Doctor reveals the $5.79 hangover cure from CVS that actually works
- Dr Pedi Mirdamadi says one mineral can balance fluids, reducing symptoms
- It can also soothe body aches and improve sleep
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From drinking raw egg yolk to sleeping next to a bowl of ice - the internet is full of dubious hangover cures.
But one doctor believes he has a science-based trick that actually works.
When you get home from a boozy night out, Dr Pedi Mirdamadi, a San Diego-based natural medicine expert, says taking a cheap supplement can restore fluid balance in the body, reducing the bulk of your symptoms.
Taking magnesium before bed is a 'simple trick' that can 'help minimize hangovers after a night of drinking,' says Dr Mirdamadi, in a recent video posted to his TikTok channel.
The supplement is available to buy in pharmacies like CVS as well as online, priced as little as $5.79.
The expert goes on to explain that magnesium is an electrolyte - substances with electrical charges when dissolved in water, which help to maintain the balance of fluids.
'And alcohol is a diuretic, which causes your body to lose water,' he says.
The majority of dreaded hangover symptoms, such as headaches, exhaustion and nausea, are caused by severe dehydration.
Dr Mirdamadi touts magnesium for its 'muscle relaxing properties' - which he says is also helpful after an alcohol-heavy evening.
'Alcohol causes muscle tension and cramps which can disrupt sleep for a lot of people,' he says.
The mineral costs as little as $5.79 and is said to play a key role in recovering from an alcohol-heavy evening
Another benefit is magnesium's sleep-boosting effect - as it is 'calming'.
Finally, he says the mineral can assist the liver in metabolizing alcohol, accelerating the rate at which it is expelled from the body.
Results of a high-quality trial published in 2022 showed that intravenous magnesium sped up the detox process in a group of patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome.
Meanwhile, other research has shown its benefits for sleep and headaches.
A 2018 Australian study of more than 1,400 adults found that those with the least magnesium in their diet were the most likely to struggle to drift off.
Another study found that people who took magnesium supplements had migraines on 43 percent fewer days than others given the empty placebo pills.
