# Hangovers in days of yore

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hangovers-in-days-of-yore/432387>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 5, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hangovers-in-days-of-yore/432387 "2008-01-05T13:28:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MrFloppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/43a26b/32.png) [@MrFloppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFloppy)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hangovers-in-days-of-yore/432387/1 "2008-01-05T13:28:31Z")

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Inspired by the other thread about keeping warm ‘way back when’ and subsequent to a Blackadder II Marathon in the Floppy mansion last evening.

How were hangovers treated before common accross-the-counter pain medications. Asprin, Ibuprofin, Tylenol etc.? I can generally drink large amounts of fine ale without a problem but once in a while I get a killer morning headache, (a couple of bottles of wine will do it) which only goes away with lots of drugs and lying still in a dark room for a few hours.

In the Blackadder episode ‘Beer’ (a classic BTW) Lord Melchett has a pretty evil hangover (Nursie states that he is “letting of great big fruitsome flappy woof woofs” lol).

So other than accepting a future drinking duel with Blackadder, what would have been his hangover options in 16th century England?

[Link to ‘Beer’.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_%28Blackadder%29)

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**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hangovers-in-days-of-yore/432387/2 "2008-01-05T15:00:47Z")

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The “hair of the dog” phrase dates back to 1546, according to one [source.](http://en.allexperts.com/q/Etymology-Meaning-Words-1474/Phrase-origin.htm)

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**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\
**Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hangovers-in-days-of-yore/432387/3 "2008-01-05T15:04:22Z")

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GoogleAds is all over this one:

[ul]  
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