Hangover Recipes and Cures

All this talk about beer is leading to extensive experimentation.

I'm curious as to what concoctions chowhounders rely on the night or morning after they should have said "no" to that last drink.

Personally, three advil and a liter of Orangina does the trick.

[TheHuntress]

I am always intrigued by other peoples hangover cures, especially when one might be suffering mildly due to an overconsumption of wine the previous night (oops, we drank how many bottles?). I find my hangovers depend upon what I have been drinking - I generally prefer liqueur and can drink large quantities without suffering too badly, but wine is a different story. So for the wine hangovers it's a maxalon for the nausea and icy, icy cold Diet Coke brought to me in bed. When I feel that it's safe enough to consider moving and consuming food it has to be something big and greasy and salty to soak up the alcohol. Oversized burger and fries are good, as well as goodies from the local bakery, or, if I'm well enough to seek it out, wanton noodle soup. A soothing warm shower to wash away the emerging feelings of self loathing and thoughts of 'Why? What was I thinking?' is also not optional.

[mariacarmen]

TheHuntress, i know you just misspoke (or did you??), but i love the idea of a WANTON noodle soup to get over your hangover! who knew something out of control, unruly and mischievous could be so soothing? I'm picturing a bawdy wench spooning you broth.... ( : (please know i'm not mocking!)

and i agree - a burger and fries brought to my bed would be PERFECT.

[TheHuntress]

LOL In Australia it is accepted to spell it that way. But hey, I'm quite enjoying the picture of a bawdy wench spoon feeding me broth :D Hmmmm, I wonder if I could get my husband to oblige me on that one...

[mamachef]

Stick him in a muumuu and apply a little lipstick. Then wrap some cool, slutty black leather corset around him and tell him to get to spoonin...!

[TheHuntress]

:D I wonder if it would be grounds for divorce if I took photos?

[mariacarmen]

only if you posted them here.

[TheHuntress]

There goes that idea then LOL

[CarmenR]

the holiday season always has me looking for hangover cures..
The numero-uno rule of hangover is PREVENTION rather than cure. When I know I've already gone past the point of no return (IE I'm starting to feel crappy before even going to bed!) I immediately force myself to eat something heavy and carb/potato based. I usually keep frozen tater tots or little individual frozen pizzas around which are fast enough to make and cure the drunk munchies. I am 100x worse off if I don't eat anything before bed.

BUT, for the morning after- seltzer (regular water makes me feel nauseous) and eggs with lots of cheese. Bacon, if possible. Toast (or more tater tots) with butter if no bacon is possible. I'd love to say this usually works, but my hangovers are so horrendous that I usually end up spending the entire day on the couch wishing for death and being unable to eat anything.

[goodhealthgourmet]

before you go to bed, also drink some apple cider vinegar diluted with water and sweetened with a little honey.

[SOBoston]

This post has been around for over 9 years---that's pretty legitimate.
Guess I'll add mine:
Bowl of non-sugary cereal with double the amount of milk than the cereal itself and a banana. I let the bowl "marinate" for about ten minutes before eating it. Always drink the remainder of milk at the bottom.
Other than that, milk and bananas as stand alones or together have always helped me.
And coffee---well, most of the time (depending on the severity).

[sunshine842]

SOB, I thought I was the only one on the planet who relied on lots of milk. I'd down a big glass of milk and a couple of Tylenol (before we knew that was bad for us...) before going to bed, even if I had to lean on the refrigerator to maintain vertical status long enough to drink it. I sent more than a few friends running from the room, fighting the urge to gag at the idea of drinking milk.

Then repeat when I finally got up...I *usually* was recovered in pretty short order (quite a lot faster than the gaggers above). Now I rely on avoiding it whenever I can. (but geez it sux to get nailed with a hangover when you didn't really earn it.)

[SOBoston]

I know it's supposed to "coat" your stomach and figured that if I drink enough alcohol in one night, I might as well be poisoning myself.

Ps, it makes me feel slightly sick/stomach gurgling for about an hour after. Time heals all wounds though!!

[pie22]

for me i need something spicy or clear broth soupy...preferably a spicy clear brothed wonton soup or something carby and asian (lo mein, fried rice, i can even do sushi to an extent) or mexican like a burrito.

i am also in the no coffee camp - i can do caffeine in the form of an ice cold coke but something about coffee i can not handle hungover.

and to mariacarmen with the 2-day hangover - i get them about once a year when i think i'm the uber-vodka drinking champ....i luckily try to keep that side of me reserved as much as possible.

[mamachef]

Last time that happened to me was after waaaay too much prime rib and gin cocktails at our local House of Red Meat. I got really upset though, when they acted like I was LOW CLASS because I asked for a shot of Jagie and they didn't sell that libation there.

[mariacarmen]

which is your local house of red meat? my dad would love a prime rib, once his choppers are re-affixed.

[mamachef]

You know, House of Prime Rib on Van Ness is where we go. Nope, it's not Kobe, or trendy, but it's a great slab of meat! And if you finish, seconds are available free! (I like that goofy spinning-bowl salad they make, which originated at Lawry's House of PR in LA.)

