The science
Why do hangovers happen? The science behind the morning after
We’ve all had a morning that started slower than planned. A hangover is the sum of several things alcohol does to your body overnight, and knowing them shows why a layered routine works and where each ingredient in Good Spirits fits.
Written by Darren Lee, Pharmacist · Founder, Attune RX
Published September 30, 2026 · Updated November 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- A hangover has several causes: acetaldehyde, dehydration, broken sleep, inflammation, stomach irritation and a “mini-withdrawal”.
- Darker drinks carry more congeners, which are linked to worse hangovers.
- A layered plan suits a layered problem: pace, food, water and sleep, plus 650 mg DHM, 200 mg clove extract, taurine, choline and a B-complex from Good Spirits before and after drinking.*
The short answer: hangovers happen because alcohol does several things at once. Your liver turns it into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound; you lose more fluid than usual; your sleep gets broken up; inflammation rises; and your stomach is irritated. If you’ve ever woken up wondering why you feel the way you do, here’s each cause in turn.
1. Acetaldehyde, the toxic middle step
Your liver converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, then converts acetaldehyde into acetate. Acetaldehyde is the troublemaker in the middle: it’s toxic and contributes to inflammation in the liver, pancreas, brain and digestive tract.[1] People who carry a common variant of the ALDH2 gene clear acetaldehyde more slowly, which is why some hangover studies focus on this group.[2]
2. Dehydration
Alcohol suppresses vasopressin, a hormone that signals your kidneys to retain fluid. That means more trips to the bathroom and more fluid lost than usual.[1] You probably know the signs: thirst, a dry mouth and a pounding head the next morning.
3. Broken sleep
Alcohol helps many people fall asleep faster, but it disrupts sleep in the second half of the night.[3] People also tend to wake earlier after drinking, so the day starts on the tired side.[1]
4. Inflammation
Alcohol increases inflammation throughout the body, which feeds that general under-the-weather feeling.[1] It’s one reason researchers test plant extracts with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties: in a prickly pear study, milder symptoms went along with lower levels of C-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation.[4]
5. An irritated stomach and low blood sugar
Alcohol irritates the stomach lining and increases acid release, which can leave you feeling queasy.[1] It can also lower blood sugar, which may add to fatigue, weakness and shakiness.[5]
6. A “mini-withdrawal”
While you drink, your brain adjusts to alcohol’s calming effect. As the alcohol wears off, that adjustment can leave you feeling restless and anxious.[1]
7. Congeners
Congeners are by-products of fermentation, and they’re more concentrated in darker drinks. In a controlled study, young adults who drank bourbon had worse hangovers than when they drank vodka to the same breath alcohol level.[6]
How does Good Spirits support each cause?
Good Spirits offers nutritional support aimed at several of these pathways, right alongside the basics.* Because hangovers have several causes, a layered routine makes the most sense: fewer and slower drinks, food, water and sleep, plus that targeted support. That’s exactly how I formulated Good Spirits. Here’s where each ingredient in a two-capsule serving fits:
| What alcohol does | In each serving | Its role* |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves alcohol and acetaldehyde to break down | 650 mg DHM | Supports alcohol metabolism |
| Adds oxidative stress and inflammation | 200 mg clove extract | Antioxidant support |
| Draws down nutrients | High-potency B-complex | Replenishes B vitamins, including niacin |
| Leaves you drained the next day | 100 mg taurine 100 mg choline | Support energy and liver and brain function |
| Dehydrates you and breaks up sleep | Water and a full night’s sleep | The basics every routine needs |
Try two capsules before your first drink and two the next morning (here’s why that timing). For the full plan, take a look at what to take before drinking. And one friendly reminder: Good Spirits doesn’t sober you up or make it safe to drive, and it’s never a reason to drink more.
Common questions
Why does alcohol give you a hangover?
Because it acts in several ways at once: your liver turns alcohol into toxic acetaldehyde, alcohol makes you lose fluid, and it disrupts the second half of your sleep, raises inflammation and irritates your stomach.
Is a hangover just dehydration?
Not quite. Dehydration is one part, but acetaldehyde, inflammation, broken sleep, stomach irritation and a mini-withdrawal all contribute. That’s why water alone rarely fixes a rough morning.
Why do dark liquors cause worse hangovers?
They contain more congeners, the by-products of fermentation. In one controlled study, bourbon caused worse hangovers than vodka at the same breath alcohol level.
How does Good Spirits support the morning after?
Each two-capsule serving brings together 650 mg DHM to support alcohol metabolism, 200 mg clove extract for antioxidant support, and a high-potency B-complex, 100 mg taurine and 100 mg choline to replenish nutrients. Take one serving before your first drink and one the next morning.*
References
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Hangovers. Updated December 2025. 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
- Ebrahim IO, et al. Alcohol and sleep I: effects on normal sleep. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2013;37(4):539-549. Source
- Wiese J, et al. Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164(12):1334-1340. Source
- Swift R, Davidson D. Alcohol hangover: mechanisms and mediators. Alcohol Health Res World. 1998;22(1):54-60. Source
- Rohsenow DJ, et al. Intoxication with bourbon versus vodka: effects on hangover, sleep, and next-day neurocognitive performance in young adults. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2010;34(3):509-518. 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+.