If you ’ve ever been to brunch after a night of too much celebrating , you ’ve probably discover about using the " hair of the dog " to bring around your queasiness . It usually pop up when someone hint that a little more alcohol could facilitate you stir off hangover symptoms .
But does it actually act ? And where in the world did this odd - sounding phrase even come up from ?
The expression " tomentum of the dog " sounds unusual at first ; what does dog hair have to do with hangovers ? From ancient folk remedies to today ’s Bloody Marys , allow ’s take a look at this ( in)famous holdover cure .
What Does ‘Hair of the Dog’ Mean?
" Hair of the dog " refers to the estimation that drinking more alcohol can heal a holdover get by drinking alcoholic drink the dark before . It ’s a hangover cure establish on the concept that " like remedy like , " suggesting that more alcohol , in small amount , might facilitate hangover symptoms .
Typically , this method acting involves consuming a morning boozer drink , like aBloody Maryor a light beer , to feel better after a night of backbreaking drinking .
This idiomatic expression is peculiarly popular among those dealing with headaches , nausea or fatigue duty from a night of too many alcoholic drinks . The theory is that by give the body a small dose of what caused the hangover — more alcoholic drink — you might soothe the discomfort , at least temporarily .
But call back , while popular belief holds that the " pilus of the dog " might be the cure , skill disagrees .
Origins
The origins of " hair of the click " date back centuries and get along from an strange former belief .
The phrase number from the ancient practice of treating a hot dog bite by applying the hair of the same canine to the wounding , believing it would somehow cure or solace the sharpness . This method of discussion derives from the concept of " sympathetic deception , " where something from the cause of harm is used as a therapeutic .
Over time , the idiom transformed from healing hound bites to easinghangovers . By the Middle Ages , people were applying the construct to alcohol , suggesting that a low amount of what have the problem — an alcoholic drinking — might bring around thehangover .
So while the literal act of using pawl hair to heal a bite wound faded , the phrase stuck around , making its way into pop speech communication as a metaphor for consuming alcohol to still holdover symptom .
Examples in Everyday Conversation
In modernistic custom , " tomentum of the dog " ordinarily pops up in a social scope when discussing hangover cures after a late dark of drunkenness .
For example , after a night out , you might hear someone say , " I feel awful ! I think I involve a little hair of the pawl , " which is a way of suggest they should have a drink to allay their irritation . Or at brunch , someone might say , “ A Bloody Mary is the perfect hairsbreadth of the blackguard ! ” imply that this particular alcohol-dependent drink is just the right-hand pick for hangover assuagement .
It ’s also common to hear it in a more casual , joking manner . If someone looks defective for wear after a company , a friend might say , “ Looks like you call for the tomentum of the frank that sting you ! ” with a grinning , suggesting that more alcoholic beverage could be the locating .
And whether it ’s a beer , a cocktail or a fiddling sip of anything alcohol-dependent , the phrase keeps its role in help multitude express joy through those fierce aurora after too much drinking .
Does the Hair of the Dog Work?
The short resolution is no . Scientifically speaking , this theory does n’t support much H2O — or beer .
Hangovers happen when your body skin to break down leftover toxins from alcohol . Adding more alcohol to the admixture may temporarily dull your symptom , but it only delays the inevitable crash as your liver works overtime to detox .
So the " whisker of the cad " might allow brief relief by numbing the cheek responsible for yourheadacheor sickness . But this scheme does n’t addressdehydration , crushed blood sugar or the kindling make for havoc on your body .
Most expert hold : Instead of hit for another drink , rehydrate with weewee , eat on a nutritious meal and permit your body recover naturally . Your next self — and your liver — will give thanks you .
We created this article in conjunction with AI engineering , then made sure it was fact - checked and edit out by a HowStuffWorks editor .
