9 Natural Hangover Cures
(Illustrations by Denis Barbulat/Getty)
Scientists don’t know what causes hangover symptoms—nausea, aches, and that general hit-by-a-falling-dumpster feeling—but these plants can help.
UMEBOSHI
How It Works
A traditional remedy in Japan, the pickled plums contain electrolytes that help replenish your depleted supply and are thought to help the liver process alcohol.
Related: Soothe Colds + More With These Healing Herbs
How To Take It
Soak dried umeboshi (available in Asian markets) in hot water for at least 5 minutes, then chop and mix into rice.
BORAGE OIL
How It Works
This Mediterranean herb is believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect, which may ease general hangover symptoms.
How To Take It
Try a capsule or a few drops of liquid tincture when you wake up feeling lousy.
PRICKLY PEAR EXTRACT
How It Works
Compounds in this desert cactus quiet the body’s inflammatory response to alcohol, researchers found, cutting hangover risk by half.
How To Take It
Pop a few capsules or squirt a few drops of liquid extract into your mouth (follow instructions on the bottle) 4 to 5 hours before your first drink.
MILK THISTLE TINCTURE
How It Works
This herb helps the liver process alcohol, moving it out of your system more quickly and reducing the risk of a hangover.
How To Take It
Add several drops to a glass of water before partying (follow instructions on the bottle). Milk thistle can also ease symptoms the next day.
GINGER
How It Works
Got that seasick feeling? Ginger root has long been celebrated for its stomach-settling, anti-nausea properties.
How To Take It
Brew a cup of ginger root tea, such as the one by Swanson Organic, or make it from scratch. (Thinly slice a 1inch segment of fresh ginger and steep in boiling water 5 minutes.)
TURMERIC
How It Works
This common kitchen staple in many Asian cuisines also packs a helpful anti-inflammatory punch.
How To Take It
Stir a spoonful of turmeric into warm milk with cinnamon.
HOVENIA
How It Works
In studies on mice, researchers at UCLA showed that a compound in the herb hovenia blocks a receptor in the brain related to intoxication and withdrawal.
How To Take It
Source it via an acupuncturist or a practitioner of Chinese medicine. The supplement BluCetin also contains its active ingredient.
KOREAN PEAR JUICE
How It Works
Australian researchers found that downing this before alcohol significantly reduces symptoms, perhaps because of a substance that helps enzymes metabolize alcohol.
How To Take It
Sip at least 7? ounces of Korean pear juice (also known as Asian pear juice) before going out. Look for it, canned or bottled, at Asian groceries.
PEPPERMINT OIL
How It Works
Herbalists prize peppermint for its headache-fighting powers—it affects blood flow by regulating blood-vessel dilation.
How To Take It
Rub a bit of the oil on your temples.
This article was originally published on Rodale’s Organic Life.
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by the staff at Rodale’s Organic Life