[buttertart]

Didn't there used to be a Gelson's or something like that on VN? Dragged the man there a couple of times (thinks steak is best at home, I don't).

[mariacarmen]

Headache - gone!

[linguafood]

that looks delicious. but what will the after-effects be? (my insides don't do so well with eggs sometimes, especially when i've abused them with alcohol the night before).

[mariacarmen]

none so far, just wish i hadn't split that with the BF because i am still hungry!

[buttertart]

Yum! took me an Advil, a roll with peanut butter on it, several diet ginger ales, and some garbagy takeout Chinese food to start to feel normal. Ish.

[mamachef]

Breakfast/brunch when? You and me and M & R?
You can make the bennies. I'll bring WHATEVER else we need. Smoked salmon? Fruit salad?
Name it, lovely. Good champagne, even. And some pastries from that place on Telegraph right up by Cal.
Have you ever made the same thing with a bed of spinach and crumbled bacon and sliced tomato?

[mariacarmen]

I've had what you describe at many brunches, but never at home - always do the carb thing.

mamachef - you and me and whoever you want, but for the time being, unfortunately, brunch can't be at my apt., and i'll explain later .. but ohh, that all sounds good.... maybe we should just go out for brunch one day soon! (after the holidays, as you've said.)

[mamachef]

well, dolly then whenever we do it, it can certainly be here.

[buttertart]

One of life's eternal questions - why oh why is it always brilliantly sunny on the days I'm suffering?
The sunshine doesn't help...time for a tomato-based libation.

[mariacarmen]

poor BT! rainy here.... i had 3 T-and-Ts last night, instead of the usual weekend 2, and TA-DAAAAAAAAAAAAAA - HEADACHE! fixing to go make eggs bennie as soon as the aspirin kicks in.

[ZenSojourner]

Nuprin (ibuprofen) before starting drinking.

Apricot nectar and more ibuprofen the day after.

Unless things get really crazy, one or the other does it for me. Fortunately things got "really crazy" only like twice in my entire lifetime. OK, maybe three times. But that's it. I swear!

[MVNYC]

Zen--I don't want to mess with your success but Nuprin before drinking is really bad for your liver and kidneys.

For preventative measures I recommend being over hydrated if you know you are going to tie one on. It usually lessens the effects the next day. Then when you get home from drinking drink a couple of glasses of water with lemon if possible and a swig of good olive oil. I usally also pop a few milk thistle capsules as well. The citrus, olive oil have good nutrients and help out the liver and milk thistle is an old liver helper.

Also if I am hungry before bed I will eat a couple of eggs. Eggs do also contain large amounts of cysteine, the substance that breaks down the hangover-causing toxin acetaldehyde in the liver's easily depleted glutathione.

I am not like the other tough men in this thread. I can get awful day long hangovers if I am not careful. So these precautions usually work for me. If I do get hungover, my suggestions up further in the thread work.

[ZenSojourner]

Thanks, but I'm pretty sure I'm WAY past the point in my life when I need to prepare for that kind of partying anymore, LOL!

It was a pretty rare occurrence for me anyway even "back in the day" (as my son says). I doubt that my level of (over) drinking was ever high enough to worry about damaging my liver, with or without the Nuprin.

>:D

[IndyGirl]

I am a fan of cold orange juice, a gently fried egg on toast and maybe (since I'm a veg) one or two vegetarian sausage patties. I know, I know. The vegetarian sausage proves that it's not the actual content of the food--just the association--that helps. I HATE coffee for a hangover. In general, coffee does not help if I'm feeling like crap in the morning, whether I'm extremely sleep-deprived, hungover or just plain nauseous.

Forcing myself to go for a 3-4 mile run totally kills any hangover effects, but it only works if it's a mild hangover. Thankfully I almost never get serious hangovers, but even a couple of glasses of wine can give me the mild hangover. For those, the run is the best. It feels like I'm sweating out the toxins.

[buttertart]

Tomato juice and cold lager beer 50/50 - Calgary Red Eye or a really really spicy Bloody Mary, with an Irish bacon sandwich (the closest thing to proper back - not peameal - bacon within shouting distance to me).

[DoobieWah]

DoobieWah's Morning After Scrambled Eggs

Crack 3 fresh eggs into a medium mixing bowl.
Add S & P to Taste.
Add one tablespoon of iced cold lager.
Whip with a whisk or fork until well scrambled.

Now pour that nasty mess down the sink, chug the rest of the beer and go back to bed.

[buttertart]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/artic...
Advice from the master. I particularly like the giving thanks that you feel terrible first thing in the morning because it means you're not still drunk. The hangover that hits around 11 am is the worst.

[linguafood]

I hate the delayed hangover. You wake up feeling ok-ish, perhaps a little tired and all, but you _think_ you are ok. Fast foward to a couple hours and a cup or two of coffee later, and....SURPRISE!!!! All of a sudden, you feel like crap.

For whatever reason, I KNOW it'll be a bad one when I wake up sneezing. Without exception, this is the harbinger for throwing up at some point. Dog only knows why....

I usually can't eat anything when I'm hungover, as I am generally part of the queasy camp, no headaches. I have to force myself to get down some dry toast just to calm the tummy.

