Could Ice Baths Help With Hangovers?
Ah, the dreaded hangover. We’ve all been there, waking up to a pounding headache, a queasy stomach, and a deep sense of regret that only comes after one too many rounds of “just one more.”
This might just be the perfect time to start your new years resolutions for going sober.
While there’s no magic cure for a hangover, there are ways to make that post-party pain a little more bearable. One remedy gaining traction? Ice baths.
Before you dash off to raid the freezer for ice cubes, let’s chat about how plunging into freezing water might help – and we’ll also throw in a few other hangover remedies that don’t involve a frosty dip.
How Ice Baths Might Help Your Hangover
So, why would anyone willingly dunk themselves into freezing water the morning after a big night?
Believe it or not, there’s some solid science behind how an ice bath might be your best option to beat the hangover (at least in the short term). Here’s a few reasons a cold plunge might help your hangover scaries.
1. It Can Calm Inflammation
Alcohol doesn’t just hit your liver – it triggers inflammation throughout your body, which can make hangover headaches and body aches even worse. Cold therapy reduces inflammation by shrinking blood vessels and soothing your body’s overactive immune response. It’s like a very chilly reset button.
2. It Boosts Circulation
Cold water causes your blood vessels to constrict, then dilate when you warm up. This process, called vasoconstriction and vasodilation, improves blood flow, flushing out toxins and delivering oxygen to your tired cells. In simpler terms, it might just help you recover faster.
3. It Numbs the Pain
Ice baths can temporarily block pain receptors, which is a fancy way of saying they might take the edge off that pounding headache or achy muscles.
4. It Wakes You Up (Big Time!)
Feeling like a sloth after last night’s adventures? The shock of an ice bath releases adrenaline and endorphins, giving you an instant (and slightly panicked) energy boost. It’s a slap in the face, but one you’ll thank yourself for later.
5. It Clears the Brain Fog
Hangovers are notorious for “brain fog.” The icy jolt from an ice bath activates your nervous system, helping you feel sharper and more alert. It’s like a double-shot flat white – just colder and a lot wetter.
Ice Baths Aren’t the Whole Solution
While an ice bath might help you feel a bit more human, it’s not a cure-all. You might need to stack a few things to help get you through to the other side and feel somewhat human in the mean time. Combine the hangover ice bath it with these tried-and-true remedies for maximum recovery:
1. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Alcohol dehydrates you like nothing else. Drinking water or an electrolyte drink (think sodium, potassium, and magnesium) can help with dizziness, fatigue, and that awful dry mouth. Tip: Keep a water bottle by your bed for easy access. Maybe a spew bucket too.
2. IV Drips: The Luxe Option
If you’re feeling extra rough, IV drips could be your saving grace. These deliver fluids, electrolytes, and vitamins (like B-complex and vitamin C) directly into your bloodstream. Some hangover-specific drips even include glutathione, a powerful antioxidant to help your liver detox faster. Fancy, huh?
3. Feed Your Body
Your body’s been through the wringer, so give it some proper fuel. Eggs, bananas, and avocados are excellent choices, packed with protein, healthy fats, and electrolytes. If you’re craving carbs, some wholegrain toast will help stabilise your blood sugar.
4. Catch Up on Sleep
Nap time. Alcohol messes with your sleep quality, which is why you often wake up feeling like you’ve barely slept. If you can, take a nap or let yourself sleep in. Sometimes, recovery just takes time. Your body and brain are under attack right now, so it’s crucial to take it easy as a hangover is essentially a stress response from the damage done in the previous night (or multiple nights) activities. Pro tip: sleep with mouth tape to ensure you nasal breath to make sure you don’t further dehydrate yourself from mouth breathing.
5. Pain Relief
Ibuprofen or aspirin can help ease headaches and muscle soreness, but steer clear of paracetamol – your liver’s already working overtime processing alcohol, and it doesn’t need the extra strain.
6. Sip Some Tea
If your stomach feels like a washing machine, ginger tea or peppermint tea can help settle it. Green tea is another great option, packed with antioxidants to help detoxify your system and this also adds to your hydration levels. A liver detox tea might also be beneficial. Plus, a warm drink feels like a hug for your insides.
How to Take an Ice Bath for Hangover Relief
If you’re game to give an ice bath a try (and let’s face it you have nothing to lose), here’s how to do it safely:
Prep the Tub: Fill it with cold water and add enough ice to drop the temperature to around 10–15°C. If you really need to shock yourself out of it, you might consider a few extra bags of ice, or if you have a portable ice bath and chiller, crank it down to 5C or lower.
Ease In Slowly: Don’t just leap in – you’re hungover, not auditioning for SAS Australia. Start with your legs and work your way in.
Limit Your Time: Stay in for 3–5 minutes max. You’re aiming to refresh, not turn into a popsicle.
Warm Up Gradually: After the bath, wrap yourself in a cosy blanket or take a warm (not hot) shower to ease back to normal.
Hydrate Before and After: Ice baths don’t replace fluids, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water.
The Easiest Cure? Skip the Booze
Let’s face it: the best way to avoid a hangover is to skip alcohol altogether. Groundbreaking advice, I know. No ice bath, IV drip, or magic tea can completely undo what those tequila shots did to your body.
But if you’re going to indulge, pace yourself, drink water between rounds, and eat before heading out. Your future self will thank you.
The Takeaway
Ice baths can’t magically cure a hangover, but there is definitely a chance they might make it a bit less miserable.
Combine cold therapy with hydration, a proper meal, and plenty of rest, and you’ll be back to your best in no time. And hey, if nothing else, the adrenaline rush from an ice bath will make you forget all about your bad decisions… at least for a little while. This might be the perfect time to start your New Years resolutions for going sober!
