Waking up with a pounding headache, nausea, and fatigue after a night of drinking is never pleasant. You may have heard someone suggest having another drink to cure your hangover—a practice known as “hair of the dog.” But does this age-old remedy actually work, or is it just postponing the inevitable misery?
This comprehensive guide explores the science behind the “hair of the dog” method, its potential effectiveness, risks, and better alternatives for managing hangover symptoms.
Understanding the “Hair of the Dog” Concept
The phrase “hair of the dog” comes from the longer expression “hair of the dog that bit you.” This saying originates from an ancient belief that the source of an ailment could also provide its cure.
When applied to hangovers, “hair of the dog” refers to consuming more alcohol when you’re experiencing hangover symptoms. The idea is that additional alcohol will alleviate unpleasant effects such as headaches, nausea, dehydration, and exhaustion.
This practice is more common than you might think. Research indicates that approximately 11% of social drinkers have used alcohol to treat hangover symptoms at least once within a year. However, popularity doesn’t necessarily equal effectiveness or safety.
The Science: Does Hair of the Dog Actually Work?
While scientific research on this hangover remedy remains limited, several theories attempt to explain why some people believe it provides relief.
Theory 1: Elevating Blood Alcohol Concentration
Hangover symptoms typically emerge as your body processes and eliminates alcohol from your system. Studies show that hangover symptoms are often most severe when blood alcohol concentration returns to zero.
The underlying theory suggests that consuming more alcohol raises your blood alcohol level again, temporarily masking hangover symptoms. However, this only delays the inevitable. Once you stop drinking and your blood alcohol level drops back to zero, the hangover symptoms will return—potentially with greater intensity.
This approach essentially postpones your hangover rather than curing it.
Theory 2: Triggering Endorphin Release
Alcohol consumption temporarily increases endorphin production in your brain. Endorphins are natural chemicals that create feelings of pleasure and can mask discomfort.
Research demonstrates that alcohol does produce a short-term endorphin surge, which creates pleasurable sensations. However, during alcohol withdrawal, endorphin levels plummet below baseline, contributing to hangover misery.
This endorphin fluctuation also plays a significant role in alcohol’s addictive properties. While drinking more alcohol may provide temporary relief through endorphin elevation, symptoms will resurface once you stop drinking.
Theory 3: Interrupting Toxin Formation
Alcoholic beverages contain small amounts of compounds called congeners, which form during fermentation. These substances are believed to contribute to hangover severity independent of alcohol’s direct effects.
Methanol is one such congener commonly found in wine, beer, and various spirits. Your body metabolizes methanol into toxic substances—formic acid and formaldehyde—which are associated with more severe hangovers.
Since your body uses the same metabolic pathway to break down both ethanol (drinking alcohol) and methanol, consuming more alcohol can theoretically allow methanol to be excreted unchanged rather than converted into these toxic compounds.
While this mechanism has some scientific basis, it still adds more alcohol to your system that eventually requires processing. Your hangover may be delayed, but it won’t be eliminated.
Why You Should Think Twice About This Method
Despite potential temporary relief, consuming more alcohol to treat a hangover carries significant risks and drawbacks.
Worsening Hangover Symptoms
Evidence suggests that hangovers tend to intensify over time during periods of consecutive heavy drinking. What might start as mild relief can evolve into a more severe hangover when you eventually stop drinking.
Promoting Unhealthy Drinking Patterns
Using alcohol to relieve hangover symptoms is strongly associated with higher rates of alcohol dependence and abuse. This practice can normalize problematic drinking behaviors and create a dangerous cycle.
Health professionals do not recommend the “hair of the dog” method due to these concerning risks. The pattern of drinking to relieve withdrawal symptoms is a hallmark of alcohol dependency.
Never Truly Solving the Problem
The only guaranteed way to avoid a hangover is to abstain from alcohol or drink in moderation. Maintaining a blood alcohol level below 0.1% significantly reduces the likelihood of experiencing hangover symptoms the following day.
Do Different Alcoholic Beverages Cause Different Hangovers?
Not all alcoholic drinks affect your body equally when it comes to hangover severity.
The Role of Congeners
Beverages with lower congener content may produce less severe hangovers. Highly distilled spirits like vodka contain minimal congeners, while darker liquors such as whiskey, bourbon, and brandy contain significantly more.
Research comparing different types of alcohol shows that vodka drinkers typically experience milder hangovers than those consuming darker spirits with equal alcohol content.
Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drinks
Studies on animals suggest that combining alcohol with energy drinks may result in more severe hangovers compared to alcohol alone, though more human research is needed to confirm this effect.
Additionally, mixing alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks can mask intoxication signs, potentially leading to greater alcohol consumption and subsequently worse hangovers.
Quantity Still Matters Most
Despite variations between beverage types, the total amount of alcohol consumed remains the most significant factor determining hangover severity. No type of alcohol is truly “safe” when consumed in excessive quantities.
Better Alternatives for Hangover Prevention and Relief
Instead of reaching for another drink, consider these evidence-based strategies for preventing and managing hangovers:
Practice Moderation
The most effective hangover prevention strategy is limiting alcohol consumption. Health guidelines recommend no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. These limits significantly reduce hangover risk.
Pace Your Drinking
Your body can only metabolize approximately one standard drink per hour. Exceeding this rate causes alcohol to accumulate in your bloodstream, leading to intoxication and worse hangovers. Space out your drinks over several hours.
Eat Before and During Drinking
Consuming food before and while drinking slows alcohol absorption into your bloodstream. This helps moderate blood alcohol levels and reduces hangover risk. Foods rich in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates are particularly beneficial.
Stay Properly Hydrated
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urine production and can lead to dehydration—a major contributor to hangover symptoms. Alternate alcoholic beverages with water throughout the evening and drink plenty of water before bed.
Prioritize Quality Sleep
Research shows that getting at least seven hours of sleep after drinking alcohol is associated with less severe hangovers. Alcohol disrupts sleep quality, so aim for extra rest when possible.
Don’t Skip Breakfast
Eating a nutritious breakfast helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which can alleviate feelings of nausea, headache, and shakiness. Include easily digestible foods with a balance of carbohydrates and protein.
Consider Pain Relief
Inflammation contributes to many hangover symptoms. If you experience hangover-related headaches or body aches, you may consider over-the-counter pain relievers. However, always consult with a healthcare professional before taking any medication, especially after alcohol consumption, as some medications can interact dangerously with alcohol or stress your liver.
Replenish Electrolytes
If you experienced vomiting or diarrhea, replacing lost electrolytes is crucial. Electrolyte-enhanced beverages or eating foods rich in potassium, sodium, and magnesium can help restore balance.
Support Your Body with Nutrients
Alcohol metabolism depletes various vitamins and minerals, including zinc, selenium, B vitamins, and magnesium. Eating nutrient-dense foods or considering a multivitamin may support recovery, though more research is needed to confirm specific benefits.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While most hangovers resolve on their own within 24 hours, certain symptoms warrant medical attention:
- Severe confusion or difficulty staying conscious
- Seizures
- Slow or irregular breathing
- Blue-tinged or pale skin
- Vomiting that won’t stop
- Severe abdominal pain
These symptoms could indicate alcohol poisoning or other serious complications requiring immediate medical care.
The Connection Between Hair of the Dog and Alcohol Dependence
It’s important to understand that regularly using alcohol to relieve withdrawal symptoms—including hangovers—is a warning sign of alcohol use disorder.
If you find yourself frequently needing a drink to feel normal or function, this pattern suggests dependence rather than occasional social drinking. Alcohol dependence is a serious medical condition requiring professional treatment.
Recognizing this pattern early can help you seek appropriate support before the problem worsens.
The Bottom Line on Hair of the Dog
The “hair of the dog” hangover cure may provide temporary symptomatic relief by raising blood alcohol levels, boosting endorphins, or slowing toxin formation. However, this relief is short-lived and merely postpones the inevitable hangover.
This method carries significant risks, including potentially more severe hangovers and promoting unhealthy drinking patterns that can lead to alcohol dependence. Health experts strongly discourage using alcohol to treat hangover symptoms.
Instead, focus on prevention through moderation, staying hydrated, eating food while drinking, and getting adequate sleep. If you do experience a hangover, the safest approach is allowing your body time to naturally process and eliminate alcohol while supporting recovery through hydration, rest, and proper nutrition.
Remember, the only guaranteed way to avoid a hangover is to drink responsibly or not at all. If you’re concerned about your drinking patterns or find it difficult to control your alcohol consumption, consult a healthcare professional for guidance and support.
Sources:
- National Library of Medicine – Historical perspectives on hangover remedies
- PubMed – Hangover treatment practices among social drinkers
- National Institutes of Health – The alcohol hangover research
- PubMed – Endorphins and alcohol consumption
- PubMed Central – Congeners and hangover severity
- National Library of Medicine – Methanol metabolism and hangovers
- PubMed – Blood alcohol levels and hangover symptoms
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Dietary Guidelines for Americans
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
⚕️ Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information provided has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, taking supplements, or starting any health regimen. Individual results may vary.