This week, we will be disucussing five popular hangover remedies and their effectiveness. While we certainly don't know the science behind much of what is discussed, we can draw from experience (and how!) and we have access to copy-and-paste technology that allows us to drop in quotes from scientists and the like. It may seem lazy, but unless you want to wait 15 years for us to become medical experts, it will do just fine. 

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Cure #1: The Hair of the Dog

One of the more popular and desireable cures is also one of the most controversial. For those who live in Utah or are in grade school, "hair of the dog" is short for the phrase "hair of the dog that bit you," which boils down to drinking a pop or two of whatever liquor did you in the night before. Of course, it's alcohol, so it will dull the symptoms of the hangover, and it might even get the seratonin and dopamine flowing a little bit, making your hangover a little less soul-crushing. 

However, many scientists take a pay-me-now-or-pay-me-later approach to hangovers. It might numb you to the misery at first, but it's pretty foolish to think that the cure for having consumed too much of something is to consume more of that same thing. I mean, it sounds pretty ridiculous when put that way. Alcohol dehydrates. More alcohol the next day doesn't magically fix this, it makes it worse. 

However, this "Band-Aid on cancer" approach does have its virtues. If your drinking was a little fast and furious at the rehersal dinner, killing a couple beers before the ceremony might help you maintain during the wedding. Drinking through a hangover might get you through a couple hours, but you will be racking up a tab with the hangover gods, so when the booze stops flowing, be prepared to pony up with some pain. 

Takeway: Not a long-fix, but can get you back to normal in a jam. Use sparingly and strategically for best results.