Natural Hangover Remedy—No Pills, No Cooking, Just Your Body’s Healing Powers

Udumbara Udumbara
Mar 14, 2025 - 10:56 Updated: Mar 13, 2025 - 17:58
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Natural Hangover Remedy—No Pills, No Cooking, Just Your Body’s Healing Powers

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Let’s be honest—most of us have had one too many drinks at some point. The next morning, the consequences hit: a pounding headache, dizziness, nausea, and puffy, itchy eyes. 

While hydration and rest help, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a powerful acupressure point that may help ease those dreaded hangover symptoms: Leading Valley (Shuai Gu, GB8). All you need is your fingers and a few minutes of your time.

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How This Acupoint Helps with Hangovers

Shuai Gu is widely used in TCM for relieving headaches, a common symptom associated with hangovers. By stimulating this acupoint, you can promote better circulation, alleviate nausea, and support your body’s natural detox processes. Since Shuai Gu is part of the gallbladder meridian—a pathway in the body responsible for processing fats and toxins—it naturally plays a role in easing hangover discomfort.

A Powerful Acupoint at the Crossroads of Energy

In TCM, the body comprises a network of meridians—pathways through which qi (vital energy) flows. Many acupoints are located on the head, with some points where meridians intersect, providing a broader range of healing properties.

Shuai Gu is a meeting point of the bladder and gallbladder meridians. While the gallbladder meridian is often linked to headaches and nausea, the bladder meridian influences the nervous system, indicating that this acupoint may also help reduce tension and dizziness. The “Classic of Acupuncture and Moxibustion,” one of the four great Chinese acupuncture classics" completed in 282 CE, suggests that Shuai Gu can be used to treat convulsions in children, highlighting its potential role in calming the nervous system.

Science Backs Up the Power of Shuai Gu

Modern research is gradually uncovering why Shuai Gu is such an effective point for migraine relief, lending credibility to its traditional applications.

A 2022 study on migraines without sensory disturbances found that electroacupuncture (EA)—a modern variation of traditional acupuncture that applies mild electrical currents to acupuncture needles to enhance stimulation, improve circulation, and promote pain relief—at Shuai Gu altered abnormal brain activity linked to migraines. Brain scans showed that EA helped restore balance in pain and emotional processing regions, suggesting that stimulation at Shuai Gu could help manage migraines by influencing brain function.
Another study involving 34 migraine patients tested acupuncture at various points, including Baihui (GV20) and Shuai Gu (GB8). After six weeks of treatment, participants reported fewer headache days, reduced pain intensity, and improved emotional well-being. MRI scans revealed that acupuncture helped normalize brain connectivity, further reinforcing its effectiveness.
Some studies even suggest that acupuncture—particularly at Shuai Gu—could be a viable alternative to pharmaceuticals for headache management. Patients receiving acupuncture at Shuai Gu and other key points showed superior results compared to those prescribed Flunarizine, a commonly used migraine medication. The acupuncture group not only had a higher cure rate (30 percent vs. 3 percent) but also reported a greater overall reduction in migraine severity and frequency. 
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How to Find Shuai Gu

To locate Shuai Gu, place your fingers on the topmost part of your ear and move them directly upward, about two finger-widths into the hairline. You’ll feel a slight dip in the skull—this is the spot to stimulate.

To maximize the benefits of this point, try the following techniques:
  • Direct Pressure: Press gently with your thumb or index finger for 3-5 seconds, then release. Repeat for 1-3 minutes on each side. Gradually increase the pressure to find the balance between discomfort and stimulation.
  • Circular Massage: Use your thumb or index finger to massage the area in small circles for 1-3 minutes.
  • Acupuncture & Moxibustion:  Acupuncture at Shuai Gu can provide significant relief. Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine therapy that involves burning dried mugwort (moxa) near or on specific acupoints to stimulate circulation, promote healing, and balance the body’s energy flow. For those considering moxibustion, studies suggest that heat-sensitive moxibustion is even more effective than mild moxibustion, leading to a higher success rate in treating migraines.

Proceed with Care

Shuai Gu is a sensitive acupoint, so it’s best to start with gentle pressure and gradually increase intensity. If you have an injury or broken skin in the area, avoid stimulating the point to prevent further irritation, pain, or potential infection. Pressing on a damaged area could worsen the injury or slow the healing process. While maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best preventative measure against hangovers, we all slip up sometimes. When that happens, try acupressure on Shuai Gu. With nothing but your fingertips (or, in this case, your ear tips), you can harness your body’s natural healing abilities and get back on track.

Possible Side Effects

Most people tolerate acupressure well, but some may experience mild side effects, including:

  • Temporary soreness or tenderness at the acupoint
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially if too much pressure is applied

If you experience discomfort that persists or worsens, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.

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Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here.
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