What are the common misunderstandings about dealing with a hangover?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
Every country has its "miracle hangover fix". In Japan the classics are shijimi (freshwater clam) miso soup, umeboshi (salted pickled plum) and ukon (turmeric) drinks. Here is what is solid and what has no evidence, based on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) drinking guidelines of 2024 and standard physiology.
How a hangover works and what to do
| Cause | Symptoms | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Dehydration | Headache, thirst, fatigue (alcohol is a diuretic) | Water, oral rehydration solution or a sports drink, in small sips (see our article on oral rehydration solutions) |
| Low blood sugar | Unsteadiness, cold sweat, weakness | Sugar (fruit, rice porridge, honey) |
| Acetaldehyde | Nausea, palpitations, facial flushing. How well you break it down is genetic (about 40% of Japanese people have a weak enzyme) | Time (wait for it to break down). Hair of the dog slows the breakdown further |
| Stomach irritation | Stomach pain, nausea | Small amounts of easily digested food; OTC stomach medicine as directed |
| Poor sleep quality | Drowsiness, poor concentration | Rest (see our article on alcohol and sleep) |
| Acetone and inflammatory substances | General fatigue | Time |
| Popular "fix" | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Shijimi (freshwater clam) miso soup | Reasonable as fluid, salt and amino acids. A food may not claim "ornithine helps the liver", and no evidence has been confirmed that it eases a hangover |
| Ukon (turmeric, curcumin) drinks and supplements | Insufficient evidence that they prevent or improve hangovers (National Institute of Health and Nutrition). Reports of liver damage exist; people with liver disease should take care |
| Hair of the dog (mukae-zake) | Masks the symptoms for a while and slows the breakdown. Risk of alcohol dependence |
| Sweating it out in a sauna or with exercise | Worsens dehydration; dangerous (see our sauna article) |
| Coffee | Caffeine wakes you for a while; the diuretic effect worsens dehydration. A small amount is fine |
| OTC headache tablets | Paracetamol (acetaminophen) taken with alcohol burdens the liver. Follow the directions and avoid it straight after drinking |
- The MHLW's *Guidelines on Health-Conscious Drinking* (2024) recommend knowing your intake in grams of pure alcohol and "food and water before and while drinking", and describe a hangover as "a sign you drank too much".
- About 40% of Japanese people have a weak form of the acetaldehyde-breaking enzyme (ALDH2) and flush easily. People with this trait are generally described as getting a hangover from small amounts and as having a higher risk of oesophageal cancer and other conditions.
- Claims such as "works on hangovers" or "protects the liver" are not permitted for ordinary foods and supplements under Japan's Health Promotion Act and the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations. Even Foods with Function Claims (a Japanese labelling category) do not claim "hangover" directly.
[Verify] Check the 2024 drinking guidelines, the assessment of turmeric in the National Institute of Health and Nutrition's "health foods" database, and the ALDH2 proportion on e-Health Net.
Misunderstanding 1｜There is a drink that works on hangovers
No product may make that claim, and no evidence has been confirmed. Fluids, sugar, time.
Misunderstanding 2｜Hair of the dog makes you feel better
It slows the breakdown and postpones the symptoms. It is generally described as a gateway to dependence.
Misunderstanding 3｜Sweat the alcohol out
Almost no alcohol leaves through sweat; dehydration worsens and it is dangerous. No sauna, no hard exercise.
Misunderstanding 4｜Take ukon beforehand and you're protected
Insufficient evidence, and there are reports of liver damage. Prevention is how much you drink, plus water and food while drinking.
Misunderstanding 5｜Take a headache tablet and have another
Paracetamol with alcohol burdens the liver. Avoid painkillers straight after drinking; the next morning, as directed. Severe headache, vomiting that will not stop, or confusion is an emergency (call 119 for an ambulance in Japan): possible acute alcohol poisoning.
---
Sources
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, *Guidelines on Health-Conscious Drinking* [健康に配慮した飲酒に関するガイドライン] (February 2024)
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/newpage_37785.html
- National Institute of Health and Nutrition, *Safety and effectiveness information on "health foods" (turmeric)* [「健康食品」の安全性・有効性情報（ウコン）]
https://hfnet.nibiohn.go.jp/
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, e-Health Net, *Alcohol metabolism and constitution (ALDH2)* [アルコールの分解と体質（ALDH2）]
https://www.e-healthnet.mhlw.go.jp/information/alcohol/a-02-001.html
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
This article is not meant to diagnose or manage any specific medical condition. If you are worried about your health, see a doctor rather than relying on your own judgement.
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