6 Home Remedies for Hangovers

Time and rest, water, and oral rehydration solution when needed are the most practical home remedies for hangovers.

These remedies support recovery and may ease particular symptoms; none is a proven cure or makes the body clear alcohol quickly. For more on hydration choices, see the best drinks for hangovers.

A hangover can overlap with intoxication or a medical emergency. If someone is difficult to wake, has a seizure, or has slow or irregular breathing, call emergency services rather than trying home remedies.

6 home remedies for hangovers

The following remedies are ordered by practical support and the available evidence. Direct research on home treatments for hangovers is limited, so the later items are options for comfort rather than established treatments.

1. Give yourself time and rest

Time is the essential part of recovery: the body needs to process alcohol, and symptoms can persist after drinking stops. Sleep may help you feel less tired, although it does not speed up alcohol clearance or guarantee that a headache or nausea will disappear.

If you are alert and breathing normally, rest somewhere comfortable and let yourself sleep if you can. Keep water nearby for when you wake, and avoid driving or doing safety-sensitive work while you feel impaired. Feeling more awake does not necessarily mean all alcohol has left your system.

Evidence: Hangovers generally resolve with time, but there is no proven way to sleep them off faster. A person who is difficult to wake needs emergency help, not more sleep.

2. Sip water

Alcohol can contribute to fluid loss, and replacing fluid may help thirst and other symptoms associated with dehydration. Dehydration is only one part of a hangover, however, so water alone may not relieve every symptom.

Drink according to thirst and comfort. If your stomach feels unsettled, start with small sips rather than forcing down a large amount at once. Drinking excessive water can be harmful, especially if you have a condition that affects fluid balance.

Evidence: Water is a practical way to replace fluid, but it is not an established cure for hangovers. The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification; the lungs and gut also help eliminate waste, while sweat removes only trace amounts. Water supports hydration rather than flushing alcohol or toxins out faster.

3. Use oral rehydration solution if you have lost fluid

An oral rehydration solution contains fluid and electrolytes, which may be useful if vomiting has caused more substantial fluid loss. It is not necessary for every hangover: if you can drink and eat normally, water and food may be sufficient.

If you choose a packaged oral rehydration solution, mix it exactly as the label directs and take small sips. The electrolyte calculator can help estimate general electrolyte needs, but it cannot tell you how much fluid you have lost or replace the package directions or medical advice.

Evidence: Oral rehydration solutions are used to replace fluid and electrolytes, but evidence that they treat hangovers themselves is limited. Do not assume that more electrolytes mean faster recovery. If vomiting continues or you cannot keep fluids down, seek medical advice rather than relying on a calculator or repeated attempts at home.

4. Eat a small, gentle meal if you can

Food can provide energy and may feel more manageable than an empty stomach once nausea settles. Eating after drinking does not reverse intoxication or rapidly remove alcohol, but it can be a reasonable part of getting back to normal.

Try a small amount of familiar, easy-to-tolerate food, such as toast, crackers or rice. Eat slowly and stop if it makes nausea worse; you can try again when your stomach feels calmer. If you feel hungry and can tolerate it, a more substantial meal is fine.

Evidence: Food is supportive care, not a proven hangover treatment. There is no good reason to force a particular meal or large portion in the hope that it will cure symptoms. People with diabetes should follow their usual plan for checking and managing blood glucose and seek help if they cannot manage it safely.

5. Rest in a quiet, comfortable space

Headache, fatigue and sensitivity to light or noise can make ordinary activity uncomfortable. Reducing those irritants may make it easier to rest while symptoms pass, even though it does not address every cause of a hangover.

Choose a quiet room, dim the lights if they bother you, and use a cool, damp cloth on your forehead if that feels soothing. Get up slowly if you feel lightheaded, and ask someone for help if you feel unsteady.

Evidence: These are comfort measures rather than treatments shown to shorten a hangover. Avoid trying to sweat it out with strenuous exercise, a sauna or a hot bath: they will not clear alcohol faster and may worsen dehydration or dizziness.

6. Try ginger for an unsettled stomach

Ginger is commonly used when people feel nauseated. If you find its taste tolerable, a small amount of ginger in food or a mild ginger tea is an option; stop if it irritates your stomach. It is reasonable to skip it entirely if it makes you feel worse.

Evidence: Ginger has not been established as a treatment for hangovers, and an effect of an ingredient cannot be assumed to apply to a particular drink. A 2024 botanical drink formulation study developed a flower-based drink but did not test hangover relief in people. It does not establish that herbal drinks work for hangovers.

Be cautious with concentrated ginger supplements, which are different from ordinary culinary amounts and may interact with medicines. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using a supplement if you take blood thinners, are pregnant or have a medical condition.

When should you see a doctor for a hangover?

Call emergency services now if the person cannot be awakened, is confused, has a seizure, has slow or irregular breathing, or has pale or blue-tinged skin. Repeated vomiting, particularly with confusion or reduced alertness, is also a warning sign of possible alcohol poisoning. Do not assume the person can safely sleep it off.

Stay with the person. If they are unconscious but breathing, place them on their side, and do not give them food or drink. Follow the emergency dispatcher's instructions; do not leave them alone or put them in a cold shower.

Seek medical advice promptly if you cannot keep fluids down, have persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration such as very little urine, or symptoms that are worsening rather than improving. If a child may have consumed alcohol, contact emergency services or a poison control service immediately. If you drank during pregnancy, contact your prenatal care clinician for advice.

Ask a clinician or pharmacist about pain medicine before taking it, especially if you have liver or kidney disease, an ulcer, take blood thinners or are still drinking. Alcohol can increase the risks associated with common pain relievers. Do not use more alcohol as a remedy, and do not stop prescribed medicines without medical advice.