But sometimes, greasy & salty or spicy food is the ticket. Also, as has been mentioned before - drinking LOTS of water during the the booze fest.

[buttertart]

My father used to sneeze when he drank Canadian whiskey. He almost never got hangovers (and really used to drink, seriously) but thought vanilla ice cream was the cureall when he did.
Delayed hangover...hey no fair! I get the head and the tum.

[mariacarmen]

ok, it's been a little while (not that long tho) since i've had one, but i've often (as I've aged, naturally) been victim of the hangover that lasts TWO DAYS. that is the WORST. it's two days of overeating anything greasy and salty, and/or spicy, popping aspirin that do no good, and downing gallons of diet coke. used to work with a bunch of guys (for almost 10 years, up until 2 years ago) and these hangovers were, pathetically, pretty regular. now, we only get together once a quarter or so, so i only have to worry about it 4-5 times a year (she says as if she's still 25 instead of pushing 50!)

But as someone else said upthread, you never know when maybe two glasses of wine or two tanq & tonics (my usual nightcap nowadays, if out playing pool) will do you in the next day - sometimes even a couple will give me a headache for the whole day. Other times, nada. I've actually found that exercise gets rid of the hangover pretty effectively, but it's rare that i feel like doing that. couch looks waaaay better.

[Passadumkeg]

Saltenas and black coffee.

[buttertart]

I don't get the punishment being meted out disproportionately to the crime either. And yes I've had a two-dayer a time or two, too. A friend's mom used to say if a hangover lasted past noon you could call it the flu.

[Passadumkeg]

In the 70's in Albuquerque at Okie Joe's I got in a jalapeno eating contest on Saturday night. I came in 2nd w/ 19; sick 'til Tuesday! Oooooo, the burn!

[mariacarmen]

horrifying!
Buttertart - love that. that virus has gone around too many times for me!

[buttertart]

She was quite the gal.

[linguafood]

My worst hangovers can last well into the late afternoon. I thought on several occasions that I might be allergic to alcohol.

It hasn't stopped me, but I could happily live w/out ever having one of those nasty 'day after effects' again.

[buttertart]

And I bet your husband is one of those unless he's waaay overindulged he never gets a hangover like mine, right?

[linguafood]

He can't even remember the last time he threw up. That's just ridiculous.

Hate him. He does get the splitting headaches sometimes. But rarely.

[buttertart]

Men.

[mariacarmen]

yes, thank god passadumkeg has admitted to having one now and again! my BF weathers every storm as if it were a paddling pool.

[Passadumkeg]

I can't remember the last one, was prob. w/ my bro, but i remember the jalapeno one/1

Maalox by the gal.

[buttertart]

But it was the peppers and not the hooch, of course.

[Passadumkeg]

BOTH!

[mamachef]

"Irish Flu."

[jeanmarieok]

Yes, it is bad to wake up congested and sneezing - first sign that I'll have a throwing up hangover...

My hangover cure - ice cold diet pepsi with no ice, and a two mcdonalds cheeseburgers (not mcdoubles or whatever, wrong ratio of fat to carbs). Might take me awhile to choke down the first one, but the second one goes down pretty good. And I am better within an hour.

[linguafood]

Oooh! So cool I found another person to whom this happens.... any clue how the sneezing/congestion is related to the throwing up?

[mamachef]

Allergic reaction. And a good heads-up that you've got a physiological reaction to the booze-a that not everybody experiences. Watch out!

[linguafood]

Ha-choo?

[Perilagu Khan]

I've got a feeling that utterly delicious foods cure a hangover simply by providing immense pleasure.

And extremely hot foods do the same by creating another source of pain that takes your mind of the pain of a hangover.

[The 1st and only KSyrahSyrah]

Menudo - the Mexican soup, not a boy band, and coconut water (it has electrolytes)

[jhopp217]

Yeah because the boy band hits you like a "Cannonball."

[atheorist]

All the special concoctions are hooey, but go ahead, no harm in them.

What works is drinking water before bed and when you get up - juice, gatorade, whatever you prefer.

The best instant cure is physical, not something you ingest: Get a big bowl of ice water. Take a few deep breaths and lower your face into the water as deep and for as long as you can hold it. Repeat if necessary. This does not help a queasy gut, but does miraculously stop the headache.

[Passadumkeg]

Inhaling pure oxygen. Clears the headache, but does little for the stomach.
In northern Europe, salty herring in the morning and sausage before bed.
There was another similiar old thread on this topic somewhere.

[Passadumkeg]

The old thread, No Hangovers: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7129...

[Whinerdiner]

Thankfully, this is not a problem I have often anymore, but last night we girls went out for a "milestone" birthday celebration. We had a great time, danced all night, drank way too much, and closed the bars. Everyone is pretty shaky today.

The best hangover cure, for me, is an ice cold beer. I don't know if it's the sugar, the hops, or what, but it works like a charm. Then, when I can eat, I need an American Hoagie. I wouldn't even think of eating bologna and mayo at any other time, but hangover days, definitely.

[mamachef]

A prairie oyster (shot of brandy, egg yolk and a shot of hot sauce and worcestershire) followed by 800 mgs. of advil, with a banana and some oj about an hour later worked for me back in college days. I really don't live like that anymore and would probably knock out the liquor in favor of gingerale, that banana, and oj until I could really tolerate food.

