Myths and beliefs about hangovers through the ages

Myths and beliefs about hangover remedies across ages and cultures

 

 

Since the dawn of time, and in every culture, alcohol has been widely consumed, generating countless “hangovers”, as well as various local myths and beliefs about the best remedies to avoid or treat them.

 

 

In ancient Greece, the amethyst was a stone whose name comes from the Greek “amethystos”, meaning protection from drunkenness. So the Greeks would drop an amethyst into their glass, or wear one as a necklace while drinking, to escape the hangover. 

 

 

In ancient Egypt, it was the laurel leaf, usually offered to athletes, philosophers and the like, that served as a remedy. The Egyptians wore laurel necklaces to avoid feeling ill the next day.

 

 

In the 17th century, an English doctor developed an anti-hangover recipe: Goddard's drops (also known as the English cephalic drops). They were meant to cure many ailments, including hangovers, and were made of ammonia, dried viper and powdered skull. 

 

Since every country has its own solutions, here's a little world tour of today's hangover remedies.

 

In many countries, vegetable or pickling juices are renowned for their effects against hangovers. 

 

For instance, there's sauerkraut juice in Russia, pickle brine or beetroot juice in Poland, leche de tigre in Peru (the marinade juice from dried fish) or turnip juice in Turkey.

Some countries have also come up with their own recipes. 

 

For example, there's the Katerfrühstück in Germany, consisting of pickled herring rolled with gherkins and onions. 

 

There's also menudo in Mexico (a soup served with hot chilli and tortillas), or leventa de muertos (a pork stew) in Bolivia…

 

For the bravest, in Hungary, the recommendation is a mix of brandy and sparrow droppings.

Finally, there are also some more unusual techniques. Like rubbing a lemon under your armpit in Puerto Rico, sleeping in vodka-soaked socks in Estonia, sticking tape on your forehead in Vietnam, or burying yourself in sand in Ireland.