Back before IV hydration was a common service, folks had to rely on drinking water to curb their hangovers. Sprinkle in some over-the-counter pain relievers, and you had a good old-fashioned hangover “cure.”
What if there were a better way to get rid of post-drinking headaches, nausea, fatigue, and dehydration? IV therapy is a newer but much more effective hangover treatment that addresses many aspects of your health at once.
Discover the science behind alcohol hangovers and find out how IV therapy can kick your symptoms to the curb.
What Happens in Your Body After Drinking Alcohol?
No one likes to be hungover, and that’s why people often search for a miracle hangover cure the morning after drinking.
Common hangover symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Upset stomach
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Swelling and inflammation
- Low blood sugar
- Shakiness
- Fatigue
Studies have shown that around 76% of drinkers experience some form of hangover the morning after.
Here’s why you feel so miserable after a fun night out.
Alcohol Dehydrates You Almost Instantly
Alcohol is a diuretic substance, meaning it signals your kidneys to remove water from your system through urination. That’s why you find yourself peeing a lot throughout the night when you drink.
On a technical level, alcohol messes with your kidneys’ natural levels of vasopressin, which is a hormone that helps your body retain water. Alcohol inhibits the effects of vasopressin, which triggers water release (urination).
Unfortunately, this water removal can leave you dehydrated, even after just one drink. Your system is depleted of electrolytes and water by the morning after your party or other event.
A Toxic Liver Compound Makes Everything Worse
As you drink, your liver releases a compound called acetaldehyde, which helps your body process alcohol. Acetaldehyde is the culprit behind most common hangover symptoms, like headaches and nausea.
Inflammatory Immune Responses Leave You Weaker and Sicker
Alcohol is considered a toxin by your immune system. On top of dehydration, your body also struggles to fight off this foreign “invader,” leaving you inflamed, bloated, and feeling generally unwell after drinking.
The reason this large-scale immune response makes you feel worse is simple — cytokines. These inflammatory compounds are released by your immune system in an effort to fight off toxins like alcohol.
Unfortunately, cytokines are a double-edged sword. They may fight off foreign invaders, but they also cause system-wide inflammation and discomfort (much like when you’re sick). Your levels peak by the time you’re waking up from your night out, meaning you actually feel sicker after drinking than you do in the process.
How IV Therapy Helps You Feel Better the Morning After
IV hydration is a modern solution to pesky hangovers. It’s not a miracle hangover cure, but it does significantly reduce your symptoms and speed up your recovery.
Premium Hydration With Electrolytes
When you drink a glass of water, you may not get all of the necessary electrolytes to fully hydrate your body. In fact, drinking too much plain water can even dilute electrolyte levels in your body, which leaves you less hydrated than before!
Electrolytes are the key to full nourishment and recovery after a night of drinking. IV therapy infuses just the right amount of electrolytes, fluids, and other helpful ingredients directly into your system. Intravenous hydration starts working almost instantly and doesn’t contribute to nausea like drinking water can.
Toxin Removal
IV therapy blends often contain antioxidants and other compounds that promote detoxification in your body. This is essential when alcohol metabolites like acetaldehyde and cytokines are wrecking your health the morning after drinking.
Antioxidants work by combating free radicals, which are harmful molecules released in your body by common toxins like alcohol. Free radical damage (also known as oxidative stress) causes hangover symptoms like inflammation and headaches.
Certain IV hydration blends contain large quantities of antioxidants that help combat free radical damage in your body and promote faster recovery after drinking.
Beneficial Vitamins and Minerals
You probably know the importance of vitamins and minerals in your diet, but what about in IV drips?
IV therapy replenishes your body’s supply of important vitamins and minerals. This is especially helpful during a hangover.
Vitamins like B12 and C help you regain your energy, detox your system, and rejuvenate your cells and tissues. Minerals like magnesium assist with headache relief and muscle recovery.
Mental Clarity and Energy
After a night of drinking, you may feel mentally foggy and exhausted. IV therapy boosts your energy levels and restores your mental clarity with the help of hydrating fluids, along with vitamins and minerals.
Some antioxidants in IV drip blends, like glutathione, support better neurotransmitter (brain chemical) function and help your body produce more usable energy. These actions can help you get back on your feet more quickly after a hangover.
IV drip ingredients may also support long-term brain health with these same ingredients. Consistent infusions ensure your vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant levels are always replenished.
How Long Does Hangover Relief Take with IV Therapy?
You can feel widespread hangover relief in as little as 30 minutes after IV hydration. This is much faster than taking over-the-counter medication, drinking some water, and hoping for the best.
Some people experience relief about an hour after their infusions. It depends on how long it takes your body to process the ingredients in the infusions and fully rehydrate.
Your relief timeline also depends on how much you drank the night before and how deficient you are in certain vitamins and minerals.
Unique Benefits of IV Hydration for Hangover Recovery
Why should you choose IV therapy over other hangover “cure” methods?
IV hydration offers unique advantages compared to other recovery strategies, including:
- Relaxing, comfortable infusions
- Faster recovery
- Nausea-friendly hydration (no need to chug water!)
- Long-term health benefits from vitamins and minerals
- Superior hydration with electrolytes
- Customized IV blends
- Pre-planned infusions for immediate relief
- Better vitamin and mineral absorption
- If you’re suffering from a painful hangover, IV therapy is the clear choice for your recovery.
Want to know more about how IV hydration can help your hangover? Call Nenergy Boost today for more information!