Does Hair Of The Dog Really Work To Cure A Hangover?

You're announcing your candidacy for president of the United States in an hour, and you're getting married right after. Unfortunately, you spent all night out inhaling tequila and you ate precisely two plain potato chips for sustenance. You consult your running mate for advice and are told the best thing to do is double down, fight fire with fire, and have some "hair of the dog." Is this a good idea? 

According to Medical Daily, hair of the dog, which has been attributed to Shakespeare, the Greek playwright Aristophanes, and an old rabies treatment, is definitely not a good idea. While it may temporarily alleviate symptoms, that booze is still going to end up biting the hand that tossed it down your gullet. "The worst thing to do is to have another drink," says Dr. Charles Cutler, chair of the American College of Physicians' board of governors. It may seem like common sense, but Cutler cites the need to allow your body to recover, which could take a day or more, depending on the how bad the hangover is. "The severity of a hangover is related to the blood alcohol level you reach, how rapidly you drink, and the amount you drink," says Dennis Twombly, program director of the Division of Neuroscience and Behavior at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. "After the alcohol has been cleared from the system, a hangover can last for eight to 24 hours, depending on how much you've consumed."

So it sounds like the best thing to do is not to drink more, but to prioritize ridding your body of alcohol and address the symptoms, which Medical Daily lists as dehydration, inflammation, and upset stomach. Important steps include hydrating and replenishing the electrolytes you've lost, easing your stomach and balancing out your blood sugar with crackers and fruits, and perhaps most importantly, getting some sleep, as pulling all nighters makes hangovers much worse, according to HuffPost. Good luck with the presidency and marriage!