The best cure for a hangover is to not drink to excess in the first place. However, even after a few drinks, you can sometimes wake up feeling less than your best. 

As most people who have been through a hangover before know, they aren’t a pleasant experience. Thankfully, you may be able to lessen their impact or cure them entirely with some of these unusual but effective methods. 

Essential Oils

If you own an aromatherapy diffuser or have been thinking about purchasing one, hangovers are when you’ll be glad you brought one into your life. While essential oils, in general, may not cure a hangover, certain types can combat some of the symptoms. 

Lavender essential oils may be able to help you relax and potentially even relieve headache and migraine symptoms. If you’re experiencing nausea with your hangover, Ginger essential oils in a diffuser may also be of use. Meanwhile, anything in the mint family will make you feel fresher and more alive.  

Carbs

After a night of drinking, it’s not unusual to feel dizzy and shaky in the morning, and this likely relates to your blood sugar levels. Alcohol lowers your blood sugar, so it’s important to consume carbs to bring it back up. The healthier the carbs, the better you should feel. Whole-grain crackers or a piece of wheat toast may be all it takes to make you feel better. 

Korean Pear Juice

If you see any of your friends drinking Korean pear juice before consuming alcohol, they likely aren’t doing it just because they like the flavor. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) research shows that drinking Korean pear juice before alcohol may make your hangover less intense. 

While the research is far from conclusive, its efficacy may have something to do with the fact that Korean pear juice helps your body break down alcohol faster.   

Sleep

Even if you weren’t out all that late, you likely woke up feeling tired if you had a few too many drinks. That’s because alcohol disrupts your sleep, even if you don’t remember waking up throughout the night. 

Some people also find it hard to get to sleep after consuming alcohol, leading to excessive consumption of caffeine the following day and the beginning of a vicious cycle.   

Once you wake up in the morning, drink plenty of water, take a hot shower, brush your teeth, and then don’t be ashamed to tuck yourself back into bed for more rest.

Ginseng

Ginseng root can be helpful for many things, such as stress relief, mood stability, and improved energy levels. However, some people also find it useful for hangovers since it can ease symptoms like headaches and nausea. 

Red ginseng, in particular, was shown in one study to relieve the effects of alcohol consumption and hangover symptoms in men.

Asparagus

While asparagus is not going to be everyone’s go-to snack when they have a hangover, it may be able to help. A Journal of Food Science study found that the extracts of shoots and leaves from asparagus contain minerals and amino acids that can alleviate hangover symptoms. 

Fortunately, preparing asparagus as a snack takes minimal effort, which is good news if you’re not feeling well. You can lightly steam the spears, sauté them, or even eat them raw, shredded onto healthy carbs like pasta or a salad. 

While consuming alcohol can be fun at the time, it’s generally not so enjoyable the next day. You may not be able to prevent a hangover altogether, but the tips above should make it much easier to manage.