Hangover Myths That Need to Die (And What Actually Works)

Let’s be honest—everyone has their hangover “cure,” and most of them are complete garbage. For every Rally-worthy recovery tip, there are ten old wives’ tales or TikTok trends that leave you right back where you started: head pounding, stomach churning, and wondering what you did to deserve this.

It’s time to kill the myths and replace them with facts. Here’s your 1500-word guide to what actually works when it comes to hangovers—and what needs to die a quiet, dehydrated death.

🧃 Myth #1: “Hair of the Dog” Cures Hangovers

❌ The Myth:

Drinking more alcohol the next morning (usually a Bloody Mary or mimosa) helps “level you out.”

✅ The Reality:

You’re not curing anything—you’re delaying the inevitable. More booze might numb the symptoms temporarily, but it also puts extra strain on your liver and delays your body’s natural recovery process. When it wears off, your hangover will come back—harder.

💡 What Actually Works:

• Rehydrate with electrolytes like Rally Rehydrate™

• Eat a nutrient-rich breakfast (eggs, toast, avocado)

• Take it easy. Don’t double down on damage

💊 Myth #2: “Take Painkillers Before Bed”

❌ The Myth:

Pop some ibuprofen or aspirin right before passing out to avoid the pain tomorrow.

✅ The Reality:

This one is dangerous. Taking painkillers on a stomach full of alcohol can irritate your stomach lining or worse—stress your liver (especially with acetaminophen). It’s not worth the risk.

💡 What Actually Works:

• Take pain relievers in the morning after food and water

• Use a Rally Patch™ overnight to support recovery without stressing your system

💦 Myth #3: “Water is Enough”

❌ The Myth:

Just drink a ton of water and you’ll be fine.

✅ The Reality:

Hydration is crucial, but alcohol doesn’t just dehydrate—it depletes electrolytes, B-vitamins, and glucose. Plain water can’t fully replace what you lost.

💡 What Actually Works:

• Combine water with an electrolyte blend (like Rally Rehydrate™) to restore balance

• Coconut water or broth can help in a pinch, but they don’t beat a well-formulated hydration product

🛌 Myth #4: “Sleep It Off and You'll Be Fine”

❌ The Myth:

All you need is a long nap or a good night’s sleep and the hangover will vanish.

✅ The Reality:

Alcohol messes with your REM cycle, making your sleep low-quality and fragmented. So even if you sleep long, it’s not restorative.

💡 What Actually Works:

• Use a Rally Patch™ while sleeping to support vitamin absorption
• Hydrate before bed (but not so much you’re up all night peeing)
• Sleep with an eye mask and blackout curtains to aid deep rest

🍔 Myth #5: “Greasy Food Soaks Up the Alcohol”

❌ The Myth:

Junk food helps absorb booze, especially before drinking or the morning after.

✅ The Reality:

Greasy food before drinking might slightly slow alcohol absorption, but once you’re drunk, it’s too late. And greasy meals after drinking can just upset your stomach further.

💡 What Actually Works:

• Eat a balanced meal before drinking with protein, carbs, and healthy fats
• For recovery, go with simple carbs + protein: toast and eggs, smoothie with banana and protein, or miso soup

🍺 Myth #6: “Stick to One Type of Alcohol”

❌ The Myth:

Mixing different types of booze causes hangovers. Stick to just wine, or just vodka, and you’ll be fine.

✅ The Reality:

It’s not the mixing—it’s the total volume of alcohol, and the presence of congeners (chemical byproducts). Dark liquors and cheap wines have more of them. That’s why whiskey hits harder than vodka.

💡 What Actually Works:

• Drink less overall (yeah, we said it)
• Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or Rally Rehydrate™
• Choose lighter spirits if you're going all night

🧂 Myth #7: “Pickle Juice, Pedialyte, and Other Weird Hacks”

❌ The Myth:

There’s a miracle cure hiding in your fridge or toddler’s cabinet.

✅ The Reality:

Pickle juice? Loaded with sodium but nothing else. Pedialyte? Better than nothing, but not made for adults. TikTok hangover “hacks” like activated charcoal or mustard? Not proven and often a waste of time.

💡 What Actually Works:

• Use a product actually formulated for adult recovery, like Rally Rehydrate or Rally Chews
• Stick with evidence-backed nutrients: B-vitamins, magnesium, electrolytes, ginger, NAC, and antioxidants

🧬 Bonus Myth: “Hangovers Are Just Part of Drinking”

❌ The Myth:

There’s nothing you can do. If you drink, you’re doomed.

✅ The Reality:

While hangovers vary based on biology and habits, most symptoms come from dehydration, inflammation, and nutrient depletion. You can absolutely reduce severity if you prep right.

💡 What Actually Works:

• Be proactive: hydrate before, during, and after
• Support your body with tools like Rally Patch, Rehydrate, and Rally RX
• Don’t overdrink and expect miracles—Rally is recovery, not resurrection

Final Thoughts

There’s no silver bullet, but there is a smarter way to party. By ditching outdated myths and using tools that actually work, you’ll feel better faster and show up the next day like a legend—not a liability.

Stop winging it. Start Rallying.

Rally On.™