CHICAGO — Most hangover cures you've heard of or tried are probably "old wives' tales," fairly unscientific means to cure the problems associated with a night of heavy drinking.
That's because science has largely been silent on a subject that affects millions of Americans every year. As one doctor put it, researchers haven't diverted much resources to studying hangovers because it is largely an illness brought on by one's own preventable actions.
But that thinking is a mistake, said Dr. Jack Dybis, who has opened a hydration clinic in Chicago aimed at helping cure hangovers. Scientists research diabetes and heart disease, which is brought on by a person's bad habits.
"It's kind of a hypocritical, sanctimonious way to think," Dybis said.
Though there is a lack of research-backed science on the subject, DNAinfo Chicago spoke to a number of experts in the field to see which hangover "cures" work and which are myth. Just in time for you to read while hungover on New Year's Day.
Having two aspirin and as much water as possible before bed: Not a bad idea, but not a cure-all, said Dr. Matthew Pirotte, emergency medicine physician with Northwestern Medicine. Alcohol flushes your system of water, and so replenishing those fluids before a hangover sets in is best, Pirotte said. But if you drank way too much the night before, a few glasses of water at bedtime won't help all that much.
And if you were too drunk to responsibly drink water before passing out, you're not totally out of luck. Dybis's clinic, IV me in Old Town, might just do the trick.
An IV bag with dehydration-fighting fluids and various vitamins that boost energy and fight nausea is injected straight into a patient's veins. Basically, it's combining the wives' tales with science, Dybis said.
"It's like old home remedies, but at the highest level of it," he said.
Hair of the dog: Believe it or not, there could be some science behind this time-honored remedy, according to Dr. Scott Dresdin, emergency medicine physician.
Here's how it works: a byproduct of the breakdown of alcohol — especially brown liquors — produces methanol. That methanol can metabolize into formaldehyde, which is harmful to the point of death if levels are too high, Dresdin said.
What did doctors use in olden days do to combat formaldehyde poising? Alcohol, Dresdin said.
"There is actually some interesting theory behind that," he said. "[Alcohol] affects the way methanol is metabolized."
However, using too much of this day-after remedy can leave you feeling just as bad later, Dresdin said: "There's a good chance that after doing this you could be sick again."
Others aren't so sure about this theory. Pirotte said alcohol the day after a night of heavy drinking might just has the same effects as a pain killer, but with worse side effects.
"You're basically using another dose of alcohol to blunt the pain," he said. "Really, you're just starting the cycle over."
A large, greasy meal: The thinking is that a double cheeseburger or some nachos will "soak up" the leftover alcohol sloshing around. Well, not really, according to Dresdin. But some aspects of the meal could be beneficial.
"The carbohydrates in the meal is the most beneficial part of the meal, not necessarily the grease," he said.
One of the things alcohol consumption does is lower your blood sugar levels. That's where sugary breads and crusts come in handy, Dresdin said. So, make sure to eat your pizza crusts and hamburger buns.
All of the above: Try this one. Because really, the only true cure is time.
"There is no magic bullet," Pirotte said. The breaking down of alcohol produces toxins that make you feel sick the next day. Hence the reference to "alcohol intoxication," the doctors said.
You can take things, like carbs or vitamin-infused fluids, to help rid your body of toxins. The most effective weapon against hangovers is already working to address the problem: your kidneys and liver, Pirotte said.
"We don't have anything to combat those toxins except for the body to work normally," he said.
Of course, if you want to throw caution to the wind and forget the scientific route, you can always try the cures that DNAinfo Chicago staff recommends: eggrolls and gummy bears, anyone?
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
