Is Peppermint Tea Good for Hangovers?

Partly: peppermint tea may make a hangover easier to manage if you can tolerate it, because its water helps replace lost fluids, but it is not a proven hangover remedy.

Can peppermint tea help a hangover?

A cup of peppermint tea can be a pleasant way to drink fluids after alcohol, particularly if you prefer something warm or flavored. It may help with thirst and a dry mouth associated with dehydration.

That benefit comes from the water, not from a demonstrated hangover-fighting effect of peppermint. Peppermint tea has not been shown to make alcohol leave your body faster or reliably relieve headache, nausea or fatigue.

If the flavor appeals to you and you can keep fluids down, it is reasonable to sip peppermint tea as part of your recovery. Plain water works too; the choice is largely about what you find comfortable to drink.

How might peppermint tea help?

Alcohol can increase urine production, contributing to fluid loss. Vomiting can add to that loss, so replacing fluids may help ease dehydration-related symptoms such as thirst. Sip slowly if your stomach feels unsettled rather than forcing a large drink at once.

A hangover involves more than dehydration. Alcohol can also disrupt sleep and irritate the stomach, and drinking water does not immediately reverse all of its effects. A warm drink may feel soothing, but that is different from evidence that peppermint itself treats a hangover.

Time is needed for your body to process alcohol, and hangover symptoms can continue after alcohol has been cleared. Feeling better after peppermint tea does not necessarily mean you are safe to drive or do other activities that require alertness.

What evidence supports peppermint tea for hangovers?

There is no established clinical evidence that peppermint tea treats hangovers. In particular, there is no demonstrated dose or preparation that reliably improves hangover symptoms or speeds recovery.

Claims about concentrated peppermint oil or other peppermint preparations cannot automatically be applied to peppermint tea. These products differ from a drink made by steeping leaves, and evidence about one preparation would not establish the same effect for another.

Peppermint tea is therefore best considered a fluid you may enjoy, not a tested hangover treatment. For more ways to replace fluids, see the best drinks for hangovers.

How should you use peppermint tea for a hangover?

Start with a small amount and drink at a pace that feels comfortable. If peppermint tea makes your stomach feel worse, stop drinking it and choose a fluid you tolerate better. You do not need to drink it on a schedule or force yourself to finish a large quantity.

For a warm cup, place a peppermint tea bag in 1 cup (about 240 mL) of hot drinking water and follow the package’s steeping directions. Check the label if you want plain peppermint tea, since some blends contain other ingredients.

For a cold-brewed version, use:

1 litre (about 4¼ cups) drinking water
8–12 fresh peppermint leaves (about 5 g)

Wash the peppermint leaves under running water.
Add the leaves to the drinking water in a clean container.
Refrigerate for 2–4 hours to develop the flavor.
Strain if desired, keep refrigerated and drink within 24 hours for best flavor.

Rest and food you can tolerate may also make recovery more comfortable. Peppermint tea is not a substitute for medical care when symptoms are severe or getting worse.

Who should be careful with peppermint tea?

Peppermint can worsen heartburn or acid reflux for some people. If you have reflux and notice more burning or discomfort after peppermint tea, avoid it. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take medication and have questions about using peppermint regularly, check with a clinician or pharmacist.

If you have kidney or heart disease and have been told to limit fluids, follow your care plan rather than forcing extra drinks. Seek medical advice if you cannot keep fluids down, are urinating very little or have severe abdominal pain. If a child has consumed alcohol, seek medical help rather than treating the symptoms at home.

Call emergency services immediately if someone is difficult to wake, confused, has a seizure, is breathing slowly or irregularly, or has blue, gray or unusually pale skin. These can be signs of alcohol poisoning, not an ordinary hangover. Stay with the person, place them on their side if they are lying down, and do not force them to drink.

People who drink heavily and regularly can also develop alcohol withdrawal. Severe shaking, hallucinations, seizures or confusion need urgent medical attention; do not rely on peppermint tea to manage withdrawal.