If there’s one thing we can pretty much all agree on, it’s that hangovers really are awful.
From nausea, to headaches, the dreaded hangxiety and general fatigue – battling a hangover is something we could all do with avoiding.
But if you're not prepared to give up the booze, and traditional hangover cures fail to work for you, you may be interested in the booming market of hangover pills and potions.
Myrkl was the first to make headline news when it went on sale in the UK last summer.
However, dozens of hangover supplements have been hitting the market over the years, some with impressive claims.
As someone who has about two drinks and gets hungover, I was keen to give these supplements a try – and a boozy summer was the perfect opportunity.
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Some of the products are made specifically for hangovers, while others simply help to give a new lease of life when you’re feeling groggy and tired.
I followed the guidelines of the supplement- either taking it before drinking, during or the next day.
But naturally, the ‘study’ wasn’t robust, as I drank different alcohol on occasions.
However, I’m well aware of how I feel on a hangover and if a supplement/drink/powder has made any difference.
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So how did I get on?
1. Myrkl
£30 for 30 capsules, myrkl.co.uk
The hangover pills by Myrkl, which sold out in 24 hours when they first went on sale, were designed to help you have a social life without compromising the next day.
Supposedly, you’ll feel refreshed, even after a long day.
The two capsules, to be taken two hours before drinking, contain a formula containing high performing bacteria, l-cysteine and vitamin B12.
Myrkl says that this formulation is activated in the gut, which allows us to wake up refreshed the next day.
The results of a small study, published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolic Insights, reported that volunteers who took the pills had 70 per cent less alcohol in their blood an hour after two vodkas than those who didn’t have the pills.
Verdict: This. Works. I’ve used this twice now and it’s absolutely helped me avoid some hangover symptoms.
I still knew I had been drinking (sadly, nothing is THAT good) but I just wasn’t as lethargic as usual, and this was following a day of drinking wine, which is notorious for causing a sore head.
2. Nutravita Electrolyte Complex 240 Vegan Tablets
£15.99, nutravita.co.uk
These tablets are bursting with electrolytes, which are salts and minerals, such as sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and bicarbonate.
These magic ingredients do a number of things such as aid nerve and muscle function, hydrate the body, and support blood pressure.
When we drink alcohol, our body can become depleted of these electrolytes, which can worsen hangover symptoms.
Verdict: I took two of these before drinking on a Saturday afternoon and then two the next morning, on the Sunday.
I tend to take electrolytes after long runs when I’ve been sweating loads, but seeing as alcohol also depletes these essential minerals, it made sense to replenish my body.
Although I didn’t notice an immediate impact, I didn’t feel as fatigued as usual on the Sunday. I was still a little bit headachy, but my energy wasn’t as low as usual.
Is it because of these tablets? I don’t know, but either way it’s a great idea to support your body by giving it the minerals it needs.
3. De-Liver-Ance
From £23.99 for three vials, www.loveyourliver.com
This product was created to help prevent the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which you’re at increased risk of if you are overweight, have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and more.
However, under its key benefits, the company claims this product mitigates the effects of alcohol.
In fact, the company claim it “can help your liver process alcohol up to 15 times faster”.
Each vial – you can drink maximum of three a day – contains 17 natural ingredients, including antioxidants and phyto-nutrients, which are said to optimise liver function.
It’s also said to help with sleep, improve mental clarity, support the immune system and boost skin health.
Verdict: One word: WOW. I drank three vials over a wedding weekend where my main form of fuel was rose wine, aperol, champagne and tequila. Yup, quite the concoction!
This mix of drinks would usually have left me clutching at my stomach for 24 hours.
However, somehow I didn’t endure any form of hangover. I was tired, sure, but no headaches and no nausea.
The drink tastes foul, I’ll be honest, but it’s a few seconds of pain for basically zero hangover.
4. Tenzing Natural Energy Drink
£5.75 for 4, Tesco
Energy drinks get a bad rep but Tenzing is made of seven natural, plant-based ingredients and, according to the brand, contains 60 per cent less sugar than other major energy drinks.
As well as natural caffeine, to help dust off the morning-after cobwebs, each can of Tenzing contains electrolytes (which can be lost when we’re drinking alcohol) and vitamin C too.
Verdict: This definitely lifted my mood and gave me the energy I needed on a Thursday after Wednesday evening drinks.
Although it won’t eradicate a hangover, it helps to clear your head and allows you to feel slightly human.
5. Vitamin Well Recover
12 bottles for £23.99, amazon.co.uk
Swedish-born Vitamin Well have created a range of drinks, each packing in a unique set of vitamins and minerals to fight fatigue, skin issues or, you guessed it, a hangover.
Although not explicitly stated, the Recover drink has all the ingredients (ten in total) to rid hangover symptoms.
Vitamin B12, folic acid and magnesium contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, the brand says.
Magnesium also contributes to electrolyte balance and our electrolytes can often be depleted big time when we drink alcohol.
Verdict: For a drink, these are a pretty impressive recovery tool. As the name of the drink suggests, they do indeed help the body to ‘recover’.
The amount of sugar in these is a bit off putting at 21g per 500ml bottle.
But they definitely do provide a little boost amid the hangover grogginess. I necked a bottle one morning after a night of tequila and felt pretty chirpy.
6. Dr Teal’s Relax & Relief with Eucalyptus & Spearmint Epsom Salts
£7.19, Amazon.co.uk
Normally used to ease the aches and pains of the muscles, I thought I’d give Epsom salts a go because after all, dancing the night away can leave you feeling achy.
Epsom salts break down into magnesium and sulphate in water, and its thought these can be absorbed by the skin.
There’s no strong evidence that Epsom salts truly work for this purpose. However, they are popular among gym-goers.
The two herbal ingredients added to these salts – spearmint and Eucalyptus – stimulate the senses and restore the body, according to the manufacturers.
Verdict: I’m unsure if it was the bath or the Epsom salts that helped cure my Sunday hangover.
But I felt groggy before this salt bath, and after, I felt alive. This is certainly a useful tool to have in the hangover recovery box.
7. Better You Lights-out Nightly Oral Spray
£19.95, betteryou.com
Although it might not help your liver, this has been designed to help ensure a deeper, more restful slumber.
It’s all thanks to the 50mg of 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a chemical which helps the body sleep, according to studies.
And, we all know that a good sleep can often help to negate some of the all-to familiar hangover symptoms.
5-hydroxytryptophan can also be converted to serotonin (AKA the happy hormone) in the body.
Verdict: I can have two glasses of wine and my sleep will be atrocious.
This spray genuinely improved my sleep, helping me to stay asleep, rather than waking up with a dry mouth and sore head in the middle of the night.
8. Nourished Party Proofed Life Stack
From £28 for 28 servings, www.get-nourished.com
This vitamin-stacked gummy is supposedly packed with everything you need to ‘bounce back after a night of celebrations.
Nourished say that the gummy contains nutrients including ginger to fight nausea, milk thistle to detox, vitamin C for energy and vitamin D for immunity and to aid recovery.
Verdict: Each gummy comes in a white (plastic-free) packet, so no matter where you are, this is easy to transport with zero mess.
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I took this the morning after a boozy wedding; I felt no different. However, it was great to know I was giving my body a hit on nutrients that it needed after a day of booze.
This tastes really good too. It’s like a big, delicious, sweetie, with loads of health benefits.
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