Doctor’s incredibly simple hangover cure is ‘probably the best’ you’ll come across

Christmas is a time to eat, drink, and be merry, but if you've been putting a little bit too much emphasis on the merry then we have just the thing for you.

A doctor has shared his deceptively simple hangover cure many people are saying is the best they've ever tried.

If your pounding head has got you wishing Dry January would hurry up, chances are you'll try just about try anything to cure that hangover.

Hair of the dog might leave you gagging at the mere smell of another shot, and you don't want to take too many painkillers to give your poor liver a break.

Forget expensive vitamin drips either, and try something much simpler.

Hangovers are no fun at all (Getty Stock)

Medical experts say hangovers are caused by multiple factors.

You're dealing with inflammation from the booze, dehydration leaving you with a mouth dryer than the desert, and a severe lack of sleep all builds a painful picture.

Dr Ali Khavandi told The i Paper that the severity of your hangover all depends on how quickly you drink.

He said: “Hangovers relate not to the total amount you’ve drunk alcohol-wise, but your peak blood-alcohol levels the evening before. So if you drink rapidly the hangover will be more pronounced than if you space it out.”

He adds: “Be mindful, slow it down, and drink plenty of water. The solution to pollution here is dilution.”

Throwing back shots is never a good idea when the consequences hit the next day.

Having a leisurely drink or a glass of wine with a friend is a better idea than knocking drinks back as quickly as you can.

The cure? Even better, it's completely free and will only cost you time.

Dr Khavandi said: “But I’ve found that out of all the possible treatments for a hangover, sleep is probably the best.”

Any excuse to get back in bed and have a lazy day is always welcome.

Drinking alcohol messes with your sleep quality and can cause you to wake multiple times in the night.

Vitamins and hangover potions promise the world but there's one thing doctors swear by (Getty Stock)

He explained: “Alcohol messes up your sleep and you never really get into that deep REM sleep that’s very refreshing for the body.”

Drinking water before bed in an attempt to prevent some of the dehydration is always a good idea, but sleep is the best bet.

It's your body's best time to recover.

Dr Nathan Spence says: “The key is to obviously not go mad at the start (the hangover begins before we go to sleep) so I will pace myself and have a cup of water maybe every hour.

“When I get home from being out I’ll have a pint of water with electrolytes in it – any brand works as it’s all rehydration therapies.”