Ingredients
What is DHM? Dihydromyricetin, explained by a pharmacist
A plant flavonoid with promising lab research, a handful of small human trials and a sensible place in a before-and-after drinking routine.
Written by Darren Lee, Pharmacist · Founder, Attune RX
Published September 30, 2026 · Reviewed September 30, 2026 · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- DHM (dihydromyricetin) is a flavonoid found in the Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis) and in vine tea.
- In animal studies it counteracted signs of alcohol intoxication and boosted the liver enzymes that break alcohol down.
- Human research is early: a few small trials of Hovenia fruit extract reported milder hangover symptoms, but the overall evidence is rated low quality.
- Most US supplements list 300 to 1,200 mg per serving. Good Spirits provides 650 mg in two capsules.
Where DHM comes from
DHM, short for dihydromyricetin, is a flavonoid: part of the same large family of plant compounds as the catechins in green tea and the quercetin in onions. It is found in the fruit, seeds and stems of Hovenia dulcis, the Japanese raisin tree, and in the leaves of Ampelopsis grossedentata, a plant brewed as “vine tea”. Hovenia has a long history in traditional East Asian herbal practice around drinking, which is part of why researchers started studying it.[1]
How DHM may work
Research points to two places where DHM may act: the brain and the liver. Most of this work was done in animals, so it tells us where to look rather than what happens in people.
In the brain
Alcohol acts on GABAA receptors, the brain’s main “calming” receptors. In a 2012 study in the Journal of Neuroscience, rats given DHM showed fewer signs of acute alcohol intoxication and withdrawal, including less anxiety, and DHM blocked alcohol’s effect on these receptors.[1]
In the liver
Your liver breaks alcohol down in two steps: first into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound, then into harmless acetate. A 2020 study from the University of Southern California found that in mice, DHM increased the expression and activity of the enzymes behind these steps, raised levels of NAD+ (a helper molecule those enzymes need) and reduced alcohol-related fat buildup and inflammation in the liver.[2]
Animal results are a starting point, not a promise. Doses, metabolism and outcomes in people can differ.
What the human studies show
Human research is still small and early, and it mostly tests extracts of Hovenia fruit, which contain DHM alongside other compounds, rather than DHM on its own.
- 2017 crossover trial. 26 adult men carrying one copy of an ALDH2 gene variant, which slows the breakdown of acetaldehyde, drank 360 mL of soju with either a standardized Hovenia fruit extract or a placebo. Hangover symptom scores fell significantly more after the extract.[3]
- 2024 crossover trial. In 25 adults, drinks combining Hovenia extract with either kudzu (Pueraria) extract or a glutathione yeast extract were followed by lower blood alcohol in the first half hour than placebo.[4]
- 2022 systematic review. Researchers reviewed 21 placebo-controlled trials with 386 participants. Hovenia fruit extract was one of several interventions with a significant result in an individual study, but the authors rated the evidence for every hangover remedy as very low quality.[5]
The honest summary: DHM is one of the more interesting ingredients in this space, with a plausible mechanism and encouraging early data, but it has not been proven to prevent hangovers. That is why we describe Good Spirits as hangover support, never a cure.
How much DHM do people take?
Most DHM supplements sold in the US list between 300 mg and 1,200 mg per serving. Because the human trials mostly used Hovenia extracts, there is no established “effective dose” of pure DHM for people yet. Good Spirits provides 650 mg of DHM in each two-capsule serving: one serving before your first drink and a second the next morning.
Is DHM safe?
The human trials so far have been small and short, so long-term safety data in people is limited. As a pharmacist, this is what I tell people:
- Check with your doctor or pharmacist first if you take prescription medication, have a liver condition, or are pregnant or nursing.
- DHM is not a way to sober up. It does not make it safe to drive, and it is not a reason to drink more.
- Supplements like this are for adults 21 and over.
Common questions
Is DHM the same as Hovenia dulcis?
No. Hovenia dulcis, the Japanese raisin tree, is a plant, and DHM (dihydromyricetin) is one of the compounds it contains. Most human studies used whole Hovenia fruit extracts, while many supplements, including Good Spirits, provide a measured amount of DHM itself.
When should I take DHM?
Most DHM supplements are taken shortly before or with the first drink. Good Spirits is designed as a two-part routine: two capsules before your first drink and two the next morning.
Does DHM lower blood alcohol?
One small 2024 trial found lower blood alcohol in the first half hour when Hovenia extract was combined with other plant extracts, but that is not the same as sobering up. Never rely on any supplement to drive or to judge how much you can drink.
References
- Shen Y, et al. Dihydromyricetin as a novel anti-alcohol intoxication medication. J Neurosci. 2012;32(1):390-401. Source
- Silva J, et al. Dihydromyricetin protects the liver via changes in lipid metabolism and enhanced ethanol metabolism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2020;44(5):1046-1060. Source
- A standardized extract of the fruit of Hovenia dulcis alleviated alcohol-induced hangover in healthy subjects with heterozygous ALDH2: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017. Source
- Clinical evaluation of Hovenia dulcis extract combinations for effective hangover relief in humans. 2024. PubMed Central PMC11675335. Source
- Roberts E, Smith R, Hotopf M, Drummond C. The efficacy and tolerability of pharmacologically active interventions for alcohol-induced hangover symptomatology: a systematic review of the evidence from randomised placebo-controlled trials. Addiction. 2022;117(8):2157-2167. Source
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Please drink responsibly. Must be 21+.