[jhopp217]

I'll start off by saying I do not get hangovers and (not proud) I'm a big drinker (like bottle of vodka in a night big), but I love this thread, because so many different things work for so many different people. I think the key to avoid hangovers is easy - fluids before bed. My go to other than water is Nestle Quick. For whatever reason it not only keeps me from getting a hangover, but actually settles my stomach for the next.

Now for cures. In my younger days I definitely wasn't immune to the perils of all night binges. I find that fatty foods work the best. Eggs with bacon and sausage is the obvious choice. One thing I did find was that coffee, while a nice pick me up for some is not the way to go when hungover. I also don't like gatorade. Gatorade when I'm sober gives me a headache (no idea why). I do know many people that swear by spicy food, but while I love it, don't see it as having any real medicinal properties. Others say soup, but I question going liquid (especially since most soups are loaded with salt). I'll stick to my chocolate milk at night and water in the morning. It works!

[MVNYC]

You actually lose a lot of salt while drinking and need it the next morning. My body craves salt when I have a hangover. My best cure is a big bowl of pho and a vietnamese iced coffee. The soup provides fluid, vitamins, minerals, carbs and protein. Everything you need to recover. The coffee helps with the headache.

Fruit juices and other healthy liquids help too. Your body is recovering from a trauma, you want to feed it healthy nutrients. Fatty foods do the opposite, they provide your liver with more work to do and lack the nutrients you need.

[jhopp217]

I honestly don't suffer any of the symptoms and haven't for many years, so I'm more concerned with the prevention than the cures, but I was just throwing some stuff out there from my early days.

Whatever works!

[JAK drinker]

If nobody has ever tried Guava Leaf extract, do it up. I always get the worst of hangovers and it sucks...so I was searching online and found this product called Drinkin' Mate (?) I think...anyway, tried and true-it's pretty sweet. Plus I did some background searching on it and it sounds pretty legit as far as the science behind it. Anyone else tried it? I'm curious if it's just me or if it works for other ppl...

[Perilagu Khan]

The best restorative I ever encountered was a big, extra hot dish of gai ga pao (hot and spicy chicken) and a bowl of wanton soup from a Thai place in Lubbock called Chow Thai. Sadly, the restaurant is no longer there, but fortunately I rarely have a medical need for that dish anymore.

But my God was it delicious! After a great deal of research, trial and error I have put together a recipe that closely mimics the original from Chow Thai. It is a culinary treasure.

[Antithesisofpop]

One of the local bartenders here swears by chocolate Slim Fast. I never have that on hand, so I haven't tried it.

I generally don't get terrible hangovers, so I'm not as bad off as most people, but a big greasy breakfast always makes me feel better. I usually go to the local diner and get 2 eggs scrambled, sausage links, hashbrowns and pancakes with lots of coffee.

[theferlyone]

Your bartender lied...I have a chocolate Slim Fast every morning for breakfast, unless I've been drinking. Let's just say, I tried it once, and the Slim Fast decided it didn't feel welcome in my stomach. :( My go-to hangover cure is this: 1. Set your alarm for about an hour before you actually have to get up. 2. Force yourself out of bed, and take some ibuprofen and chug a big glass of water. 3. Go back to bed until you actually have to be up. 4. When you wake up, breakfast should consist of apple juice and a salted potato product of some sort. The apple juice will help stabilize your blood sugar if you're too sick to keep solid food down, but the starch from the potatoes will absorb the gunk in your stomach, and the salt will help balance your electrolytes. It's never failed me...

[buttertart]

My mother was once counseled by a person sitting near her at a boxing match to give my one brother (a little kid at the time) potato chips to eat when he got queasy. (It was the '50's, people did these things.) Worked a charm.

[mamachef]

Chips or pretzels and a sweet drink (lemonade, swayt tay, seven-up or gingerale) always helped out tons when I was knocked up.

[buttertart]

I think Coke was also involved. What is there better than potato chips (or French fries) and Coke, come to that. (Once when seriously bilious from several days of overindulgence in Paris and Lyon a waiter insisted I have a Coke rather than a mineral water - it did help quite a bit.)

[mamachef]

Remember Coca-cola syrup purchased at the pharmacy? My mom's go-to for nausea, or a bad cough....

[buttertart]

I don't think they sold that up home (in London, Ont.). We only had pop / soda in the house on occasions like at Christmas when I was little, and I could never figure out why I could only have 1 pop and my dad unlimited beers. Life is never fair.

[mamachef]

Oh, mannnn, bt. What memories you've dredged up!! I remember going on famous family fun roadtrips, and we kids got to SPLIT a can of pop. I still remember not even getting it up to my mouth and my brother and sister shrieking, "No!! Don't take too much!"

[buttertart]

I was an onlyish (2 brothers 11 and 13 yrs older than me) child and very spoiled. That would not have gone over big with me.

[goodhealthgourmet]

ha! not quite Slim-Fast, but back in college when i woke up with a hangover (a disturbingly frequent occurrence) the ONLY thing i could even think about consuming for the first hour or two was a chocolate Yoo-Hoo!

