How to cure hangover nausea: Remedies that work

Hydration and sleep are among some of the best cures for hangover nausea, while others are just old wives’ tales

By Cheryl Maguire | Dec. 13, 2023 Medically reviewed by Jesse P. Houghton, MD, FACG

If you drink too many alcoholic beverages during a night out, there’s a good chance that you are going to wake up the next morning with a hangover. A hangover can feel like a combination of symptoms, such as a headache, a dry mouth, nausea, and fatigue. A quick internet search will offer many suggestions about how to cure hangovers and related nausea, but it can be difficult to separate the wives’ tales from the actual cures. We’ll share the 10 best ways to cure a hangover, according to experts, with fluids and rest at the top of the list.

What causes hangover nausea?

When alcohol enters the body, it’s metabolized into acetaldehyde, a substance that’s toxic at high levels and can irritate the lining of your stomach, causing nausea and other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

Typical hangover symptoms that typically accompany nausea include:

Vomiting
Stomach pain
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Weakness
Thirst
Headache
Muscle aches
Vertigo
Sensitivity to light and sound
Anxiety
Irritability
Sweating

10 remedies for hangover nausea

Here are 10 of the best hangover cures to help ease your nausea and make you feel better after a night of drinking:

1. Fluids

“Alcohol dehydrates the body, so replenishing fluids can help alleviate nausea,” says Fu Chen, PhD, the vice president of research and development at More Labs. Drinking alcohol causes you to urinate more, and that then leads to dehydration. Dehydration can cause you to feel nauseous. If you are feeling nauseous, it might be difficult to drink much water, but it is important to rehydrate your body if you want to feel better.

Some people prefer drinking a sports drink with electrolytes to replace the electrolytes that they lost from vomiting or diarrhea. “You’ll want to regain some of the lost electrolytes and fluids since alcohol can cause dehydration, “says David Seitz, MD, the medical director at Ascendant Detox.

“Be sure to steer clear of some drinks,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Sara Chatfield. “Caffeine and acidic beverages like orange juice may further irritate the stomach,” Chatfield says. Carbonated soft drinks might also bother your stomach.

2. Rest

“Sometimes the best remedy for hangover nausea is simply to rest and allow your body time to recover. Sleep can help your body metabolize alcohol and alleviate symptoms,” Dr. Chen says. Alcohol is disruptive to sleep, so taking a nap might help you recover while giving nausea time to dissipate.

3. Bland foods

Eating may be difficult if you feel nauseous, but eating bland foods like crackers may help you feel better and ease an upset stomach. “Getting some food down can help relieve nausea by stabilizing your blood sugar levels and helping to settle your stomach after a night of heavy drinking,” Chatfield says, suggesting a balanced breakfast with carbs, protein, and other nutritious foods. “Choosing foods high in the amino acid l-cysteine, like eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, and sunflower seeds, may reduce hangover severity,” Chatfield adds.

“Bananas are a good source of potassium, which can help replenish electrolytes. They are also easy on the stomach and can help with hangover-related nausea,” Dr. Chen says.

4. Ginger

“Ginger, a traditional remedy for nausea, has anti-inflammatory effects that may reduce the inflammation caused by excessive alcohol intake and has been found to reduce the severity of hangover nausea,” says Chatfield.

“You can consume ginger tea, ginger ale, or ginger supplements to ease nausea. Chewing on ginger candies or raw ginger may also help,” Dr. Chen says.

Ginger is safe to take when pregnant and is often recommended to help lessen nausea symptoms related to morning sickness.

5. Peppermint

According to a recent study of 100 hospital patients with nausea symptoms, simply inhaling peppermint essential oil eased nausea symptoms significantly within 60 minutes of using it. Besides using peppermint as an essential oil, you can eat peppermint candy or drink peppermint tea to ease hangover nausea. Peppermint is also recommended for pregnant women who have morning sickness since it’s safe to use during pregnancy.

6. Lemons

According to a recent study, inhaling the scent of lemon can help decrease nausea. And if you struggle to drink plain water when hungover, some slices of lemon or squirts of lemon juice can make it more enjoyable while providing various other benefits as well.

7. Korean pear juice

According to a small research study, Korean pear juice may lower blood alcohol levels and reduce hangover symptoms. But this only works if you drink the juice before you drink alcohol.

8. Prickly pear extract

Prickly pear (opuntia ficus indica) is not a pear but a type of cactus native to Mexico and southern Arizona. You can drink the juice from the cactus or take a prickly pear supplement. Half of the participants of a small research study reported reduced hangover nausea symptoms when they took prickly pear either before or after their last drink. Like Korean pear juice, you have to consume prickly pear extract before you drink alcohol in order to reduce hangover symptoms.

9. Red ginseng

Ginseng is a root used in Chinese medicine. Participants in a small study of healthy men who drank alcohol reported a reduction in hangover severity when they drank a red ginseng drink after each alcoholic drink.

10. Niacin and zinc

According to a small study, eating foods or having drinks with Niacin (vitamin B3) and zinc before drinking alcohol may result in milder hangover symptoms.

Remedies for hangover nausea that don’t work

Some hangover remedies are simply old wives’ tales that haven’t been proven. Others may help relieve some hangover symptoms but make nausea worse:

Anti-Inflammatory medicines: Anti-inflammatory medications like Advil (ibuprofen) can help relieve hangover headaches. But, it isn’t a good idea to take Advil for nausea since it can cause stomach irritation that could make your nausea worse.
Hair of the dog: This is a popular myth that says if you drink more alcohol in the morning, it will help you overcome your hangover nausea. Drinking more alcohol when you have a hangover could actually make your hangover worse.
Drinking certain drinks before others: The popular saying, “beer before liquor, never sicker,” is also a myth. It doesn’t matter which order you drink alcoholic drinks; you will get a hangover if you drink excessively either way.
Caffeine: Even though most people have a cup of caffeinated coffee in the morning to pep them up, that drink won’t help cure hangover nausea. Recent research found that caffeine could slow the rate of ethanol breakdown, meaning it could make your hangover last longer.
IV treatment for hangovers: IV lounges have become popular options for hangovers, but there is limited research as to how effective IVs are for hangovers. Some health professionals believe the process of getting intravenous fluids after a night of drinking may have a placebo effect.

The best hangover treatment, according to Dr. Seitz, is to refrain from excessive drinking altogether. “It is important to understand your limits when it comes to alcohol consumption, as hangovers can be a sign that you are drinking too much.” Drinking alcohol can be a substance use disorder that requires help from a healthcare professional.