What Are Some Ancient Hangover Cures?

Journey Through Time: What Are Some Ancient Hangover Cures?

From raucous Roman feasts to ancient Egyptian revelries, alcohol has been part of human celebrations for millennia. Along with these festivities, hangovers have been an equally enduring part of our history. Have you ever wondered, "What are some ancient hangover cures?" Let's step into the time machine and explore some traditional remedies from civilizations' past.

Ancient Rome: Fried Canaries and Owl Eggs

The Romans were known for their lavish feasts and, consequently, their hangovers. According to *Pliny's Natural History*, a well-respected encyclopedic work of the era, Romans believed that fried canaries or boiled owl eggs could alleviate hangover symptoms.

Ancient Greece: Cabbage and Sheep Lung Soup

The Greeks, famous for their wine, had their hangover remedies. A staple among these was raw cabbage. The philosopher *Athenaeus of Naucratis* in his work *The Deipnosophists* also mentioned a soup made of sheep lungs and spices, said to cure the nastiest of wine-induced hangovers.

Ancient Egypt: Necklaces and Boiled Leaves

Egyptians took a more mystical approach to curing hangovers. *The Ebers Papyrus*, one of ancient Egypt's oldest and most important medical documents, describes a unique necklace worn to ward off hangovers. They recommended a broth made from boiled leaves of the Alexandrian chamaedaphne plant for more severe symptoms.

Medieval Europe: Raw Eel and Almonds

In medieval Europe, hangovers were often treated with a peculiar mixture of raw eel and bitter almonds. This "cure" was detailed in *The Trotula*, a compendium of medieval medical advice, and was believed to restore balance to the body.

Ancient China: Green Tea and Hovenia

Chinese medicine, known for its herbal remedies, used green tea as a hangover cure, believing its antioxidant properties could cleanse the liver of alcohol's toxic byproducts. Another ancient Chinese remedy is the Hovenia berry, which, according to the *Compendium of Materia Medica*, was believed to mitigate alcohol's effects on the body.

The quest to cure hangovers stretches through the ages, leading to a fascinating array of remedies, from fried canaries to mystical necklaces. While the effectiveness of these ancient hangover cures is questionable by modern medical standards, they offer intriguing insights into our ancestors' attempts to relieve post-celebration discomfort.