[Mestralle]

I think toast with Marmite and butter and a soft-boiled or over-medium egg on top helps. It's a variation on the theme, but this particular combination of fat and salt and protein seems to go down relatively easier for me than some of the others mentioned.

[crt]

The best way to help avoid/prevent a hangover after a night of consuming alcholic beverages is to start with drinking a a full glass of water before your first drink. And to drink a glass of water before each alcholic drink/beverage thereafter. This will help to prevent the morning after dehydration that is the main cause of hangover symptoms.

[stellamystar]

Pedialyte! I buy the walgreen's brand. Get the popsicles or the regular stuff. Cold is better for the liquid stuff. You have to drink the whole thing, not just one glass.

Get those electrolytes flowing! Gatorade is also okay if it is 2AM at the 7-11.

If I eat before crashing sometimes I am worse off, esp. if there are a bunch of carbs involved (and there always are!).

My husband thinks something's wrong with me, but I will often force myself to - toss the cookies before bed if things are really bad.

[cupcakez]

Usually Im at work during the hangover. Damn sunday morning shifts. Anyways, if I come in drunk, ibuprophen and water. at the point it feels too gross to think of food. eventually when I start to sobre up I want either breakfast bangers or an egg mcmuffin. or just a yummy mushy muffin, but thats only when the hangovers not too bad. ice tea maybe, or OJ.

If I was at home it's a different story. In most cases I dont plan to get this drunk, or else I would hydrate and take a vitamin that night...however sometimes one just gets drunk and sleepy and passes out fully clothed and wasted.

:) Good memories. It's a good thing this doesn't happen very often though.

[Emme]

this thread is so old, but timely still...

tomato juice is the best thing in the morning... V8 if you must.

my keys:
aspirin before bed along with a few glasses of water
morning after meal - scrapple with toast to soap up the tummy juices
if food is intolerable, a shot of whatever put you in that state... nothing like a shot of tequila to cure a tequila hangover!

[Mizcarbo]

OK OK, I'm new here. Time honored cure (BUT must be done night of damage) - 2 asprin, 1000 mgs C. and the BIGGEST muilt "B" you can swallow - all washed down with a big glass of OJ. The one time I remembered to do it - it worked!!

I

[amanda3571]

Just thinking about a shot of tequila during a tequila induced hangover makes me want to vomit.....blech.

[im_nomad]

i agree with the eats before bedtime, something carby to soak up the bad stuff. Not a great habit but it has saved me a couple of times. Alcohol has a major diuretic effect on me as it is, and i am not a good sleeper, so drinking a gallon of water before bedtime would result in me waking back up within an hour and never getting back to sleep. I try to have a few glasses throughout the night tho.

Orangina is one of the best soft drinks out there, gatorade tastes like soap to me (but i do like Propel). I've found a couple of times even when the thought of food makes me want to hurl, i make myself force down a couple of crackers...because i'll only get worse, the longer my stomach is empty.

Alcohol gives me major sinus stuffies as well, and so i take advil cold and sinus. I was under the impression that ibuprofin was the safer of the painkillers to take in those situations???

[spellweaver16]

Ibuprofen IS the safer otc pain reliever to take when you've been drinking. Tylenol is rough on your liver normally, taking it after drinking is just a low blow to your poor organs.

[rfneid]

Menudo. Hands down best cure for el crudo I've ever found.

[drgnflychic]

I have several remedies for several types of hangover...

1. Eat something heavy and greasy before you pass out. Greasy = (W)awful House, hot dog cart, Taco Bell, etc.

2. If you wake up nauseated - you need some fizz and a soaker. Saltines, Triscuits, or toast and a Sprite or 7-Up, or my other fav - diet cherry limeade from Sonic.

3. Something salty always takes the tummy rumbles away. I like chips, fries, tots, or something like that. I have to wait until the nausea goes away and then I'm ready for something salty to take the hurt off.

4. Several ibuprofen before you go to bed and when you wake up. That headache is not going away unless you take something.

5. Have a bloody mary or a red beer - the first drink sucks but it gets better and it really works.

6. Hot and sour soup. Yes, the kind from the cheap Chinese takeout joint - it has magical healing powers. I swear by it.

7. Sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.

[joth68]

I usually pig out late night when I drink so I'm not often hungry in the morning. When I am go to the local greasy spoon for a nice hash and cheese omelet. The waitresses always look at me funny when I order a water, a cranberry juice, and a coffee at once.

If I am not eating, the cure that works everytime for me is 3 aspirin and an energy drink(I find the juiced based ones like rockstar are easier to get down in the morning)

[spellweaver16]

All the caffeine in the energy drink accelerates the aspirin :)

[hungry_pangolin]

Another vote for Orangina, although I usually do a grapefruit juice and soda water concoction. As well, a small bowl of kimchee puts me right.

[burritobelle]

For a reeeaaal bad hangover? It doesnt really help, but Miso or Wonton soups are the only things that I can actually eat and kind of enjoy.

I try and take a B vitamin before I go out drinking -- it seems to help the hangover.

[chelleyd01]

yeah, well, ours was simple...MickyD's double cheese and fries BEFORE drinking and hitting taco hell on the way home.

Wow that was a long time ago.

