Hangover Cures

Recovering from a little too much fun over Christmas? Anticipating that pounding headache on New Year's Day? There's no proof that a hangover "cure" exists, but as long as people continue to drink, the search will go on. Here are some hangover helpers from around the world, courtesy of National Geographic.

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United States
Raw egg? Tomato juice? Worcestershire Sauce? Sounds more like a punishment than a cure. But this tried and true concoction -- mixed with pepper and maybe a little booze -- is said to set things right. We'll let you be the judge.

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Russia
The Russians like a long sit in the sauna to ease their morning-after blues, letting their sweat carry the toxins from their body. But don't think they're getting off easy; they also whip themselves with leafy birch branches to increase circulation. Hey, it would probably take your mind off your headache, at least.

ebbdog on Flickr

Mexico
Now this is a cure I can get behind! Mexicans eat a zesty shrimp and seafood salad called Vuelva a la vida, or "return to life." And if it doesn't cure your hangover, you can always pair it with a little Mexican beer and start all over again.

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Germany
Forget the dry toast and coffee. In Germany revelers enjoy a breakfast of rolmops, or pickles and onions wrapped in fillets of pickled herring. Something tells me the cure might be worse than the disease.

chadmiller on Flickr

Japan
If a sour fish snack turns your hungover stomach, maybe the Japanese can help. Or maybe not -- they eat a salty pickled plum called umeboshi, either alone or with a chaser of green tea.

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Romania
At some point in Romania's history, someone sat down and thought, "Wow, I'm really queasy from all that drinking I did last night. I think I'll try a little cow stomach!" Tripe soup is a popular remedy in Romania, boiled in a salty broth.

Charles Haynes on Flickr

Poland
Super sour pickle juice is Poland's idea of a morning-after cure. If pickles aren't your thing, they also like sour milk that's been left out for a couple of days. Is it just me, or do these cures all seems to mean eating the opposite of what your stomach is telling you to do?

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Netherlands
Hair of the dog that bit you, the saying goes. The Netherlands have adopted this cure as their own and prescribe a morning beer to ease hangover symptoms.

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Italy
Coffee -- the stronger, the better -- is the Italian way to cure a hangover. Strong and hot, they drink espresso after espresso until they're ready to face the world again.

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