Really, it boils down to two words: spicy food.

If there’s anyone who knows how to pick himself up after a night of debauchery, it’s everyone’s favorite booze-chugging food sherpa, Anthony Bourdain. The man makes a living traveling the world, from Tangier to Tokyo—exploring, eating, and, of course, drinking at every opportunity. So if you’re headed out this weekend, take a cue from someone who’s beaten a rough “morning after” on almost every continent with some of these proven techniques.

Schedule your hangover (and have some Kung Pao Chicken)

“Schedule your hangover,” says Bourdain. “Wake up as soon as you can. [Drink] a cold Coca-Cola, or Pepsi. Wash down a couple aspirin. Smoke a joint. And the joint will help you to develop an appetite, at which point, have some really spicy food. Some spicy leftovers—leftover Kung Pao Chicken would be perfect.” (Photo: Pinterest)

Eat Spicy South Korean Potato Stew

When Bourdain traveled to South Korea, he stumbled upon a special potato “hangover stew” (haejangguk) which consists of dried cabbage, vegetables, and various meats in a beef broth. The key element? Little bits of congealed ox blood. (Photo: Foodspotting)

Practice Jujitsu

“I do jujitsu in the morning, and jujitsu with a hangover is truly a horror,” says Bourdain. If you’re looking to punish yourself, why not try to street fight half-drunk? (Photo: Bloody Elbow)

Slurp Baja-style beer juice

In his Baja episode of No Reservations, Bourdain tries out a local hangover cure consisting of three parts juice (plum, tomato, lemon) and one part hair-of-the-dog (beer). Plus, some seafood, natch

Maybe Bourdain knows something that we don’t, but seafood + splitting headache seems like venturing into dangerous waters… (Photo: Instagram)

Don’t get drunk in Borneo

“@lblackness: @Bourdain worst hangover in a foreign country?” Borneo. They had to break into my room. — Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) April 28, 2014

Apparently, Borneo can break even the most seasoned drinker. Just stay away (or stay sober).

Embrace Spicy Ceviche

Notice a trend here? Apparently, the spicier your first post-drinking meal can be, the better.

Leche de Tigre is “the bracing runoff from a spicy ceviche that serves as a popular hangover cure in Peru.” It forms part of a super-hot, hangover-curing rotation that Bourdain swears by. (Photo: Flickr)

Drugs + Shellfish = Win

On a recent trip to Dublin, Bourdain had a particularly rough day of recovering. Fortunately, he just decided to pull out all the stops.

“I don’t know if it’s the oysters or the vicodin, but one of ’em’s working.” (Photo: Travel Channel)



Always know that the glory is (almost) worth any morning after pain

Perfect way to leave a place: sunburned, hungover and freshly inked. — Anthony Bourdain (@Bourdain) February 28, 2011

Even if your head feels like it’s trapped in a bass drum the next morning, Bourdain always reminds us why those wild nights are worth it.