[tinymango]

i like all the various flavours of vitamin water. regular water. or sweet tea. orangina is very pleasant too, of course. lime pellegrino is acceptable as well.

i like aleve, even though thats supposedly for body aches, i am a big fan of this for hangovers.

as far as food goes it has to be a huge omelette stuffed with cheez and veggies, with rye toast or homemade biscuits and crispy hashbrowns, all doused in some sort of hot sauce. yum. big old mission style burritos are good, as well.

and more beer.

[AlaskaChick]

I'm fortunate to have a constitution that mostly keeps hangovers away - comes in handy since the BFF owns a bar. My number one tip - vitamin B12. Take 1000 milligrams before going out (or during the evening if some thoughtful friend has some) and take another in the morning.

And here's other things I'd always keep in mind. Prevention first - eat something before or during, drink a glass of water for every drink you have. If you're prone to headaches, take two aspirin when you get home or when you wake up in the morning (or both). If its been a long night, try to have a little something before bed - along with more water. I don't do my hot tub or really hot shower as it seems that rise in body heat makes the hangover. For rehydration, ginger ale and/or ice tea/water with lemon. Definately find the food you can stand in the morning and eat fairly soon. If you really can't do a meal, try some shortbread cookies. I've also been known to take alka seltzer later in the day if the headache and indigestion persist - worked for mom and dad and seems to work for me.

[lynnlato]

Two words: GUT PLUG. This is what my friends and I referred to the cure we used all throughout our twenties. Our old faithful gut plug was typically a greasy burger and fries the next day. But often times it was a gut plug breakfast down at the greasy diner at 2 a.m. after we finished drinking. Up eggs, sausage patties w/ syrup, lovely shredded hashbrowns w/ ketchup and toast. Don't forget the diet coke!

In the middle of our dunken stupors we would chant, "Beer is good! We like Beer! La la la la la la la!!!!" The mornning after a much more somber chant for the "gut plug".

[Perilagu Khan]

Not to be confused with butt plug.

[lynnlato]

Ha! Definitely not.

[mamaciita]

I read recently that hangovers are caused in part by potassium deficiency, and that bananas help, but that the best relief comes from coconut water (the writer recommended a brand from Whole Foods).

I can vouch for the bananas--coupled with lots of water, a banana or two seems to do the trick. I haven't tried coconut water, but I plan to stock up when I find it.

[krisyeats2]

Yeah I use coconut water for my hangovers and it really works! If you are having trouble finding it just look for Vita CoCo in your grocery store, or online (http://www.amazon.com/Vita-Coco-Cocon...). Definitely try it!

[ccbweb]

Well, it's revived....so....Pho. Lots of liquid, a bit of protein, a bit of carbs, some spice, some citrus...it'll fix most anything that's wrong with you.

The Ca Phe Sua Da won't hurt the process any either.

[southernitalian]

Another vote for Pho with a large amount of unsweetened iced tea.

[jnstarla]

3 Advil
2 Tums
1 very large bottle of water, gatorade, or sprite
1 multivitamin

[diablo]

I'm afraid I've perfected the following hangover cure:
1.Four Advil or two Aleeve.
2. One cup water, One Red Bull.
3.Two slices whole wheat toast, with butter if tolerable.
4.Two poached or scrambled eggs.
5.Tomato juice, 1-2 cups
6. Stand in a hot shower for 30 minutes.
Combine all of the above, in order, and you should be on your way to being human again. If not, go back to bed.

Be extremely cautious with Advil (Ibuprofen) following a night's binge on alcohol. The kidneys but mostly the liver and advil do not get along, especially after extensive alcohol consumption. Aspirin or sadly no OTC drugs are better for you. I've heard Vitamin B3 is supposed to help...

[Amelie]

I thought this was a timely refresher for this thread with the biggest hangover producing holiday upon us.

My hangover trick (besides getting older and learning how to prevent one) is the vitamin packet called Emergen-C mixed with water.

Happy New Year everyone and be careful out there! ;-)

[Hunicsz]

I don't know what they contain, or if it's really a placebo effect, but I've found those "chaser" pills to be pretty helpful.

I agree that Orangina works well - nutritious vitamins & cool fizzy soda at the same time. That's much better than Coke or plain water. Sometimes for severe hangovers I will take a glass filled with ice, add Angostura Bitters with a heavy hand, then fill the glass with ginger-ale. Very settling to the stomach, and I believe the bitters gives a bit of the "hair of the dog" effect, without actually having to start pounding beers again! Vanilla milkshakes or ice-cream sodas can also work well. Usually I can only have a milkshake while dealing with a less severe hangover, when I can actually drag myself out of bed & down to the local ice-cream shop!

i've read in three or four places recently that honey is a great hangover cure. i have not tried it- has anyone?

Aspirin (before, during and after) is good. A milk shake can be OK. Water by all means. OJ might do it. If it's really bad I suggest "hair 'o the dog" in the form of a couple ounces of cognac, sipped very slowly. If you don't want to drink alcohol, 5 mg. of Valium (the morning AFTER) will sooth the nerves. A little more if you want to sleep it off. By no means should one mix alcohol and tranquilizers, however.

