You wake up with a pounding head, a dry mouth, and a deep sense of regret about last night’s festivities. In a moment of desperation, an old, familiar phrase might pop into your mind: the hair of the dog. The idea of having another drink to cure your hangover sounds both absurd and strangely appealing. But is there any truth to this age-old remedy, or are you just setting yourself up for a worse crash later?
The Science Behind the Temporary Relief
So, does having another drink actually help? The short answer is that it might provide a temporary, superficial feeling of relief, but it’s not a cure. A hangover is your body’s reaction to withdrawal from alcohol. When you have that morning drink, you’re essentially giving your body a little more of the substance it’s starting to miss, which can temporarily ease some symptoms. This can make you feel less shaky or anxious for a short while. However, this is merely postponing the inevitable. You are not fixing the hangover; you are just extending your body’s exposure to alcohol.
Why It’s Not a Real Solution
Think of the hair of the dog as hitting the snooze button on a hangover. The relief is fleeting because you haven’t addressed the root causes of your misery—dehydration, poor sleep, and the toxic byproducts of alcohol metabolism. Once the effects of that new drink wear off, all your original hangover symptoms will still be there, waiting for you. In many cases, they can feel even more intense. More importantly, using alcohol to manage a hangover can be a slippery slope, potentially masking a pattern of problematic drinking.
Better Ways to Feel Better
Instead of reaching for a morning cocktail, try these gentler and more effective strategies. First, sip on water or an electrolyte drink to rehydrate. Your body has lost a significant amount of fluids. Next, eat a light, bland meal if you can stomach it. Toast or crackers can help stabilize your blood sugar. Finally, give yourself permission to rest. Your body is working hard to recover, and sleep is one of the best medicines.
While the hair of the dog might offer a brief moment of reprieve, it’s a short-term fix with long-term drawbacks. Listening to your body and supporting it with hydration, nutrition, and rest is a much safer and more reliable path to feeling like yourself again.