Herbal Hangover Cures: What You Should Try

Umeboshi, also known as pickled Japanese plum, is the Eastern Medicine equivalent of an aspirin. The tiny “ume” plum has a profoundly alkalizing effect on the body, as it is known to neutralize fatigue and nausea while promoting the elimination of toxins. The Japanese tradition of using pickled plums as medicine dates back to over 2,000 years ago, and today “popping a plum” in the midst of a hangover is considered a gentle act of preventative medicine.

What more is there to say about turmeric, other than that it is one of the single most anti-inflammatory substances on the planet, and is a known fighter of inflammation-based illnesses like anxiety and depression. To help quell body aches and a pounding headache, stir a spoonful of turmeric, honey, and cinnamon into warm milk.

Peppermint oil is frequently used to quell nausea (simply smelling this essential oil is said to calm the response), but herbalists also use peppermint to treat headaches– simply rub it on your temples, which will regulate blood-vessel dilation and stimulate the healing response. If you don’t like the smell of peppermint, try nursing your headache with our GC Basil Steam.

Milk thistle helps the liver process alcohol, which in turn expedites the aftermath of the hangover by flushing toxins out of the body. Like milk itself (as in, the dairy product), this herb can help ease alcohol metabolizing by creating a protective barrier in the stomach. Simply brew a milk thistle tea or add a few drops of milk thistle tincture to a non-alcoholic beverage.

Korean pear, like milk thistle, expedites the body’s alcohol metabolism. Try drinking Korean pear juice before a night out, or throughout the morning when the repercussions of excess strike.

According to research at UCLA funded by the National Institute of Health, Hovenia dulcis, also known as the “Japanese raisin tree,” has been shown to block the GABA(A) receptors in the brain that are responsible for alcohol withdrawal, the likes of which typically succeed intoxication. As a component of an ancient Chinese herbal medicine called dihydromyricetin, Hovenia extract is frequently sold in pill form and can be taken as a modern hangover cure-all.

Most people know about the digestive benefits of ginger root tea, but ginger’s anti-nausea properties are equally effective at treating these symptoms as part of a hangover. Just make sure to alternate between drinking water and tea, as the tannin in some herbal teas can promote dehydration, which could actually further the symptoms of a hangover.

Prickly Pear extract has a huge effect on the body’s ability to produce insulin, as researchers around the world are currently looking into the role it might play in helping allay the symptoms of diabetes. In addition to its liver-enhancing qualities, the mythic cactus also helps stop inflammation in its tracks. Try taking it in capsule form (it’s very gentle on the stomach) or making our signature GC Prickly Pear Smoothie.

Borage is a rich source of the omega-6 fat gamma linolenic acid (or GLA), which inhibits the production of prostaglandin, a hormone-like compound that creates inflammation during a hangover. Derived from the seeds of Borago officinalis, borage seed oil is also a rich source of γ-linolenic acid, which reduces inflammation and stimulates healthy cell growth. Borage oil can be found in conventional pharmacies and natural food stores alike, and is typically sold in gel-cap form (to treat a hangover, a 240 mg dose should suffice).