All the the foregoing are quite true, but there's an added metabolic issue yet to be considered. Alcohol is broken down by a series of enzymatic reactions, essentially plucking hydrogen atoms successively from the original ethanol molecule. The first metabolic by-product of alcohol is acetaldehyde, a nasty substance which accounts for at least some of the hangover symptoms. The problem here is that acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetaldehyde, is in relatively short supply in our systems, and therefore counts as a rate limiting factor. That's the reason that hydration and nutrition are only partial answers. The final step I'm afraid is simple time - get rid of that nasty acetaldehyde! Additionally, the compounds which account for taste, flavor and color in alcoholic beverages are called congeners and some can work their own evil magic as well. They're especially abundant in such highly flavored drinks as gin. Sometimes these additives are purposefully added to give the drink certain qualities. For example, do you know what was added to Boone's Farm Apple Wine to give it that "crisp" taste? Formaldehyde - I kid you not!

Anyway, the best cure for a hangover is preventive = moderation & hydration. Short of that you can remember what a good time you might have had the night before (if you remember it.)

Andrew

1. Since dehydration is the reason your brain literally shrinks away from the subarachnoid space, fluids are obviously the key. Unfortunately, plain water is often unpalatable to drink the morning after. ALWAYS keep plain bottled selzer water on hand - this (cold or roon temperature) will go down easily and start the hydration process, and also soothe the tummy.

2. Medication: I used to swear by Extra Stregnth Tylenol until I discovered the new line of over-the-counter migraine products. Hangover headaches and migraine symptoms can be very similar, including the headache/nausea combination. Also, if you are lucky enough to have a prescription for Fiornal (generic name Butalbital), one is good for the mild hangover, two is for when you can barely lift your head to reach for your medication (thank goodness this doesn't happen to me anymore - I discovered too late in life that my body simply cannot tolerate gin or vodka, period).

Congratulations, you're out of bed! Let's move on.

4. This is a good time to send the least miserable person down to the bodega. Now, I'm not going to say you should drink one or the other - it depends on what you think would continue to placate your stomach at the moment. All of the following at one time or another have helped me in my time of need: Gatorade, tomato, grapefruit, orange, or cranberry juice, coffee, extra-cold skim milk (sipped), Coca Cola (not Pepsi). And keep the selzer handy!

5. Before you eat, see if you might have Immodium AD (Extra Strength chewables are my friend) on hand (especially if you suspect you were drinking beer out of dirty taps!!). Your digestive system may be very fragile at this time, so keep the toilet in close proximity. Remember: if you are foolhardy enough to go to brunch, you may risk invoking the wrath of the victim behind you in line for the restroom. Also, ladies: I wouldn't recommend going out all day if you are simultaneously hungover and menstruating. You know what I'm talking about.

6. You're finally ready to eat. Some people begin to dream of hash browns while still struggling to rise, and others can't fathom such a thing until the evening. Eat whatever you are craving. Forget trying to apply basic nutrition to hangover cures, because the abuse has already taken place. All you can do is comfort yourself at this point. I would say that it is very nice to open the cupboard and find a can of Campbell's Tomato and Rice soup, and a box of saltines.

7. I'm sorry, but any "hair-of-the-dog" advice is plain disgusting.

Again, it all depends on the person and type of hangover. As I said, I am thankful to have discovered what kind of alcohol I cannot drink under any circumstances, what I must limit, and what absolutely cannot be combined. These days, my hangovers are very few, and not too traumatizing.

I've heard people who drink WAY too much say that they eliminated hangovers by drinking half a gallon of water before going to bed. Flush the toxins out of your system and rehydrate yourself at the same time. Try that first, maybe you won't have a hangover to beat.

Very true! This definitely helps.

Unfortunately in my case, I would go to bed not even suspecting that the 2 or 3 gin and tonics OR 2 martinis over the course of an evening would absolutely wreck me the next morning. Turns out I had no business putting either into my system!

Also, as much as I try to force water before bed, I always stay up an extra hour or so because I am mortified at the thought of wetting my bed. My ex-boyfriend did this once or twice after some hard drinking, and, suffice to say, it was mighty unpleasant.

I didn't understand how that would work out either. But I have found in the past that if you start loading up on the water before you stop drinking, it tends to stop your thirst, so the drinking stops earlier, too.

Rehydration is probably the key to any hangover cure, but drinking too much water too fast, especially when very dehydrated, can actually be dangerous. At the least, drinking straight water without eating something salty flushes too much sodium from your system, which can in itself leave you feeling woozy and unwell. And although it's rare, it's possible to physically "drown" by diluting your blood sufficiently that you brain is "flooded" with water. So space that half-gallon over a least half an hour, and if you can, eat some pretzels or other salty but stomach-neutral snack (and a banana if you can tolerate it) to replace your sodium (and potassium) loss.

Unfortunately, I don't think most people think about how to deal with a hangover until it's alreay hit them...

[scarmoza]

It's never worked for me. It doesn't stay down.
The only things that have worked for me are
1) Taking aspirin before bed (NEVER EVER acetaminophen/Tylenol with alcohol)
2.) If I forget to take aspirin then I drink some very good coffee, very slowly - and not more than 2 cups. I might have some Ibuprofen at this point. Try to go for a walk or be active for a while and while also drinking water, if possible. And later sip on gatorade, ginger ale, and/or emergen-c.

