Beer for a Hangover. Why Is Hair of the Dog a Bad Idea?

TL;DR

Hair of the dog (i.e., drinking alcohol when hungover) is an old method of fighting alcohol poisoning symptoms, but it doesn't eliminate the cause of feeling unwell – it only temporarily masks it. Hangover symptoms include headaches and stomach pain, nausea, drowsiness, weakness, as well as sensitivity to light and sounds. Having a hair of the dog can deepen dehydration, increase electrolyte deficiencies, and burden the liver and pancreas, which slows the metabolism of toxic alcohol products. Regular use of hair of the dog increases the risk of addiction and leads to higher alcohol consumption. The best ways to cure a hangover are hydration, replenishing vitamins (C, B), electrolytes and nutrients, and a light, easily digestible diet. The most effective method is a vitamin-electrolyte IV drip, which quickly regenerates the body, eliminates hangover symptoms, and restores well-being within a few minutes.

Hair of the Dog for a Hangover – What Poisoned You, Heals You

What poisoned you, heals you – a common saying among people who don't shy away from alcohol. It means nothing other than treating a hangover with alcohol, meaning drinking the so-called hair of the dog. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a method used only by Poles and other Central-Eastern European countries, considered the greatest "masters" of drinking. The first mentions of treating hangovers with alcohol come from ancient Greece, from the 4th century BC. Information about the benefits of using hair of the dog can also be found in the work Regimen Sanitatis Salernitanum from the 11th century, which is a collection of medical and dietary advice compiled at the medical school in Salerno. Read also: "Blackout" After Alcohol Consumption. What Is Alcoholic Palimpsest?

Most Common Hangover Symptoms

The most common hangover symptoms include:
  • dizziness
  • severe headache
  • stomach pain
  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • dry mouth
  • sensitivity to light
  • sensitivity to sound
  • impaired body motor skills
  • drowsiness
  • muscle pain
  • general weakness.

Does Beer Help With a Hangover?

Drinking beer for a hangover is a method still used by many people who want to quickly deal with the unpleasant symptoms of alcohol poisoning. Despite the popularity of this solution, the mechanism behind it is still not entirely clear. According to some researchers, a small dose of alcohol positively affects methanol metabolism – residues from drinks consumed the previous day. Other scientists studying this topic believe that drinking beer for a hangover affects neurotransmitters in the brain, alleviating symptoms such as headaches and dizziness, as well as sensitivity to light and sound stimuli. Hair of the dog is certainly not a cure, but only a postponement of feeling unwell. At the moment when blood alcohol concentration reaches 0, all unpleasant ailments return, often with doubled force.

Why Is Hair of the Dog the Worst Thing You Can Do?

Although drinking hair of the dog is a popular method of fighting the unpleasant ailments of the next day and seems to have a scientific basis, it actually causes significant damage to the body.

Body Burden

Hair of the dog in the form of beer for a hangover or other alcohol consumed to get rid of unpleasant symptoms significantly burdens the human body. The functions of the pancreas and liver are primarily impaired, whose enzymes consequently remove acetaldehyde more slowly – a metabolic product of ethanol that is the main culprit of troublesome ailments. Alcohol consumption during a hangover additionally deepens body dehydration and increases electrolyte deficiency, which means that feeling unwell lasts even longer. Frequent use of hair of the dog also burdens the nervous system and significantly increases the risk of developing alcohol-induced diseases.

Increased Alcohol Consumption

Drinking beer for headaches caused by a hangover causes an increase in the amount of alcoholic beverages consumed. It's estimated that people who use hair of the dog drink up to three times more alcohol than people who treat next-day ailments differently.

Greater Risk of Addiction

Beer for a hangover or any other form of hair of the dog also significantly increases the risk of developing alcohol addiction. Experienced specialists in combating alcohol addiction point to hair of the dog as one of the first symptoms of alcoholism. Continued drinking strengthens pathological mechanisms beyond our control.

How to Get Rid of a Hangover?

There are many ways to get rid of a hangover. They mainly involve hydrating the body dehydrated by alcohol and replenishing missing nutrients, vitamins, and minerals – vitamin C, B vitamins, magnesium, calcium, and potassium – which facilitate toxin elimination. It's recommended to drink water with lemon after alcohol, and the next day consume the following foods:
  • still mineral water
  • fruit juices – apple, orange, or cranberry
  • pickle juice
  • bananas
  • tomatoes
  • almonds
  • cocoa
  • buckwheat groats
  • eggs
  • broth.
The above products allow replenishing missing nutrients and improve alcohol metabolism. However, it's worth remembering that the effect won't be immediate – time is still needed for complete breakdown and elimination of acetaldehyde. The most effective method for hangovers are special vitamin and electrolyte infusions in the form of IV drips.

Hangover IV Drip

A basic hangover IV drip contains electrolytes and glucose. A more advanced preparation includes vitamin C, B vitamins, and glutamine peptide, which supports the toxin neutralization process in the liver. Thanks to IV administration, the body receives immediate hydration and regeneration. Direct delivery of nutrients into the bloodstream guarantees effectiveness and allows for immediate relief. A hangover IV drip works faster and better than other methods of fighting unpleasant ailments felt as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. It ensures that:
  • headache subsides
  • heart palpitations stop
  • excessive thirst and dry mouth disappear
  • sensitivity to light and sound stimuli decreases
  • hand tremors and muscle pain disappear
  • sweating decreases
  • mood improves
  • energy levels increase.
Thanks to a hangover IV drip, the body's cleansing processes are accelerated. There's an immediate feeling of relaxation and mental clarity is restored. Achieving the effects of treating a hangover with home remedies is possible only after at least several hours. Sometimes it may take even two days! In the case of using an IV drip with vitamins and electrolytes, effects appear within just a few minutes.
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