A pounding head, an unsettled stomach and that morning-after fog: hangovers are no fun. Discover which natural hangover remedies may help you feel more comfortable, and what the research says about milk thistle, herbs and vitamins.
🕒 9 min read
What can you do if you have overdone it with one merry sherry or bubbly prosecco too many? From a soothing cup of ginger tea to a supplement for everyday nutritional support, there are plenty of options to explore. The useful distinction is between easing discomfort, supporting normal body functions and actually curing a hangover.
Natural hangover remedies at home: start with the basics
Try small, regular sips of water, something gentle to eat and time to rest. These steps can make the morning easier while your body recovers:
- Rehydrate: sip water rather than forcing down a large amount if you feel nauseous.
- Keep food simple: toast, crackers, a banana or a vegetable broth may be easier on an unsettled stomach.
- Rest: alcohol can disturb your sleep, even if you fell asleep quickly.
These are ways to ease discomfort, rather than an instant cure. Avoid another alcoholic drink as a remedy, and ask a pharmacist about suitable medicines if you need help with symptoms.1
There is no proven supplement that reliably prevents or cures a hangover. Coffee and a cold shower will not speed up recovery either. Attention and coordination can remain impaired the next morning, so do not drive or operate machinery while affected.2
Hangover remedies compared
| Remedy | Why people try it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Water, food and rest | Help with thirst, an empty stomach and tiredness. | Useful comfort measures while your body recovers; they do not remove alcohol faster. |
| Milk thistle | A long history of use for liver-related concerns. | It has not been shown to prevent or treat hangovers. Added choline can support normal liver function. |
| Ginger | Used for nausea; easy to try as a warm drink. | Research on other types of nausea does not establish a hangover benefit. |
| Artichoke | A popular ingredient in digestive-support supplements. | A small hangover trial found no significant benefit over placebo. |
| B vitamins | Several support normal energy release and help reduce tiredness. | These nutritional benefits do not demonstrate that a supplement cures a hangover. |
| Ginseng, turmeric and borage oil | Interest in plant compounds and early research. | Evidence is limited or indirect; findings cannot be transferred to every commercial product. |
The ingredient sections below explain the research behind these comparisons and how the products differ.
Does milk thistle help hangovers?
Milk thistle is a popular herbal remedy with a long history of use for liver-related concerns, which is why it is often suggested as a hangover cure. Its seeds contain a mixture of compounds called silymarin.
Milk thistle has not been shown to prevent or treat a hangover. Research into liver conditions is a different question, and the results are too limited or conflicting to establish a general protective effect from drinking alcohol. Taking it before a night out should not be treated as protection against alcohol-related harm.1, 3
Milk thistle before or after drinking?
There is no established before-or-after schedule for preventing hangovers. If you choose a supplement for its nutritional ingredients, follow its own label rather than increasing the dose around a night out.
For example, Milk Thistle Liver Support combines seed extract with choline for normal liver function, calcium for normal digestive enzyme function and B vitamins. These are everyday nutritional roles. The product is labelled for adults to take one tablet daily with water.
Our guide to milk thistle uses and benefits explains more about the ingredient. If you take medicines or have a medical condition, check with a pharmacist or your GP before using it.
Milk Thistle Liver Support
Milk thistle extract with choline, calcium and B vitamins.
- 50mg seed extract, providing 40mg silymarin.
- Choline contributes to normal liver function.
- Calcium supports normal digestive enzyme function.
Other natural remedies and supplements to explore
Artichoke: digestion and the evidence on hangovers
These little spiky plants, actually a type of thistle, have been used for centuries. You can include artichokes in your diet or take an artichoke extract supplement.
Artichoke extract has been tested specifically for hangovers. A small, placebo-controlled crossover trial involving 15 volunteers found no significant improvement in hangover outcomes.4
A separate trial involving 90 people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease used 600mg of extract daily. That study reported improvements in liver measures, but it studied a different condition and does not demonstrate hangover relief.5
When comparing a combination product, check the added nutrients too: calcium contributes to normal digestive enzyme function, while vitamin B6 supports normal energy-yielding metabolism.
Artichoke
Artichoke extract with calcium, vitamin B6 and folate.
- 360mg artichoke extract with 9mg cynarin per tablet.
- Added calcium supports normal digestive enzyme function.
- Vitamin B6 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
Ginger: a warming option when you feel queasy
This little knobbly root has been used for centuries for digestive discomfort. Research suggests ginger may help nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, but this does not establish that it treats hangover nausea or works without side effects.6
You can eat it in a curry or stir-fry, or create a tea using sliced or grated ginger root steeped in hot water for around five minutes. Sip it slowly. Eating crystallised ginger is another option, although this can be very sugary.