Minty, awesome post. But, you left me a bit curious on how you know so much about hangovers? Are you a doctor or enthusiast? Anyway, you reinforced why I've had so much success with Orangina. It combines both the orange juice and seltzer you suggest.
Hydration is the key. I'm ashamed to admit but I even start introducing water into the equation early in the night if I suspect I'm heading for trouble. A 22 oz water for each pint type of thing.

Stick with simple aspirin as a pill cure for a hangover. Tylenol, and the rest of the "non-aspirin" designer drugs usually end up doing twice the liver damage than the the alcohol itself.

As an EMT who's seen plenty of narcotic-alcohol induced comas, I'd say stay away from mixing fiornal and booze. Way away. Also, watch the acetominphen (tylenol). Your liver's in enough trouble without adding this irritant. Stick with the alka seltzers, coca-colas and water. If you yearn for a narcotic to take away the headache pain, just let that be your body's admonishment for the abuse you've inflicted.

What's an EMT?

Emergency Medical Technician.

No no!!! I do not mix narcotics and booze, let me state that for the record.

Also let me state that when I have taken these the morning after, there were other factors involved. First and foremost, debauchery in itself was not the cause - like I said before, I would sometimes have a moderate amount of gin or vodka, which my body cannot tolerate period, and literally could not move the next morning (self-flagellation isn't the issue here). In addition to this, I am a walking barometer, so if there had also been any major weather change, then I was in real trouble.

Since eliminating the culprits from my list, I haven't had one of these morning after incidents, thank goodness!

one word GATORADE

Yup, definitely Gatorade.

[piccola]

Gatorade is the gold standard of hangover cures.

Though on the food side, I like eggs + toast with honey.

[anchovy]

Minty, What is the "new line of otc migrane priducts" you referenced above??

[ccbweb]

That would be the reference from 6 years ago...

[anchovy]

Correct. You count really well....

[dolores]

>>What is the "new line of otc migrane priducts"

anchovy, I was wondering that myself.

This line is almost enough to make a person stop drinking!

>>Since dehydration is the reason your brain literally shrinks away from the subarachnoid space, fluids are obviously the key.

Sadly, I have to agree that moderation is the key.

two large glasses of iced tea, two aspirin and bacon and eggs fix me right up. if that doesnt work then a v8

Since part of what makes you miserable with a hangover is dehydration and loss of potassium, my morning-after remedy is a tall glass of orange juice with a banana and a raw egg blended into it, followed by a couple of aspirin and lots of water. And I usually take a couple of aspirin before going to sleep, the night before the morning after. Seems to work for me.

A bowl of hearty, non-dairy soup. People suggest tripe or menudo, but many other soups do the trick also.

Drink lots of liquids to re-hydrate. I like to drink lots of water while I'm drinking as a preventive measure.

There's always the good ol' hair o' the dog. Or, as a last resort: Just Stay Drunk.

[KevinB]

Absolutely, drink lots of liquids - mostly water. Most of the effects of a hangover are due to dehydration. My friends and I discovered that drinking a liter of water before passing out (and then, when the inevitable 3:00 AM call to the throne occurred, drinking another liter), truly mitigated the ill feelings. However, we also drank a lot of tomato juice the next morning, and found that helped as well.

[spellweaver16]

I always make sure to drink Gatorade before giving in to sleep after a night of drinking. Never had a hangover.

I think Tripe, in all its various forms is supposed to be a hangover cure...

For me it's always been salty french fries, preferably McDonald's, although usually when I need a hangover cure it's due to Scotch, which always seems to make me hungry in the morning (as opposed to beer, which has an opposite effect).

Ben

Tacos with chorizo and egg or bean and bacon, with cheese and jalapenos. Admittedly, it can be like chemotherapy: Tough to survive but curative in the end.

Also, regular coke, gatorade and the old standby alka-seltzer. Used to wash down the tacos, of course.

I'm with you on the spicy stuff; tabasco is good to keep on hand for dumping all over your scrambled eggs the morning after. Don't know what it is about its vasodilating powers that loosens the grip of a hangover, but it works for me.

And it must be one reason the Bloody Mary is a time-honored cure; another is the salt, which your body needs to help with rehydration; and then there's the hair of the dog. OK, it's dangerous, because once your body learns that a little drink will makes things better you're on the road to dependency. But it does help.

As does Guinness. Who knows what's in that stuff, but it's like medicine.

A Ramos Fizz is marvelous too--packed with protein, from egg whites! But operating a cocktail shaker when you're damaged is damn hard, not to mention the intolerable racket it produces. The only solution is to do your drinking in New Orleans and go to the Sazerac Bar in the morning to let the old bartenders do the athletic shaking for you.

Kingsley Amis's On Drink has a masterful chapter on hangovers, dealing with not just the physical hangover but the metaphysical hangover: the guilt and self-disgust that kicks in just as your mind begins to clear.

[Japanecdote]

Gotta agree with you on McDonalds. On most hangover mornings the only food I can think of eating is a big pile of greasy, salty, delicious McDonalds fries.