You wake up late on your couch with a dry mouth and a pulsing headache, wondering why you drank so much the night before. Now, all you can think about is getting rid of that hangover. 

Before you grab the hair of the dog, you should take a minute to consider Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hangover remedies. From medicinal teas to herbal cure-alls, TCM offers a much cleaner, healthier approach to dispelling your hangover than what you may be used to. 

12 Natural TCM Hangover Remedies to Spare You the Headache

There’s two ways to deal with a hangover: You can try to prevent them, or you can get rid of them the next day. Whatever your preference, we’ve provided some tips and age-old TCM hacks that will leave you feeling like a million bucks. 

1. Drink the Kudzu Flower (Gegen Hua, 葛根花)

Mix the kudzu flower with hot water to make tea. “Gegen Hua” is a flower that TCM practitioners have passed down through the ages to combat alcoholism and hangovers, making it a TCM go-to for revelers. 

2. Take Curing Pills or Bao He Wan Herbal Supplements 

Swallow these patented TCM supplements if you have an upset stomach. These herbal miracle workers aren’t just for hangover induced nausea; you can take them anytime your stomach feels upset! 

3. Mix Arhat Fruit AKA Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo, 羅漢果) with Warm Water

Crack the arhat/monk fruit’s shell, and then pour water over the soft pulp inside to make a simple infusion. The nutrients in arhat fruit are said to help you get rid of that post-hangover cotton mouth and stabilize your blood sugar levels. 

4. Drink Ginger and Honey 

Cut 10 slices of ginger and mix them with water in a pan. Bring the water to a soft boil and then strain the tea into a cup. Next, strain an orange, half a lemon, and add half a cup of honey to the mix to make the ultimate hot tonic for your upset stomach. 

5. Mix Ginseng Root and Honey 

Cut up a ginseng root into small slices, throw them into water, and bring it to a boil. Add honey to make it a bit more palatable. This concoction is yet another way to combat an upset stomach and dizziness. 

6. Drink Fresh Pear Juice Before Going Out 

To help you avoid your hangover, try drinking a glass or two of concentrated pear juice before indulging in alcohol. This centuries-old remedy is said to have strong anti-inflammatory properties that stimulate the liver, making it a great way to detox your body. 

7. Fix Chrysanthemum Tea (Ju Hua Cha, 菊花茶)

Drink chrysanthemum tea to detox your liver. A timeless tea, “ju hua cha” is also caffeine free, making it a great option if you’re retiring late at night. 

8. Pair Black Tea with Brown Sugar 

Once you’ve turned in for the night, fix a cup of black tea and mix it with a tablespoon of brown sugar. The acidity of the tea and the warming properties of the sugar will stimulate your liver to help you fight the hangover the next day. 

9. Try Dried Orange Peel (Chen Pi,  陈皮) 

You can mix dried orange peels with any of the concoctions above to make them more palatable. “Chen pi” is said to boost your qi and aid with circulation in the body. 

10. Infuse Wild Jujube (Suan Zao, 酸枣) with Dried Orange and Kudzu Flower

Jujube tastes great and is rich in Vitamin C. Boil it with dried orange peels and kudzu flowers to make the ultimate hangover remedy! 

11. Double Up Your Dosage

Whatever remedies or herbs you decide to take, take more than you normally would. For instance, drink two cups of concentrated tea rather than one. The idea here is to counterbalance the toxins you’ve ingested. 

12.  Protect your stomach

Before you go out drinking, try taking a spoonful of butter (or some other fat) to protect your stomach from absorbing alcohol too fast. It won’t help if you plan on binge drinking all night, but it’s better than drinking on an empty stomach! 

These quick, healthy TCM hangover remedies will alleviate your headache and get you back into a healthy mindset. Ditch the half-off Bloody Mary specials this weekend and restore your qi instead! You won’t regret it. 

Do you have other TCM natural hangover cures or questions about the tips above? Feel free to ask in the comments below!