommend starting with a full glass of water before moving onto an electrolyte rich beverage, coconut water, or kombucha. Regardless of what you choose, staying hydrated is a good practice towards finding some relief from your hangover troubles.

2. Attempt to eat some food

One significant factor in many hangovers is a steep decline in blood sugar levels. Lactic acid in the body spikes as our bodies break down and absorb alcohol, which impacts our blood sugar levels. Having a bite to eat while hungover can work towards reestablishing normal blood sugar levels, soothe nausea and can help fight off those lethargic feelings. Having some food before you drink – or nibbling on something throughout the night – can help prevent hangover symptoms.

Something high in carbohydrates and healthy fats like toast with butter or jam, spicy Thai food, or a steaming bowl of Pho can propel alcohol from your system quickly and get you on the road to recovery.

3. Take some antioxidants

Drinking alcohol causes our bodies to generate free radicals through a process referred to as oxidative stress. Oxidative stress has been linked to health concerns such as cancers and heart disease. Antioxidants are helpful compounds capable of getting rid of excess free radicals.

Consuming foods that are high in antioxidants can vastly diminish the unfavorable effects of overindulging in alcohol. Some qualified candidates looking to boost your antioxidant levels while in the midst of a hangover include ginger, pomegranate, berries, dark chocolate, nuts, and carrots.

4. Grab some medications or supplements

There are many over the counter drugs, supplements, and medications for those suffering from a hangover, some of which claim to help improve symptoms quickly but don’t actually make a difference. Fortunately, there are some medicines that can help ward off the nasty symptoms of drinking too much.

  • Aspirin and anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen can help ease the pain of muscle aches and headaches by reducing the inflammation caused by alcohol.
  • Antacids work by minimizing the indigestion, heartburn, and nausea brought on by over-drinking, making them a helpful option for those suffering from a hangover.
  • Red ginseng is a staple of Chinese medicine that has been used for centuries to treat conditions such as asthma and anxiety. This cherished root can also help relieve hangover symptoms such as nausea, feelings of lightheadedness, and headaches.

5. Get a hangover IV

If you are just learning about IV therapy, it may sound like a somewhat severe or even downright strange process. The benefits of an IV vitamin drip can be astonishing for your hangover. IV drips and treatments allow the delivery of vitamins, medications, and fluids intravenously into your bloodstream for maximum and immediate absorption of all ingredients.

IV therapy is no longer reserved for the ailing or sick, however. IV therapy is now looked to help support many elements of a healthy lifestyle. There are many blends of IV formulas to address specific needs, such as treatments designed to boost your immune system and increase energy levels, cleanse and detox your body, relieve symptoms of stomach flu and food poisoning, as well as minimize the feelings of jet lag. hangover IV therapy has recently emerged as one of the most in-demand options currently available.

How hangover IV treatments work to improve your symptoms quickly

While IV therapy has been a part of general medicinal practice for decades, hangover IVs have recently emerged as a compelling and efficient course of action towards nullifying the effects of a nasty hangover. But how successful is vitamin IV therapy at tackling the unwelcome feelings of a bothersome hangover?

Hangover IV treatments deliver a blend of fluids, electrolytes, and vitamins directly into the bloodstream. These ingredients provide much-needed hydration to your body, helps to eliminate toxins, and replenishes the vitamins and minerals lost while in the midst of a wild night with ‘one too many’ drinks.

How to get a hangover IV

There are those “mornings after” that bring the pain to such an extent that simply drinking a few glasses of water and trying to get down an omelet just isn’t quite enough to bring relief to your body. It’s scenarios like these where Hangover IV treatment can get your body back on track and ready to take on the day.

Your options for immediate relief after a night of heavy drinking are to set up an appointment for a hangover IV treatment at a local IV lounge, or, in your best-case scenario – booking mobile IV hangover treatment right in your own home. This is an ideal option for those with hangover symptoms too significant to deal with on your own and you’re looking for instant relief without the hassle of leaving home base.

How do in-home hangover IV treatments work?

Mobile Hangover IV therapy is provided by a mobile IV medical service that delivers IV treatments straight to your home. A registered nurse will administer your IV drip, which will feature a special blend of fluids, medications, vitamins and electrolytes that provides instant rehydration, flushes toxins from the body, and works to soften those nauseous feelings and that pounding headache.

Most hangover IV drips contain anti-inflammatory and anti-nausea medications which quickly act to fight off symptoms and bring fast relief. During your treatment, you can feel free to kick back and relax with your favorite book or that show you’re binging on Netflix while the contents of your drip naturally make their way to your cells.

Proving to be a fast acting and efficient approach to oppose the symptoms of a hangover, Hangover IV treatments typically conclude in less than an hour and leave you feeling rejuvenated. You’ll be ready to make an impact on your day or maybe even hit the dance floor all over again!

In-Home IV Treatments With Drip Hydration

Drip Hydration offers mobile IV therapy in the comfort of your home. Once you book your appointment, a certified nurse will come to your desired location and administer the treatment, which usually takes less than an hour. During this time, you can do anything you’d like, such as relax under a warm blanket or watch TV. Drip Hydration will also go to hotels, worksites, or other locations upon request.

You can either browse our treatment options and decide which is best for you or speak to a representative who can help you choose what you need based on your health goals. To schedule your appointment or learn more, contact us today!

Hangover IV - Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in our hangover IV?

Our Hangover IV treatment contains a blend of IV fluids, electrolytes, vitamins and medication to restore the vitamins in your body and help your body battle with the unwanted hangover symptoms. Among the main ingredients are B-Complex vitamins, Vitamin B12, Toradol and Anti-Nausea medication. 

Why is hangover IV much more effective than hangover drinks?

Hangover IV is more effective than hangover drinks because the IV solution is introduced directly into your blood without having to go through the digestive system which is already overloaded. This means you will feel the effects much faster and feel much better very quickly. 

How long does it take for our Hangover IV to start working?

It usually takes between 30-60 minutes for you to feel the benefits of our Hangover IV drip.

What are the levels of hangover severity?

IV therapy in general is FDA approved. Our nurses are overseen by our Medical Director, Abe Malkin, and every nurse is registered and certified per state standards.

Read more: Hangover IV FAQ