Does Hair of the Dog Work? The Truth About This Hangover Remedy

After a night of heavy drinking, you wake up with a pounding headache, nausea, and regret. Someone suggests having a morning cocktail to “take the edge off.” But does this age-old remedy known as “hair of the dog” actually work, or is it just delaying the inevitable?

This practice of consuming more alcohol to alleviate hangover symptoms has been around for centuries, but science tells a more complicated story. Understanding what happens in your body during a hangover and how alcohol affects it can help you make better decisions about managing those uncomfortable morning-after 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,” stemming from an ancient belief that the cure for a dog bite was to apply hair from the same dog to the wound. While modern medicine has debunked that particular theory, the saying has survived in the context of hangover remedies.

In modern usage, “hair of the dog” specifically refers to drinking alcoholic beverages the morning after drinking to combat hangover symptoms. Common choices include:

• Bloody Marys
• Mimosas
• Beer
• Any alcoholic drink from the previous night

Surveys indicate that approximately 11% of social drinkers have tried this method at least once in the past year, making it a relatively common practice despite mixed opinions about its effectiveness.

The Science Behind Hangovers

To understand whether “hair of the dog” works, we first need to understand what causes hangovers. When you drink alcohol, several processes occur in your body:

Alcohol Metabolism and Withdrawal

As your liver breaks down alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde, a toxic compound that contributes to hangover symptoms. Research shows that hangover symptoms typically peak when blood alcohol concentration returns to zero, suggesting that hangovers are partly a mild form of alcohol withdrawal.

Dehydration and Electrolyte Imbalance

Alcohol acts as a diuretic, causing increased urination and fluid loss. This leads to dehydration, which manifests as headaches, dizziness, and dry mouth. Additionally, vomiting or diarrhea can worsen electrolyte imbalances.

Inflammatory Response

Excessive alcohol consumption triggers an inflammatory response throughout your body, particularly affecting your stomach lining and brain. This inflammation contributes to nausea, headaches, and overall discomfort.

Congeners and Toxic Byproducts

Congeners are chemical compounds produced during alcohol fermentation and aging. Darker spirits like whiskey, rum, and red wine contain higher levels of congeners than clear spirits like vodka or white wine. These compounds, particularly methanol, can be converted into toxic substances like formaldehyde and formic acid, intensifying hangover severity.

Why “Hair of the Dog” Seems to Work

Despite health experts generally discouraging this practice, some people swear by it. There are several scientific explanations for why consuming more alcohol might provide temporary relief:

Temporary Blood Alcohol Level Increase

Since hangover symptoms are most severe when blood alcohol returns to zero, drinking more alcohol temporarily raises your blood alcohol level again. This essentially postpones the hangover rather than curing it. When you eventually stop drinking, the symptoms will return, potentially with greater intensity.

Endorphin Release

Alcohol consumption triggers the release of endorphins, your body’s natural feel-good chemicals. These endorphins can temporarily mask hangover discomfort and create a sense of wellbeing. However, this effect is short-lived, and endorphin levels drop during alcohol withdrawal, potentially worsening symptoms later.

Methanol Metabolism Competition

Here’s where the science gets interesting: your body uses the same enzymes to break down both ethanol (drinking alcohol) and methanol (a toxic congener). When you drink more alcohol, the ethanol competes with methanol for these enzymes, allowing some methanol to be excreted without being converted into toxic compounds.

This mechanism is actually used in medical settings when treating methanol poisoning – doctors administer ethanol to prevent methanol from being metabolized into dangerous substances. However, this doesn’t mean “hair of the dog” is a good idea for typical hangovers.

Psychological Factors

The placebo effect shouldn’t be underestimated. If you believe that drinking more alcohol will help, you might perceive some relief simply due to expectation. Additionally, the ritual of preparing and consuming a morning beverage can provide comfort and distraction from symptoms.

Why Health Experts Don’t Recommend This Approach

While “hair of the dog” might offer short-term relief, medical professionals strongly advise against this practice for several important reasons:

Delayed and Worsened Symptoms

You’re not eliminating the hangover – you’re merely postponing it. When you finally stop drinking, you’ll still need to metabolize all the alcohol in your system, and the resulting hangover may be even more severe than the original.

Increased Risk of Alcohol Dependence

Regularly using alcohol to relieve discomfort is a warning sign of problematic drinking patterns. This behavior can normalize drinking at unusual times and create a cycle where you need alcohol to feel normal. Research indicates that people who frequently use “hair of the dog” are at higher risk for developing alcohol use disorder.

Progressive Worsening

Studies show that during periods of consecutive heavy drinking, hangovers tend to become more severe over time. Each day of drinking to cure a hangover can make the next day’s hangover worse, creating a dangerous spiral.

Impaired Daily Function

Drinking in the morning affects your ability to work, drive, and fulfill responsibilities. You’re essentially extending the period of intoxication rather than recovering and returning to normal function.

Masking Serious Symptoms

In rare cases, severe symptoms after drinking might indicate alcohol poisoning or other serious conditions requiring medical attention. Using more alcohol to mask these symptoms could be dangerous.

Factors That Influence Hangover Severity

Understanding what makes hangovers worse can help you prevent them in the first place:

Type of Alcohol

Clear, highly distilled spirits like vodka and gin contain fewer congeners and typically cause less severe hangovers than darker drinks like whiskey, brandy, or red wine. However, the total amount of alcohol consumed remains the most important factor.

Drinking Speed

Your liver can only process about one standard drink per hour. Drinking faster than this rate causes alcohol to accumulate in your bloodstream, leading to higher intoxication and worse hangovers.

Mixing with Energy Drinks

Some research suggests that mixing alcohol with caffeinated energy drinks may lead to more severe hangovers and increased alcohol consumption because the caffeine masks feelings of intoxication.