Chamomile: a gentle morning-after drink
The tell-tale signs of a hangover, including a pounding headache, nausea and feeling muddle-headed, can also leave you anxious and slightly fearful the morning after: what has been dubbed 'hangxiety'.
If you enjoy chamomile, a warm cup can be a comforting part of a quiet morning and contribute to your fluid intake. A warm cup may feel comforting, although chamomile has not been shown to treat hangover-related anxiety.
Turmeric: a colourful addition to meals
Turmeric, or more specifically curcumin, the compound that gives turmeric its vibrant golden colour, has attracted interest in research on inflammation. Animal or laboratory findings do not establish that it prevents or treats a human hangover.
Fresh or dried turmeric can be added to curries or smoothies, or you can make a turmeric tea by steeping the root in hot water. It is also available in supplement form. Compare the formulation and recommended daily serving, rather than using extra capsules before or after drinking.
Opti-Turmeric
Liquid curcumin capsules with vitamin C.
- 500mg NovaSOL® curcumin preparation per capsule.
- Added vitamin C.
- Suitable for vegans.
Vitamin B complex: everyday nutritional support
B vitamins have important roles in the body. Several, including B2, B6 and B12, help reduce tiredness and fatigue and contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism. A B-complex supplement can be a way to top up dietary intake, but those nutritional functions do not demonstrate faster recovery from a night of drinking.
A systematic review of placebo-controlled hangover trials found that the available evidence for the interventions studied was of very low quality. It does not support treating vitamins or herbal supplements as reliable hangover cures.7
Vitamin B Complex
All eight essential B vitamins in one formula.
- 100% NRV of all eight B vitamins per tablet.
- Vitamins B2, B6 and B12 help reduce tiredness and fatigue.
- Suitable for vegans.
Ginseng: interesting early research
The dried ginseng root has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for a range of health needs, including increasing stamina and improving memory.
A small crossover study from 2014 reported improvements in some hangover symptoms after a red ginseng drink in healthy men. This is an interesting finding, but it does not establish that all ginseng supplements have the same effect, including combination tablets containing ginkgo and ginseng.8
Ginkgo & Ginseng Cognitive Support
A combination of ginkgo biloba and Panax ginseng extracts.
- With added iodine and niacin.
- Iodine contributes to normal cognitive function.
- Niacin supports normal energy-yielding metabolism.
Borage oil: understanding the study
Borage oil is derived from the seeds of starflower and is a rich source of the omega-6 fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA.
In an open-label consumer study, 88% of participants who completed it reported that a multi-ingredient supplement helped their hangover. That was not an 88% reduction in symptom severity. The formula included borage oil alongside several other ingredients, and there was no placebo group, so the results cannot establish a benefit from borage oil on its own.9
Starflower Oil 1000mg
A natural source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA).
- 1,000mg starflower oil per capsule.
- Provides 207mg GLA per capsule.
- Vegan capsule shell.
When to get help
If vomiting or other symptoms persist, or you are concerned about frequent hangovers, speak to your GP. For any supplement, check the label and avoid doubling up on ingredients across several products.
Natural hangover remedies FAQs
What helps a hangover at home?
Small sips of water, simple food such as toast or broth, and rest are practical places to start. Choose food and drinks you can comfortably tolerate. These measures support comfort while you recover; they are not an instant cure.
Is milk thistle good for hangovers?
Its long association with liver health makes it a common suggestion, but there is no evidence that milk thistle prevents or treats a hangover. Check the whole formula: added choline may support normal liver function, which is a separate nutritional benefit.
Should I take milk thistle before or after drinking?
Neither timing has been established as effective for hangover prevention. Follow your chosen product's daily directions. Milk Thistle Liver Support is labelled for one tablet daily with water, rather than extra doses before or after alcohol.
Can ginger tea help when I feel sick?
Some people find a slowly sipped warm drink easier to tolerate. Ginger has research behind it for certain types of nausea, particularly in pregnancy, but hangover nausea has not been established as one of those benefits. Stop if it worsens heartburn or stomach discomfort.
Do B vitamins cure a hangover?
B vitamins support normal body functions, including energy release, and several help reduce tiredness. A supplement may help top up intake, but this does not show that it cures hangovers or makes alcohol clear faster. Follow the label rather than taking extra tablets after drinking.
How long does a hangover last?
Symptoms can last for 24 hours or longer, and recovery varies between people. Coffee, showers and more alcohol do not provide a reliable shortcut. Seek medical advice for persistent symptoms, and avoid driving while your concentration or coordination is affected.