Individual Factors

Genetics, body weight, gender, age, medications, and overall health all affect how your body processes alcohol and experiences hangovers. Some people are simply more susceptible to severe hangovers regardless of what they drink.

Food Consumption

Drinking on an empty stomach leads to faster alcohol absorption and more severe symptoms. Food in your stomach slows absorption and provides nutrients your body needs to metabolize alcohol.

Evidence-Based Hangover Prevention Strategies

Rather than reaching for another drink, try these scientifically-supported methods to prevent or minimize hangovers:

Practice Moderation

The most effective way to prevent a hangover is to limit alcohol consumption. Current dietary guidelines suggest up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. Staying below a blood alcohol concentration of 0.1% significantly reduces hangover likelihood.

Hydrate Consistently

Alternate alcoholic beverages with water throughout the evening. Aim to drink at least one glass of water for every alcoholic drink. Before bed, drink additional water to combat dehydration overnight.

Eat Before and During Drinking

Consuming food, especially foods high in protein and healthy fats, before drinking slows alcohol absorption. Continue eating while drinking to maintain this protective effect. A meal before bed can also help stabilize blood sugar.

Choose Your Drinks Wisely

Stick to lighter-colored spirits mixed with non-caffeinated beverages. Avoid switching between different types of alcohol, as this can make it harder to track your consumption and may increase congener exposure.

Pace Yourself

Limit yourself to approximately one drink per hour to give your liver time to process the alcohol. Set a predetermined limit before you start drinking and stick to it.

Get Adequate Sleep

While alcohol might help you fall asleep initially, it disrupts sleep quality. Plan for at least 7-9 hours of sleep after drinking, as sleep deprivation worsens hangover symptoms.

Effective Hangover Relief Methods

If you’re already experiencing a hangover, these approaches are more effective and safer than drinking more alcohol:

Rehydration

Drink plenty of water or electrolyte-containing beverages. Oral rehydration solutions, sports drinks, or coconut water can help restore electrolyte balance more effectively than water alone, especially if you’ve experienced vomiting or diarrhea.

Nutritious Foods

Eat a balanced breakfast containing complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats. Eggs are particularly beneficial as they contain cysteine, an amino acid that helps break down acetaldehyde. Bananas provide potassium, while toast or crackers can settle your stomach.

Rest and Recovery

Give your body time to heal. If possible, avoid strenuous activities and allow yourself to rest. Sleep is one of the most effective hangover remedies.

Gentle Exercise

If you’re feeling up to it, light exercise like walking can boost circulation and mood through endorphin release. However, don’t push yourself too hard, especially if you’re dehydrated.

Pain Relief

For headaches and body aches, you may consider over-the-counter pain relievers. However, consult with a healthcare provider about which options are safest, as some medications can interact with alcohol or stress your liver.

Ginger for Nausea

Ginger has natural anti-nausea properties. Try ginger tea, ginger ale (preferably made with real ginger), or ginger supplements to settle your stomach.

Vitamin and Mineral Support

Alcohol depletes various vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium. While more research is needed, consuming foods rich in these nutrients or taking supplements might help. A multivitamin or vitamin B complex could be beneficial.

When to Seek Medical Attention

While most hangovers resolve on their own within 24 hours, certain symptoms require immediate medical attention:

• Severe confusion or difficulty staying conscious
• Vomiting that won’t stop or vomiting blood
• Seizures
• Slow breathing (fewer than eight breaths per minute)
• Irregular breathing (gaps of more than 10 seconds between breaths)
• Blue-tinged skin or pale skin
• Low body temperature
• Inability to wake up

These symptoms could indicate alcohol poisoning, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate professional care.

Long-Term Considerations

If you find yourself frequently dealing with hangovers or regularly feeling the need to use “hair of the dog,” it may be time to reassess your relationship with alcohol:

Recognize Problem Drinking Patterns

Regular hangovers, drinking to relieve withdrawal symptoms, difficulty controlling alcohol consumption, and drinking affecting your responsibilities are all warning signs that should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Health Impact of Regular Heavy Drinking

Beyond hangovers, regular excessive alcohol consumption increases risks for liver disease, heart problems, certain cancers, mental health issues, and many other health conditions.

Support Resources

If you’re concerned about your drinking, numerous resources are available, including healthcare providers, counselors specializing in substance use, support groups, and treatment programs. Seeking help early can prevent more serious problems down the road.

The Bottom Line

So, does “hair of the dog” work? The answer is yes – but only temporarily and at a cost. While drinking more alcohol may provide short-term symptom relief through several biological mechanisms, it doesn’t cure a hangover. Instead, it delays the inevitable and may worsen symptoms when you eventually stop drinking.

More importantly, regularly using alcohol to relieve discomfort is a potentially dangerous pattern that increases the risk of alcohol dependence. The temporary relief isn’t worth the potential long-term consequences.

The best approach to hangovers is prevention through moderation, hydration, and responsible drinking practices. If you do experience a hangover, focus on rehydration, nutrition, rest, and time – your body will recover naturally as it metabolizes the alcohol and repairs the damage.

Remember, there’s no magic cure for a hangover. The only guaranteed way to avoid one is to drink in moderation or not at all. Your future self will thank you for making the healthier choice.

Sources:

• National Center for Biotechnology Information – Hair of the Dog Historical Context
• NCBI – Hangover Symptoms and Self-Reported Treatment
• PubMed Central – Alcohol Hangover Research
• NCBI – Endorphins and Alcohol Consumption
• NCBI – Congeners and Hangover Severity
• NCBI – Methanol Metabolism and Alcohol
• U.S. Department of Health – Dietary Guidelines for Alcohol
• PubMed Central – Sleep and Hangover Severity
• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism